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DUKE 
UNIVERSITY 
LIBRARY 


GIFT OF 


A 


JOURNAL 


OR 


HISTORICAL ACCOUNT 


OF THE 


LIFE, TRAVELS, SUFFERINGS, CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES, 
AND 
LABOUR OF LOVE, 
IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, 
OF THAT 
ANCIENT, EMINENT, AND FAITHFUL SERVANT OF 


JESUS CHRIST, 


GEORGE FOX. 


And they that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever. 
Neg xii }. 


124072 
PHILADELPHIA: 


PUBLISHED AT FRIENDS’ BOOK-STORE, 
No. 304 ARCH STREET. 


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PREFACE:! / || 
BEING A 


SUMMARY ACCOUNT 
OF THE 


DIVERS DISPENSATIONS OF GOD TO MEN 
FROM 


THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THAT OF OUR PRESENT AGE, BY TIE MIN 
ISTRY AND TESTIMONY OF HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT GEORGE FOX, AS AN INTRO 
DUCTION TO THE ENSUING JOURNAL. 


DIVERS have been the dispensations of God since the creation of the 
world, unto the sons of men; but the great end of all of them has been 
the renown of his own excellent name in the creation and restoration 
of man: man, the emblem of himself, as a god on earth, and the glory 
of all his werks. The world began with innocency: all was then good 
that the good God had made: and as he blessed the works of. his hands, 
so their natures and harmony magnified him their Creator. Then the 
morning stars sang together for joy, and all parts of his works said 
Amen to his law. Nota jar in the whole frame, but man in paradise, 
the beasts in the field, the fowl in the air, the fish in the sea, the lights ir 
the heavens, the fruits of the earth; yea the air, the earth, the water and 
fire worshipped, praised and exalted his power, wisdom and goodness. 
O holy Sabbath, O holy day to the Lord! 

But this happy state lasted not long: for man, the crown and glory of 
the whole, being tempted to aspire above his place, unhappily vielded 
against command and duty, as well as interest and felicity; and so fell 
below it. lost the divine image, the wisdom, power, and purity he was 
made ‘n. By which, being no longer fit for paradise, he was expelled 
that garden of God, his proper dwelling and residence, and was driven 


. out, as a poor vagabond, from the presence of the Lord, to wander in the 


earth, the habitation of beasts. 

Yet God, that made him, had pity on him; for he seeing he was 
deceived, and that it was not of malice, or an original presumption in 
him but through the subiilty of the serpent (that had first fallen from his 


_ own state, and by the mediation of the woman, man’s own nature and 


\ 


companion, whom the serpent had first deluded) in his infinite goodness 
and wisdom found out a way to repair the breach, recover the loss, 
and restore fallen man again by a nobler and more excellent Adam, 
promised to be born of a woman; that as by means of a woman the 
evil one had prevailed upon man, by a woman also He should come 
into the world, who would prevail against him, and bruise his head, and 
deliver man from his power: and which, in a signal manner, by the dis- 


124072" 


a” PREFACE. 


pensation of the Son of God in the flesh, in the fulness of time, was per 
sonally and fully accomplished by him, and in him, as man’s Saviour and 
Redeemer. 

But his power was not limited, in the manifestation of it, to that time; 
for both before and since his blessed manifestation in the flesh, he has 
veen the light and life, the rock and strength of all that ever feared Gud 
present with them in their temptations, followed them in their uavels 
and afflictions, and supported and carried them through and over the 
difficulties that have attended them in their earthly pilgrimage. By this, 
Abel’s heart excelled Cain’s, and Seth obtained the pre-eminence, and 
Enoch walked with God. It was this that strove with the old world, and 
which they rebelled against, and which sanctified and instructed Noah 
to Salvation. 

But the ontward dispensation that followed the benighted state of man, 
after his fall, especially among the patriarchs, was generally that of an- 
gels; as the scriptures of the Old Testament do in many places express, 
as to Abraham, Jacob, &c. The next was that of the law by Moses, 
which was also delivered by angels, as the apostle tells us. This dispen- 
sation was much outward, and suited to a low and servile state; ca'led 
therefore that of a schoolmaster, to point out and prepare that people to 
look and long for the Messiah, who would deliver them from the servi- 
tude of a ceremonious~and imperfect dispensation, by knowing the reali- 
ties of those mysterious representations in themselves. In this time the 
law was written on stone, the temple built with hands, attended with an 
outward priesthood and external rites and ceremonies, that were shadows 
of the good things that were to come, and were only to serve till the 
Seed came, or the more excellent and general manifestations of Christ, 
to whom was the promise, and to all men only in him, in whom it 
was Yea and Amen; even life from death, immortality and eternal life. 

This the prophets foresaw, and comforted the believing Jews in the 
certainty of it; which was the top of the Mosaical dispensation, and 
which ended in John’s ministry, the forerunner of the Messiah, as John’s 
was finished in him, the fulness of all. And God, that at sundry times 
and in divers manners had spoken to the fathers by his servants the 
prophets, spake then by his Son Christ Jesus, “ who is heir of all things ;” 
being the gospel-day, which is the dispensation of sonship: bringing in 
thereby a nearer testament, and a better hope, even the beginning of the 
glory of the latter days, and of the restitution of all things; yea, the 
restoration of the kingdom unto Israel. 

Now the Spirit, that was more sparingly communicated in former 
dispensations, began to be “poured forth upon all flesh,” according to 
the prophet Joel, and the light that. shined in darkness, or but dinily 
before, the most gracious God caused to shine out of darkness, and 
the day-star began to arise in the hearts of believers, giving unto them 
the kn>wledge of God in the face (or appearance) of his Son Christ 
Jesus. 

Now the poor in spirit, the meek, the true mourners, the hungry and 
thirsty after righteousness, the peace-makers, the pure in heart, the mer- 
ciful and the persecuted, came more especially in remembrance before 
the Lord, and were sought out and blessed by Israel’s true Shepherd. 
Old Jerusalem with her children grew out of date, and the new Jerusa- 
lem into request, the mother of the sons of the gospel-day. Wherefore 
no more at old Jerusalem, nor at the mountain of Samaria, will God be 


PREFACE. i % 


worshipped above otner places; for, behold, he is declared and preached 
a Spirit, and he will be known as such, and worshipped in the Spirit and 
in the Truth. He will come nearer than of old time, and he will write 
his law in the heart, and put his fear and Spirit in the inward parts, ac- 
cording to his promise. Then signs, types, and shadows flew away, the 
day having discovered their insutficiency in not reaching to the inside 
of the cup, to the cleansing of the conscience; and all elementary ser 
vices were expired in and by him that-is the substance of all. 

And to this great and blessed end of the dispensation of the Sou of 
God, did the apostles testify, whom he had chosen and anointed by his 
Spirit, to turn the Jews from their prejudice and superstition, and the 
Gentiles from their vanity and idolatry, to Christ’s Light and Spirit that 
shined in them; that they might be quickened from the sins and trespasses 
in which they were dead, to serve the Living God in the newness of the 
Spirit of Life, and walk as children of the light, and of the day, even 
the day of holiness: for such “ put on Christ,” the light of the world, 
“ and make no more provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” 
So that the Light, Spirit, and Grace that comes by Christ, and appears in 
man, was what the apostles ministered from;and turned people’s minds unto 
and in which they gathered and built up the churches of Christ in their day 
For which cause they advised them not to quench the Spirit, but wait for 
the Spirit, and speak by the Spirit, and pray by the Spirit, and walk in the 
Spirit too, as that which approved them the truly begotten children of God 
“ born not of flesh and blood, nor of the will of man, but of the will of 
“ God ;” by doing his will, and denying their own; by drinking of Christ’s 
cup, and being baptized with his baptism of self-denial: the way and 
path that all the heirs of life have trod to blessedness. But alas! even 
in the apostles’ days (those bright stars of the first magnitude of the gos- 
pel-light) some clouds (foretelling an eclipse of this primitive glory) began 
to appear, and several of them gave early caution of it to the christians 
of their time; that even then there was, and yet would be more and 
more, a falling away from the power of godliness, and the purity of that 

ritual dispensation, by such as thought to make a fair show in the flesh, 
~Jt with whom the offence of the cross ceased: yet with this comfortable 
conclusion, that they saw beyond it a more glorious time than ever, to 
the true church. - Their sight was true, and what they foretold to the 
churches, gathered by them in the name and power of Jesus, came so to 
pass: for christians degenerated apace into outsides, as days, and meats, 
and divers other ceremonies. And which was worse, they fell into strife 
and contention about them, separating one from another, then envying, 
and as they had power, persecuting one another, to the shame and svan- 
dal of their common christianity, and grievous stumbling and offence of 
the heathen, among whom the Lord had so long and so marvellously 
preserved them. And having got at last the worldly power into their 
hands, by kings and emperors embracing the christian profession, they 
changed what they could the kingdom of Christ, which is not of this 
world, into a worldly kingdom; or at least styled the worldly kingdom 
that was in their hands the kingdom of Christ, and so they became 
worldly, and not true christians. Then human inventions and novelties. 
both in doctrine and worship, crowded fast into the church, a door being 
opened the eunto by the grossness and carnality that appeared then 
among the generality of christians; who had long since left the guidance 
of God’s meek and heavenly Spirit, and given themselves up to supersti 


v1 ’ PREFACE. 


tion, will-worship, and voluntary humility. And as superstition is blina 
so it js eady and furious; for all must stoop to its blind and boundless 
zeal, or perish by it: in the name of the Spirit, persecuting the very ap- 
pearance of the Spirit of God in others, and opposing that in them which 
they resisted in themselves, viz. the Light, Grace, and Spirit of the Lord 
Jesus Christ; but always under the notion of innovation, heresy, schism, - 
or some such plausible name. Though—Christianity allows of no name 
or pretence whatever for persecuting of any man for matters of mere 
religion;-religion being in its very nature meek, gentle, and forbearing ; 
and consists of faith, hope, and-charity, which no persecutor can have, 
whilst he remains a persecutor ; in that a man cannot believe well, or 
hope well, or have a charitable or tender regard to another, whilst he 
would violate his mind or persecute his body for natters of faith or wor- 
ship towards his God. 

Thus the false church sprang up, and mounted the chair. But though 
she lost her nature, she would keep her good name of the Lamb’s bride, 
the true church and mother of the faithful; constraining all to receive 
her mark, either in their forehead or right-hand, publickly or privately : 
but in deed and in truth she was Mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots: 
mother of those that with all their show and outside of religion, were 
adulterated and gone from the Spirit, nature, and life of Christ, and grown 
vain, worldly, ambitious, covetous, cruel, &c. which are the fruits of the 
flesh, and not of the Spirit. 

Now it was that the true church fled into the wilderness, that is, from 
superstition and violence to a retired, solitary, and lonely state; hidden 
and as it were out of sight of men, tho’ not out of the world: which 
shews that her wonted visibility was not essential to the being of a true 
church in the judgment of the Holy Ghost ; she being as true a church in 
the wilderness, though not as visible and lustrous, as when she was in 
her former splendor of profession. In this state many attempts she made 
to return, but the waters were yet too high, and her way blocked up, 
and many of her excellent children in several nations and centuries fell 
by the cruelty of superstition, because they would not fall from their faith- 
fulness to the truth. 

The last age did set some steps towards it, both as to doctrine, 
worship, and practice. But practice quickly failed, for wickedness 
flowed in a little time, as well among the professors of the reformation. 
as those they reformed from ;.so that by the fruits of conversation they 
were not to be distinguished. And the children of the reformers, if not 
the reformers themselves, betook themselves very early to earthly policy 
and power to uphold and carry on their reformation that had been begun 
with spiritual weapons; which I have often thought has been one of the 
greatest reasons the reformation made no better progress, as to the life 
and soul of religion: for whilst the reformers were lowly and spiritually- 
minded, and trusted in God, and looked to Him, and lived in his fear, and 
consulted not with flesh and blood, nor sought deliverance in their own 
way, there were daily added to the church such as, one might reasona- 
bly say, should be saved. For they were not so careful to be safe from 
persecuticnu, as to be faithful under it. 

Being more concerned to spread the truth by their faith and patience 
in tribulation, than to get the worldly power out of their hands that in- 
flicted their sufferings upon them ; and it will be well, if the Lord suffer 
them not to fall by the very same way they took to stand. In doctrine 


PREFACE. VL 


hey were in some things short; in other things, to avoid one extreme 
they ran into another: and for worship, there was for the generality 
more of man than God. They owned the Spirit, inspiration and revela- 
tion indeed, and grounded their separation and reformation upon the 
sense and understanding they received from it, in the reading of the 
Scriptures of Truth; and this was their plea, The Scripture was the text, 
the Spirit the interpreter, and that to every one for himself. But yet 
_ there was too much of human invention, tradition and art, that remained 
both in praying and preaching, and of worldly authority and worldly 
greatness in their ministers, especially in this kingdom, Sweden, Den- 
mark, and some parts of Germany. God was therefore pleased, among 
us, to shift from vessel to vessel: and the next remove humbled the min- 
istry, so that they were more strict in preaching, devout in praying, and 
zealous for keeping the Lord’s day, and catechising of children and ser- 
vants, and repeating at home in their families what they had heard in 
publick. 

But even as these grew into power, they were not only for whipping 
some out, but others into the temple: and they appeared rigid in their 
spirits, rather than severe in their lives, and more for a party, than for 
piety: which brought forth another people, that were yet more retired 
and select. They would not communicate at large, or in common with 
others; but formed churches among themselves of such as could give 
some account of their conversion at least, of very promising experiences 
of the work of God’s grace upon their hearts, and under mutual agree- 
ments and covenants of fellowship they kept together. These people 
were somewhat of a softer temper, and seemed to recommend religion 
by the charms of its love, mercy, and goodness, rather than by the ter- 
rors of its judgments and punishment; by which the former party would 
have terrified people into Religion. 

They also allowed greater liberty to prophecy than those before them; 
for they admitted any member to speak or pray, as well as their pasto1 
(whom they always chose, and not the civil magistrate.) If such found 
any thing pressing upon them to either duty, even without the distinction 
of clergy or laity ; persons of any trade, be it never so low and mechani 
cal. But alas! even these people suffered great loss: for tasting of 
worldly empire, and the favour of princes, and the gain that ensued, 
they degenerated but too much. , For. though they had cried down na- 
tional churches, and ministry and maintenance too, some of them, when 
it was their own turn to be tried, fell under the weight of worldly honour 
and advantage, got into profitable parsonages too much, and outlived 
and contradicted their own principles: and, which was yet worse, turn- 
ed some of them absolute persecutors of other men for God’s sake, that 
but so lately came themselves out of the furnace; which drove many a 
step farther, and that was into the water. Another baptism, as believing 
they were not scripturally baptised; and hoping to find that presence 
and power of God, in suvmitting to that ordinance, which they desired 
and wantea. 

ese people made also profession of neglecting, if not renouncing and 
censuring, not only the necessity, but use of all human learning, as to the 
ministry; and all other qualifications to it, besides the helps and gifts of 
the Spirit of God, and those natural and common to men; and fora 
‘ime they seemed, like John of old, a burning and a shining light, to other 
societies. 


Vill PREFACE. 


They were very diligent, plain and serious, strong in scripture, and 
oold in profession, bearing much reproach and contradiction: but that 
which others fell by proved their hurt. For worldly power spoiled them 
too; who had enough of it to try them, what they would do if they had 
more; and they rested also too much upon their watery dispensation, 
instead of passing on more fully to the Fire and Holy Ghost, which was 
his baptism who came with a “ fan in his hand, that he might thoroughly 
“(and not in part only) purge his floor,” and take away the dross and 
the tin of his people, and make a man finer than gold. Withal, they 
grew high, rough, and self-righteous, opposing further attainment; too 
much forgetting the day of their infancy and littleness, which gave them 
something of a real beauty; insomuch that many left them, and all visi- 
ble churches and societies, and wandered up and down as sheep without 
a shepherd, and as doves without their mates; seeking their beloved, but 
could not find him, as their souls desired to know him; whom their souls 
loved above their chiefest joy. 

These people were called Seekers by some, and the Family of Love 
by others; because, as they came to the knowledge of one another, they 
sometimes met together, not formally to pray or preach, at appointed 
times and places, in their own wills, as in times past they were accus- 
tomed to do ; but waited together in silence, and as any thing rose in any 
one of their minds, that they thought savoured of a divine spring, so they 
sometimes spoke. But so it was, that some of them not keeping in humili- 
ty, and in the fear of God, after the abundance of revelation, were exalt- 
ed above measure, and for want of staying their minds in an humble 
dependance upon him that opened their understandings to see great 
things in his Jaw, they run out in their own imaginations, and mixin 
them with those divine openings, brought forth a monstrous birth, to the 
scandal of those that feared God, and waited daily in the temple, not 
made with hands, for the consolation of Israel; the Jew inward, and 
Circumcision in spirit. 

This people obtained the name of Ranters from their extravagant dis- 
courses and practices. For they interpreted Christ’s fulfilling of the law 
for us, to be a discharging of us from any obligation and duty the law 
required, instead-of the condemnation of the law for sins past, upon faith 
and repentance, and that now it was no sin to do that which before it 
was a sin to commit; the slavish fear of the law being taken off by 
Christ, and all things good that man did, if he did but do them with the 
mind and persuasion that it was so. Insomuch that divers fell into 
gross and enormous practices; pretending in excuse thereof, that they 
could, without evil, commit the same act which was sin in another 
to do; thereby distinguishing between the action and the evil of it, 
by the direction of the mind and intention in the doing of it. Which was 
to make sin super-abound by the aboundings of grace, and to turn from 

_the grace of God into wantonness, a securer way of sinning than before: 
as if Christ came not to take away sin, but that we might sin more freely 
at his cost, and with less danger to ourselves. I say, this ensnared 
divers, and brought them to an utter and lamentable loss, as to their 
eternal state; and they grew very troublesome to the better sort of peo- 
ple, and furnished the looser with an occasion to prophane. 

It was about that very same time, as you may see in the ensuing an- 
nals, that the eternal, wise, and good God was pleased, in his infinite 
love, to horour, and visit this benighted and bewildered nation with his 


PREFACE. id 


glorious day-spring from on high; yea with a most sure and vertair 
sound of the word of light and life, through the testimony of a choser 
vessel, to an effectual and blessed purpose, can many thousands say 
“Glory be to the name of the Lord for ever.” 

For as it reached the conscience, and broke the heart, and brought 
many to a sense and search; so what people had been vainly seeking 
without, with much pains and cost, they by this ministry found within 
where it was they wanted what they sought for, viz. the right way to 
peace with God. For they were directed to the light of Jesus Christ 
within them, as the Seed and Leaven of the kingdom of God; near all, 
because in all, and God’s talent to all. A faithful and true witness and 
just monitor in every bosom. The gift and grace of God to life and sal- 
vation, that appears to all, though few regard it. This, the traditional 
christian, conceited of himself, and strong in his own will and righteous- 
ness, and overcome with blind zeal and passion, either despised as a low 
and common thing, or opposed as a novelty, under many hard names 
and opprobrious terms; denying, in his ignorant and angry mind, any 
fresh manifestation of God’s power and Spirit in man in these days, 
though never more needed to make true christians : not unlike those Jews 
of old, that rejected the Son of God at the very same time that they 
blindly professed to wait for the Messiah to come; because, alas, he ap- 
peared not among them according to their carnal mind and expectation. 

This brought forth many abusive books, which filled the greater sort 
with envy, and lesser with rage, and made the way and progress of this 
blessed testimony strait and narrow indeed to those that received it. 
However, God owned his own work, and this testimony did effectually 
reach, gather, comfort, and establish the weary and heavy laden, the 

ngry and thirsty, the poor and needy, the mournful and sick of many 

aladies, that had spent all upon physicians of no value, and waited for 
elief from heaven, help only from above : seeing, upon a serious trial of 
all things, nothing else would do but Christ himself, the light of his coun- 
tenance, a touch of his garment, and help from his hand, who cured the 
poor woman’s issue, raised the centurion’s servant, the widow’s son, the 
ruler’s daughter, and Peter’s mother, and, like her, they no sooner felt his 
power and efficacy upon their souls, but they gave up to obey him in a 
testimony to his power, and with resigned wills and faithful hearts, 
through all mockings, contradictions, beatings, prisons, and many other 
jeopardies that attended them for his blessed name’s sake. 

At truly, they were very many and very great; so that in all human 
probability they must have been swallowed up quick of the proud and 
boisterous waves that swelled and beat against them; but that the God 
of all their tender mercies was with them in his glorious authority, so 
that the hills often fled, and the mountains melted before the power that 
filled them; working mightily for them, as well as in them, one ever 
following the other. By which they saw plainly, to their exceeding great 
confirmation and comfort, “ that all things were possible with him with 
“ whom they had to do.” And that the more that which God required 
seemed to cross man’s wisdom, and expose them to man’s wrath, the 
more God appeared to help and carry them through all to his glory: in- 
somuch that if ever any people could say in truth, “ Thou art our sun 
“and our shield, our rock and sanctuary, and by thee we have leaped 
“over a wall, and by thee we have run through a troop, and by thee we 
“have put the armies of the aliens to flight,” these people had right ta 

B 


x ‘ PREFACE. 


say it. And as God had delivered their souls of the wearisome burthens 
of sin and vanity, and enriched their poverty of spirit, and satisfied their 
great hunger and thirst after eternal righteousness, and filled them with 
the good things of his own house, and made them stewards of his mani- 
fold gifts; so they went forth to all quarters of these nations, to declare 
to the inhabitants thereof, what God had done for them; what they had 
found, and where and how they had found it; viz. the way to peace with 
God: inviting them to come and see and taste for themselves, the trutn 
f what they declared unto them. 

And as their testimony was to the principle of God in man, the pre- 
cious pearl and leaven of the kingdom, as the only blessed means ap- 
pointed of God to quicken, convince, and sanctify man; so they opened 
to them what it was in itself, and what it was given to them for; how 
they might know it from their own spirit, and that of the subtil appear- 
ance of the evil one, and what it would do for all those, whose minds 
are turned off from the vanity of the world, and its lifeless ways and 
teachers, and adhere to this blessed light in themselves, which discovers 
and condemns sin in all its appearances, and shows how to overcome it, 
if minded and obeyed in its holy manifestations and convictions: giving 
power to such to avoid and resist those things that do not please God, 
and to grow strong in love, faith, and good works: that so man, whom 
sin hath made as a wilderness, over-run with briars and thorns, might 
become as the garden of God, cultivated by his divine power, and replen- 
ished with the most virtuous and beautiful plants of God’s own right-hand 
planting, to his eternal praise. 

But these experimental preachers of glad tidings of God’s truth and 
kingdom could not run when jhey list, or pray or preach when they 
pleased, but as Christ their Redeemer prepared and moved them by his 
own blessed Spirit, for which they waited in their services and meetings, 
and spoke as that gave them utterance, and which was as those having 
authority, and not like the dreaming, dry, and formal Pharisees. And so 
it plainly appeared to the serious-minded, whose spiritual eye the Lord 
Jesus had in any measure opened; so that to one was given the word of 
exhortation, to another the word of reproof, to another the word of con- 
solation, and all by the same Spirit and in the good order thereof, to the 
convincing and edifying of many. 

And truly they waxed strong and bold through faithfulness; and by 
the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus became very fruitful ; thousands, 
in a short time, being turned to the truth through their testimony in minis- 
try and sufferings, insomuch as in most counties, and many of the con- 
siderable towns of England, meetings were settled, and daily there were 
added such as should be saved. For they were diligent to plant and to 
water, and the Lord blessed their labours with an exceeding great in- 
crease, notwithstanding all the opposition made to their blessed progress, 
by false rumours, calumnies, and bitter persecutions; not only from the 
powers of the earth, but from every one that listed to injure and abuse | 
them: so that they seemed indeed to be as poor sheep appointed to the 
slaughter, and as a people killed all the day long. 

ft were fitter for a volume than a preface, but so much as to repeat 
the contents of their cruel sufferings from professors as well as from pro- 
phane, and from magistrates as well as the rabble; so that it may well 
be said of this abused and despised people, they went forth weeping, and 
sowed in tears, bearing testimony to the precious seed, the seed of the 


o- 


7 


f 


\ 


PREFACE. XI 


kingdom, which stands nct in words, the finest, the highest that man’s wit cam 
use, but in power; the power of Christ Jesus, to whom God the Father hath 
given all power in heaven and in earth, that he might rule angels above, 
and men below; who impowered them, as their work witnesseth, by the 
many that were turned through their ministry from darkness to the light, 
and out of the broad into the narrow way, bringing people to a weighty, 
serious, and godly conversation; the practice of that doctrine which 
they taught. 

And as without this secret divine power there is no quickening and 
regenerating of dead souls, so the want of this generating and begetting 
power and life is the cause of the little fruit that the many ministers that 
have been, and are in the world bring forth. O that both ministers and 


, people were sensible of this! My soul is often troubled for them, and sor- 


‘row and mourning compass me about for their sakes. O that they were 
| wise! O that they would consider and lay to heart the things that truly 
and substantially make for their lasting peace! 

Two things are to be briefly touched upon, the doctrine they taught, 
and the exampie they led among all people. I have already touched upon 
their fundamental principle, which is as the corner stone of their fabrick : 
and to speak eminently and properly, their characteristick, or main dis- 
tinguishing point or principle, viz. the light of Christ within, as God’s gifi 
for-man’s salvation. This, I say, is asthe root of the goodly tree of doc- 
trines, that grew and branched out from it, which I shall now mention in 
their natural and experimental order. 

First, repentance from dead works-to serve the living God. Which 
comprehends three operations. First, A sight of sin. Secondly, A sense 
and godly sorrow for it.. Thirdly, An-amendment for the time to come. 
This was the repentance they preached and pressed, and a natural result 
from the principle they turned all people unto. For of light came 
sight; and of sight came sense and sorrow; and of sense and sorrow, 
came amendment of life: which doctrine of repentance leads to justifi- 
cation; that is, forgiveness of the sins that are past through Christ, 
the alone propitiation; and the sanctification or purgation of the soul 
from the defiling nature and habits of sin present; which is justifica- 
tion in the complete~senseof that word ; comprehending both justifica- 
tion from the guilt of the sins that are past, as if they had never been 
committed, through the love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus; and the 
creature’s being made inwardly just through the cleansing and sanctifying 
power and Spirit of Christ revealed in the soul; which is commonly 
called sanctification. 

From hence sprang a second doctrine thev were led to declare, as the 
mark of the prize of the high calling of all true Christians, viz. perfec- 
tion from sin, according to the scriptures of truth, which testify it to be 
the end of Christ’s coming, and the nature of his kingdom, and for which 
his Spirit was given. But they never held a perfection in wisdom and 
glory in this life, or from natural infirmities or death, as some have with 
a weak or ill mind imagined and insinuated against them. 

This they called a redeemed state, regeneration, or the new birth. 
teaching everywhere according to their foundation, that without this 
work were known, there was no inheriting the kingdom of God. 

Third, to an acknowledgment of eternal rewards and punishment, as 
they have good reason; for else of all people, certainly they must be the 
‘aust miserable: who for about forty years have been exceeding great 


kl PREFACE. 


sufferers for their profession, and in some cases treated worse than the 
worst of mén, yea as the refuse and off-scouring of all things. 

This was the purport of their doctrine and ministry; which, for the 
most part, is what other professors of Christianity pretend to hold in 
‘ words and forms, but not in the power of godliness; that has been long 
lost by men’s departing from that principle and seed of life that is in man, 
and which man has not regarded, but lost the sense of, and in and by 
which he can only be quickened in his mind to serve the living God in 
newness.of life. For as the life of religion was lost, and the generality 
lived and worshipped God after their own wills, and not after the will of 
God, nor the mind of Christ, which stood in the works and fruits of the 
Holy Spirit; so that which they pressed was not notion but experience, 
nor formality but godliness ; as being sensible in themselves, through the 
work of God’s righteous judgments, that without holiness no man should 
ever see the Lord with comfort. 

Besides these doctrines, and out of them, as the larger branches, there 
sprang forth several particular doctrines, that did exemplify and further 
explain the truth and efficacy of the general doctrine before observed in 
their lives and examples. As, 

I. Communion and loving one another. This is a noted mark in the 
mouth of all sorts of people concerning them. “ They will meet, they 
will help and stick one to another.” Whence it is common to hear some 
say, “ Look how. the Quakers love and take care of one another.” 
Others less moderate will say, “The Quakers love none but themselves ;” 
and if loving one another, and having an intimate communion in religion, 
and constant care to meet to worship God and help one another, be any 
mark of primitive christianity. they had it, blessed be the Lord, in an am 
ple manner. 

Il. To love enemies: this they both taught and practised: for they 
did not only refuse to-be-revenged for injuries done them, and con 
demned it as of an unchristian spirit, but they did freely forgive, yea help 
and relieve, those that had been cruel to them, when it was in their 
power to have been even with them; of which many and singular in- 
stances might be given: endeavoring, through patience, to overcome all 
injustice and oppression, and preaching this doctrine as christian for 
others to follow. 

III. The sufficiency of truth-speaking, according to Christ’s own form 
of words of yea, yea, and nay, nay, among christians, without swearing, 
both from Christ’s express prohibition to “swear at all,” Mat. v. and 
for that they being under the tie and bond of truth in themselves, there 
was both no necessity for an oath, and it would be a reproach to their 
christian veraeity to assure their truth by such an extraordinary way 
of speaking: but offering at the same time to be punished to the full for 
false speaking, as others for perjury, if ever guilty of it; and hereby they 
exclude, with all true, all false and prophane swearing; for which the 
land did and doth mourn, and the great God was and is not a little 
offended with it. , 

IV. Not fighting but sufferingis_another testimony peculiar to this 
people: they athrm that Christianity teacheth people “to beat their 
“ swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and to 
‘learn war no more, that so the wolf may lie down with the lamb, and 
“ the lion with ‘he calf, and nothing that destroys be entertained in the 
“ hearts of people ;” exhorting them to employ their zeal against sin, and 


PREFACE. Rli 


turn their anger against satan, and no longer war one against another 
because_all-wars and fightings come of men’s own hearts’ lusts, ac- 
cording to the apostle James, and not of the meek Spirit of Christ Jesus, 
who is captain of another warfare, and which is carried on with other 
weapons. Thus, as truth-speaking succeeded swearing, so faith and 
truth succeeded fighting, in the doctrine and practice of this people. Nor 
ought they for this to be obnoxious to civil government, since if they 
cannot fight for it, neither can they fight against.it;.which is no mean 
security to the state: nor is it reasonable.that people should be blamed 
for not doing more for others than they can.do-for themselves. And 
Christianity set aside, if the costs and fruits of war were well considered, 
peace, with its inconveniencies, is generally preferable. But though they 
were not for fighting, they were for submitting to government ; and that 
not only-for fear, but for conscience sake, where government doth not 
interfere with conscience: believing it to be an ordinance of God, and 
where it is justly administered, a great benefit to mankind: though it has 
been their lot, through blind zeal in some, and interest in others, to have 
felt the strokes of it with greater weight and rigour than any other per- 
suasion in this age; whilst they, of all others (religion set aside) have 
given the civil magistrate the least occasion of trouble in the discharge 
of his office. 

V. Another part of the character of this people is, they refuse to pay 
tythes, or maintenance to a national ministry, and that for two reasons ; 
the one is, that they believe all compelled maintenance, even to gospel 
ministers, to be unlawful, because expressly contrary to Christ’s com- 
mand, who said,“ Freely you have received, freely give:” at least, that 
the main enance of gospel ministers should be free and not forced. The 
other reason of their refusal is, because those ministers are not gospel 
ones, in that the HolyGhost is not their foundation, but human arts and 
parts: so that it is not matter of humour or sullenness, but pure con- 
science towards God, that they cannot help to support national ministers 
where they dwell, which are but too much and too visibly become ways 
of worldly advantage and preferment. 

VI. Not to respect persons, was another of their doctrines and prac- 
tices, for which they were often buffeted.and abused. They affirmed it 
to be sinful to give flattering titles, or to use vain gestures and compli- 
ments of respect; though to virtue and authority they ever made a dif- 
ference, but after their plain and homely manner, yet sincere and sub- 
stantial way ; well remembering the example of Mordecai and Elihu, 
but more especially the command of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ, 
who forbad his followers to call men Rabbi, which implies Lord and 
Master, also the fashionable greetings and salutations of those times; that 
so self-love and honour, to which the proud mind of man is incident, in 
his fallen estate, might not be indulged but rebuked. 

They also used the plain language of Thou and Thee to a single person, 
whatever was his degree among men. And indeed the wisdom of God 
was much seen, in bringing forth this_people in so plain an appearance ; 
for it was a close and distinguishing test upon the spirit of those they 
came among; shewing their insides and what predominated, notwith- 
standing their high and great profession of religion. This, among the 
rest, sounded so harsh to many of them, and they took it so ill, that they 
would say, “ Thou me, thou my dog: if thou thouest me, I’ll thou thy 
“teeth down thy throat,” forgetting the language they use to God in their 


xiv PREFACE. 


own prayers, and the common style of the Scriptures, and that it 1s an 
absolute cnd essential propriety of speech: and what good had their re 
ligion done them, who were so sensibly touch’d with indignation for the 
use of this plain, honest, and true speech ? 

VII. They recommeuded silence by their example, having very few 
words upon all occasions: they were at a word in dealing; nor could 
their customers’ many words tempt them from it; having more regard 
for truth than custom, to example than gain, they sought solitude ; but 
when in company, they would neither use nor-willingly hear unnecessary 
as well as unlawful discourses; whereby they preserved their minds 
pure and undisturbed from unprofitable thoughts and diversions: nor 
could they humour the custom of “ good night, good morrow, God 
‘speed ;” for they knew the night was good, and the day was good, 
without wishing of either; and that in the other expression, the holy 
name of God was too lightly and_untninkingly used, and therefore taken 
in-vain. Besides they were words and wishes of course, and are usually 
as little meant, as are love and service in the custom of cap and knee; 
and superfluity in those as well as in other things was burthensome to 
them, and therefore they did not only decline to use them, but found 
themselves often prest to reprove the practice. 

For the same reason they forbore drinking to people, or pledging of 
chem, as the manner of the world is: a practice that is not only unne- 
cessary, but they thought evil in the tendencies of it; being a provoca- 
ion to drinking more than did people good, as well as that it was in itself 
vain and heathenish. 

VIII. Their way of marriage is peculiar to them, and is a distinguish- 
ing practice from all other societies professing christianity. They say 
that marriage is an ordinance of God, and that God only can rightly join 
man and woman in marriage. Therefore they use neither priest nor 
magistrate, but the man and woman concerned take each other as hus- 
band and wife in the presence of divers credible witnesses, “ promising 
“unto each other, with God’s assistance, to be loving and faithful in that 
“relation till death shall separate them.” But, antecedent to all this, they 
first present themselves to the monthly meeting for the affairs of the 
church where they reside; there declaring their intentions to take one 
another as man and wife, if the said meeting have nothing material to 
object against it. ‘They are constantly asked the necessary questions, as 
n case of parents or guardians, if they have acquainted them with their 
intention, and have their consent, &c. The method of the meeting is to 
take a minute thereof, and to appoint proper persons to enquire of their 
conversation and clearness from all others, and whether they have dis- 
charged their duty to their parents or guardians, and make report thereof 
the next monthly meeting ; where the same parties are desired to give 
their attendance. In case it appears they proceeded orderly, the meet- 
ing passes their proposal, and so records it in their meeting-book ; and in 
case the woman be a widow and hath children, due care is there taken 
that provision also be made by her for the orphans before the said mar- 
riage ; advising the parties concerned to appoint a convenient time and 
place, and to give fitting notice to their relations, and such friends and 
neighbours as they desire should be the witnesses of their marriage: 
where they :ake one another by the hand, and by name promising reci- 
procally after the manner before expressed. Of all which proceedings a 
narrative. in a way of certificate, is made, to which the said parties first 


PREFACE. xv 


set their hands, thereby making it their act and deed; and then divers of 
the relations, spectators, and auditors set their names as witnesses of 
what they said and signed. Which certificate is afterwards registered 
in the record belonging to the meeting where the marriage is solemnized. 
Which regular method has been, as it deserves adjudged in courts of law 
a good marriage, where it has been disputed and contested for want o1 
the accustomed formality of priest and ring, &c. Which ceremonies 
they beve refused, not out of humour, but conscience reasonably ground- 
ed, inasmuch as no scripture-example tells us, that the priest had any 
other part of old time than that of a witness among the rest, before whom 
the Jews used to take one another: and therefore this people look upon 
:t as an imposition to advance the power and profits of the clergy. And 
for the use of the ring, it is enough to say, that it was an heathen and 
vain custom, and never in practice among the people of God, Jews or 
primitive Christians. The words of the usual form, as “ With my body 
I thee worship,” &c. are hardly defensible: in short, they are more care- 
ful, exact, and regular than any form now used, and it is free of the in- 
conveniencies other methods are attended with. Their care and checks 
being so many, and such as no clandestine marriages can be performed 
among them. 

IX. It may not be unfit to say something here of their births and bu- 
rials, which make up so much of the pomp and solemnity of too many 
called Christians. For births, the parents name their own children, 
which is usually some days after they are born, in the presence of the 
midwife (if she can be there) and those that were at the birth, &c. who 
afterwards sign a certificate, for that purpose prepared, of the birth 
and name of the child or children, which is recorded in a proper book, 
in the monthly meeting, to which the parents belong ; avoiding the accus- 
tomed ceremonies and festivals. * 

X. Their burials are performed with the same simplicity. If the corpse 
of the deceased be near any public meeting-place, it is usually carried 
thither, for the more convenient reception of those that accompany it to 
the ground they bury in; and it so falls out sometimes, that while the 


behind them, and their love of that they loved. Which conduct of theirs, 
tho’ unmodish or unfashionable, leaves nothing of the substance of things 


KV] PREFACE. 


negiected ur undone; and as they aim at no more, so that simplicity of 
life is what they observe with great satisfaction, though it sometimes 
happens not to be without the mockeries of the vain world they live in. 

These things gave them a rough and disagreeable appearance with 
the generality ; who thought them turners of the world upside-down, as 
indeed in some sense they were ; but in no other than that wherein Paul 
was so charged, viz. to bring things back into their primitive and right 
order again. For these and such like practices of theirs were not the 
result of humour, as some have fancied, but a fruit of inward sense, 
which God, through his fear, had begotten in them. They did not con- 
sider how to contradict the world, or distinguish themselves ; being none 
of their business, as it was not their interest, no, it was not the result of 
their consultation, or a framed design to declare or recommend schism 
or novelty. But God having given them a sight of themselves, they saw 
the whole world in the same glass of truth; and sensibly discerned the 
affections and passions of men, and the rise and tendency of things. 
What gratified “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride 
“ of life, which are not of the Father, but of the world ;’ and from thence 
sprang in that night of darkness and apostacy, which hath been over 
people, through their degeneracy from the light and Spirit of God, these 
and many other vain customs; which are seen by the heavenly day of 
Christ, which dawns in the soul, to be, either wrong in their original, or, 
by time or abuse, hurtful in their practice. And though these things 
seemed trivial to some, and rendered this people stingy and conceited in 
such persons’ opinions, there was and is more in them than they were 
aware of. It was not very easy to our primitive friends to make them- 
selves sights and spectacles, and the scorn and derision of the world ; 
which they easily foresaw must be the consequence of so unfashionable 
a conversation in it. But herein was the wisdom of God seen, in the 
foolishness of these things. First, That they discovered the satisfaction 
and concern that people had in and for the fashions of this world, not- 
withstanding their pretences to another; in that any disappointment 
about them came so very near them, that the greatest honesty, virtue, 
wisdom, and ability, were unwelcome without them. Secondly, It sea- 
sonably and profitably divided conversation; for making their society 
uneasy to their relations and acquaintance, it gave them the opportunity 
of more retirement and solitude, wherein they met with better company, 
even the Lord God their Redeemer, and grew strong in his love, power, 
and wisdom, and were thereby better qualified for his service ; and the 

success abundantly shewed it; blessed be the name of the Lord. 

And though they were not great and learned in the esteem of this 
world (for then they had not wanted followers upon their own credit 
and authority) yet they were generally of the most sober of the several 
persuasions they were in, and of the most repute for religion; and many 
of them of good capacity, substance, and account among men. 

And also some among them neither wanted for parts, learning nor 
estate; though then, as of old, not many wise, nor noble, &c. were 
called, or at least received the heavenly call; because of the Besse aM 
attended the profession of it in sincerity: but neither do parts or learn- 
14g make men the better Christians, though the better orators and dis- 
pitants; and it is the ignorance of people about the divine gift, that 
causes that vulgar and mischievous mistake. Theory and practice, ex- 
pression and enjoyment, words and life, are two things. Oh! ’tis the 


. 


PREFACE. XVL 


penitent, the reformed, the lowly, the watchful, the self-denying and holy 
soul that_is the Christian; and that frame is the fruit and work of the 
Spirit, which is the life of Jesus; whose life, though hid in God the Fa- 
ther, is shed abroad in the hearts of them that truly believe. Oh! that 
people did but know this to cleanse them, to circumcise them, to quicken 
them, and to make them new creatures indeed ; re-created or regene- 
rated after Christ Jesus unto good works: that they might live to God, 
and not to themselves; and offer up living prayers, and living praises, 
to the living God, through his own living Spirit, in which he is only to 
be worshipped in this gospel-day. Oh! that they that read me could 
but feel me ; for my heart is affected with this merciful visitation of the 
Father of lights and spirits to this poor nation, and the whole world 
through the same testimony. Why should the inhabitants thereof reject 
it? Why should they lose the blessed benefit of it? Why should they 
not turn to the Lord with all their hearts, and say from the heart, 
“ Speak, Lord, for now thy poor servants hear?” Oh! that thy will may 
be done, thy great, thy good and holy will, on earth as it is in heaven: do 
it in us, do it upon us, do what thou wilt with us; for we are thine, and 
desire to glorify thee our Creator, both for that, and because thou art 
our Redeemer, for thou art redeeming us from the earth, from the vani- 
ties and pollutions of it, to be a peculiar people unto thee. Oh! this 
were a brave day for England, if so she could say in truth. But alas, 
the case is otherwise; for which some of thine inhabitants, O land of my 
nativity! have mourned over thee with bitter wailing and lamentation. 
Their heads have been indeed as waters, and their eyes as fountains of 
tears, because of thy transgression and stifineckedness; because thou 
wilt not hear, and fear, and return to the Rock, even thy Rock, O Eng- 
land! from whence thou wert hewn. But be thou warned, O land of 
great possession, to receive him into thy heart! Behold, at that door it 
is he hath stood so long knocking, but thou wilt yet have none of him. 
Oh! be thou awakened, lest Jerusalem's judgments do swiftly overtake 
thee, because of Jerusalem’s sins that abound in thee. For she abounded 
in formality, but made void the weighty things of God’s law, as thou 
daily dost. 

She withstood the Son of God in the flesh, and thou resistest the Son 
of God in the Spirit. He would have gathered her, as a hen gathereth 
her chickens under her wings, and she would not! so would he have 
sathered thee out of thy lifeless profession, and have brought thee to in- 
erit substance, to have known his power and kingdom, for which he 
uften knocked within, by his Grace and Spirit, and without, by his ser- 
vants and witnesses: but thou wouldst not be gathered: but on the 
contrary, as Jerusalem of old persecuted the manifestation of the Son 
of God in the flesh, and crucified him, and whipped and imprisoned his 
servants, so hast thou, O land, crucified to thyself afresh the Lord of 
life and glory, and done despite to his Spirit of grace: slighting the 
fatherly visitation, and persecuting the blessed dispensers of it by thy 
laws and magistrates; though they have early and late pleaded with 
thee in the power and Spirit of the Lord, in love and meekness, that 
thou mightest know the Lord, aad serve him, and become the glory of 
al) lands. 

But thou hast evilly entreated and requited them. Thou hast set at 
nought all their counsel, and wouldst have none of their reproof, as thou 
—" have done. Their appearance was too strait, and their qualifi. 

C 


XVill PREFACE. 


cations were too mean for thee to receive them, who, like the Jews of 
old, that cried, “ Is not this the carpenter’s son! and are not his brethrer 
“among us! which of the scribes, of the learned (the orthodox) be- 
“lieve in him?” Prophesying their fall in a year or two, and making and 
executing of severe laws to bring it to pass, by endeavoring to terrify 
them out of their holy way, or destroying them for abiding faithful to it 
But thou hast seen how many governments that rose against them. and 
determined their downfal, have been overturned and extinguished, and 
that they are still preserved, and become a great and considerable peo- 
ple among the middle sort of thy numerous inhabitants. And notwith- 
standing the many difficulties, without and within, which they have 
labored under, since the Lord God Eternal first gathered them, they are 
an increasing people, the Lord still adding unto them, in divers parts, 
such as shall be saved, it they persevere to the end. And to thee were 
they and are they lifted up as a standard, and as a city set upon a hill, 
and to the nations round about thee, that in their light thou mayest come 
to see light, even in Christ Jesus, the light of the world; and therefore 
thy light and life too, if thou wouldst but turn from thy many evil ways, 
and receive and obey it. For in the “light of the Lamb must the na- 
“tions of them that are saved walk,” as the scriptures testify. 

Remember, O nation of great profession! how the Lord has waited 
upon thee since the days of reformation, and the many mercies and 
judgments with which he has pleaded with thee; and awake and arise 
out of thy deep sleep, and yet hear his word in thy heart, that thou 
mayest live. 

Let not this thy day of visitation pass over thy head, nor neglect thou 
so great salvation as is this which is come to thy house, O England! 
For why shouldst thou die, O land that God desires to bless? Be assured 
it is he that has been in the midst of this people, in the midst of thee; 
and no delusion, as thy mistaken teachers have made thee believe. And 
this thou shalt find by their marks and fruits, if thou wilt consider them 
in the spirit of moderation. For, ~ oi 

I. They were changed men themselves before they went about to 
change others. Their hearts were rent as well as their garments 
changed, and they knew the power and work of God upon them. This 
was seen by the great alteration it made, and their stricter course of 
life, and more godly conversation, that immediately followed upon it, 

IJ. They went not forth or preached in their own time or will, but in 
the will of God, and spoke not their own studied matter, but as they 
were opened and moved of his Spirit, with which they were well ac- 
quain‘ed in their own conversion; which cannot he expressed to carnal 
men so as to give them any intelligible account; for to such it is, as 
Christ said, “like the blowing of the wind, which no man knows 
“ whence it cometh, or whither it goeth:” yet this proof and seal went 
along with their ministry, that many were turned from their lifeless pro- 
fessions and the evil of their ways, to the knowledge of God and an 
holy life, as thousands can witness. And as they freely received what 
they had to say from the Lord, so they freely administered it to others. 

III. The bent and stress of their ministry was conversion to God, re- 
generation, and holiness; not schemes of doctrines and verbal creeds, 
or new forms of worship; but a leaving off in religion the superfluous. 
and reducing the ceremonious and formal part, and pressing earnestly 


a 


PREFACE. XIX 


the substantial, the necessary and profitable part; as all upon a serious 
reflection must and do acknowledge. 

IV. They directed people to a principle, by which all that they as- 
serted, preached, and exhorted others to, might be wrought in them, 
and known, through experience, to them te be true; which is a high and 
distinguishing mark of the truth of their ministry; both that they knew 
what they said, and were not afraid of coming to the test. For as they 
were bold from certainty, so they required conformity upon no human 
authority, but upon conviction, and the conviction of this principle, 
which they asserted was in them that they preached unto, and unto that 
directed them, that they might examine and prove the reality of those 
things which they had affirmed of it, and its manifestation and work in 
man. And this is more than the many ministries in the world pretend 
to. They declare of religion; say many things true in words, of God, 
Christ, and the Spirit; of holiness and heaven; that all men should re- 
pent and mend their lives, or they will go te hell, &c. but which of them 
all pretend to speak of their own knowledge and experience! or ever 
directed men to a divine principle or agent, placed of God in man, to 
help him? and how to know it, and wait to feel its power to work that 
good and acceptable will of God in them ? 

Some of them indeed have spoke of the Spirit, and the operations of 
it to sanctification, and performance of worship to God; but where and 
how to find it, and wait in it to perform, was yet as a mystery reserved 
for this further degree of reformation. So that this people did not only 
in words more than equally press repentance, conversion, and holiness, 
but did it knowingly and experimentally ; and direc‘ed those to whom 
they preached to a sufficient principle, and told them where it is, and by 
what tokens they might know it, and which way they might experience 
the power and efficacy of it to their souls’ happiness: which is more 
than theory and speculations, upon which most other ministries depend ; 
for here is certainly a bottom upon which man may boldly appear be- 
fore God in the great day of account. 

V. They reached to the inward state and condition of people, which 
is an evidence of the virtue of their principle, and of their ministring 

(from it, and not their own imaginations, glosses, or comments upon 
)scripture. For nothing reaches the heart but what is from the heart, or 
piérees the conscience but what comes from a living conscience; inso- 
much as it hath often happened, where people have under secrecy re- 
vealed their state or condition to some choice friends for advice or ease, 
they have been so particularly directed in the ministry of this people, 
that they have challenged their friends with discovering their secrets, 
and telling the preachers their cases; yea, the very thoughts and pur- 
poses of the hearts of many have been so plainly detected, that they 
have. like Nathaniel, cried out of this inward appearance of Christ, 
“Thou art the Son of God, thou art the king of Israel.” And those’ that 
have embraced this divine principle, have found this mark of its truth 
ana divinity, that the woman of Samaria did of Christ when in the flesh, 
to be the Messiah, viz. “It had told them all that ever they did;” shewed 
them their insides, the most inward secrets of their hearts, and laid judg- 
ment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; of which thousands 
can at this day give in their witness. So that nothing has been affirmed 
by this people of the power and virtue of this heavenly principle, that 
such as have turned to it have not found true, and more; and that one 


2 


— 


a 
xx PREFACE 


nalf had not been told to them of what they have seen of the power 
purity, wisdom, mercy, and goodness of God herein. 

VI. The accomplishments with which this principle fitted even some 
of the meanest of this people for their work and service, furnishing some 
of them with an extraordinary understanding in divine things, and an 
admirable fluency and taking way of expression, which gave occasion 
to some to wonder, saying of them, as of their Master, * Is not this such 
a mechanick’s son? how came he by this learning?” As from thence 
others took occasion to suspect and insinuate they were jesuits in dis- 
guise, who have had the reputation of learned men for an age past, 
though there was not the least ground of truth for any such reflection. 

VII. They came forth low, and despised and hated, as the primitive 
christians did, and not by the help of worldly wisdom or power, as 
former reformations.in part have done; but in all things it may be said 
this people were brought forth in the cross, in a contradiction to the 
ways, worship, fashion, and customs of this world, yea against wind and 
tide, that so no flesh might glory before God. 

They could have no design to themselves in this work, thus to expose 
themselves to scorn and abuse, to spend and be spent; leaving wife and 
children, house and land, and all that can be accounted dear to men, 
with their lives in their hands, being daily in jeopardy, to declare this 
primitive message, 1 John i. v. revived in their spirits by the good Spirit 
and power of God; viz. “ That God is light, and in him is no darkness 
“at all; and that he has sent his Son a light into the world to enlighten 
“all men in order to salvation; and that they that say they have fellow- 
“ship with God, and are his children and people, and yet walk in dark- 
“ness, (viz. in disobedience to the light in their consciences, and after 
“the vanity of this world) they lie and do not the truth. But that ali 
“such as love the light and bring their deeds to it, and walk in the light, 
“as God is light, the blood of Jesus Christ his son should cleanse them 
‘from all sin.” : 

VIII. Their known great constancy and patience in suffering for their 
testimony, in all the branches of it, and that sometimes unto death, by 
beatings. bruisings, long and crowded imprisonments, and noisome 
dungeons. Four of them in New England dying by the hands of the 
executioner, purely for preaching amongst that people; besides banish- 
ments and excessive plunders and sequestrations of their goods and 
estates, almost in all parts, not easily to be expressed, and less to be en- 
dured, but by those that have the support of a good and glorious cause; 
refusing deliverance by any indirect ways and means, as often as it was 
offered to them. 

IX. That they did not only not shew any disposition to revenge, when 
it Was at any time in their power, but forgave their cruel enemies, shew- 
ing mercy to those that had none for them. 

X. Their plainness with those in authority, not unlike the ancient 
prophets; not fearing to tell them to their faces of their private and 
publick sins, and their prophecies to them of their afflictions and down- 
tal, when in the top of their glory; also of some national judgments, as 
of the plague and fire of London, in express terms, and likewise par- 
ticular ones to divers persecutors, which accordingly overtook them, 
and which were very remarkable in the places where they dwelt, ana 
im time they may be made publick for the glory of God. 

Thus, reader, thou seest this people in their rise, principles, ministry, 


._ «© 
PREFACE. XX 


and progress, both their general and particular testimony, by which thou 
mayest be informed how and upon what foot they sprung and became 
so considerable a people. It remains next that I shew also their care, 
conduct, and discipline, as a christian and reformed society, that they 
might be found living up to their own principles and profession; and tL!s 
the rather, because they have hardly suffered more in their character 
from the unjust charge of error, than by the false imputation of dis- 
orde:; which calumny indeed has not failed to follow all the true steps 
that were ever made to reformation, and under which reproach none 
suffered more than the primitivechristians themselves, that were the 
honor of christianity, and the great lights and examples of their own 
and succeeding ages. 

This people increasing daily both in town and country, an holy care 
fell upon some of the elders among them for the benefit and service of 
the church. And the first business in their view, after the example of 
the primitive saints, was the exercise of charity, to supply the necessi- 
ties of the poor, and answer the like occasions: wherefore collections 
were early and liberally made for that and divers other services in the 
church, and intrusted with faithful men, fearing God, and of good re- 
pori, who were not weary in well-doing; adding often of their own in 
large proportions, which they never brought to account or desired should 
\ be known, much less restored to them, that none might want, nor any 
service be retarded or disappointed. 

They were also very_careful, that every one that belonged to them 
answered their profession in their behavior among men upon all occa- 
sions; that they-lived peaceably, and were in all things good examples. 
They found themselves engaged to record their sufferings and services; 
and in case of marriage, which they could not perform in the usual 
methods of the nation, but among themselves, they took care that all 
things were clear between the parties and all others, and it was then 
rare that any one entertained such inclination to a person on that ac- 
count, till he or she had communicated it secretly to some very weighty 
and eminent friends among them, that they might have a sense of the 
matter; looking to the counsel and unity of their brethren as of great 
moment to them. But because the charge of the poor, the number of 
orphans, marriages, sufferings, and other matters multiplied, and that it 
was good that the churches were in some way and method of proceed- 
ing in such affairs among them, to the end they might the better cor- 
respond upon occasion, where a member of one meeting might have to 
do with one of another; it pleased the Lord in his wisdom and goodness 
to open the understanding of the first instrument-of this dispensation of 
life, about a good and orderly way of proceeding; and he felt an holy 
concern to visit the churches in person throughout this nation, to begin 
and establish it among them; and by his epistles the like was done in 
other nations and provinces abroad, which he also afterwards visited 
and helped in that service, as shall be observed when I come to speak 
of him. 

Now the care, conduct, and discipline, I have been speaking of, and 
which is now practised among this people, is as followeth: 

This godly elder, in every county where he travelled, exhorted them, 
that some out of every meeting of worship should meet together once in 
the month, to confer about the wants and occasions of the church: and 
ts the case reqr'red, so those monthly meetings were fewer or more ia 


XXil PREFACE. 


number in every respective county; four or six meetings of worshir 
usually making one monthly meeting of business. And accordingly the 
brethren met him from place to place, and began the said meetings ;,. viz. 
“For the poor, orphans, orderly walking, integrity to their profession, 
‘‘births, marriages,—burials, suflerings, &c.” And that these monthly 
meetings should in each county make up one quarterly meeting, where 
the most zealous and eminent friends of the county should assemble to 
communicate, advise, and help one another, especially when any busi- 
ness seemed difficult, or a monthly meeting was tender of determining 
a matter 

Also taat these quarterly meetings should digest the reports of the 
monthly meetings, and prepare one for the county against the yearly 
meeting, in which the quarterly meetings resolve, which is held yearly in 
London, where the churches in this nation and other nations and prov- 
inces meet, by chosen members of their respective counties, both mutu- 
ally to communicate their church-affairs, and to advise and be advised 
in any depending case to edification; also to provide a requisite stock 
for the discharge of general expences for general services in the church, 
not needful to be here particularized. > 

At these meetings any of the members of the churches may come, if 
they please, and speak their minds freely in, the fear of God to any mat- 
ter; but the mind of each meeting therein represented is chiefly under- 
stood. as to particular cases, in the sense delivered by the persons de- 
puted or chosen for that service. 

During their yearly meeting, to which their other meetings refer in 
their order, and resolve themselves, care is taken by a select number, 
for that service chosen by the general assembly, to draw up the minutes 
of the said meeting upon the several matters that have been under con- 
sideration therein, to the end that the respective quarterly and monthly 
meetings may be informed of all proceedings, together with a general 
exhortation to holiness, unity and charity: of all which proceedings in 
yearly, quarterly, and monthly meetings, due record is kept by some one 
appointed for that service, or that hath voluntarily undertaken it. These 
meetings are opened and usually concluded in their solemn waiting upon 
God, who is sometimes graciously pleased to answer them with as signal 
evidences of his love and presence, as in any other of their meetings for 
worship. 

It is farther to be noted, that, in these solemn assemblies for the 
church’s service, there is no one presides among them after the manner 
of the assemblies of other people, Christ only being their president, as he 
is pleased to appear in life and wisdom in any one or more of them, to 
whom, whatever be their capacity or degree, the rest adhere with a firm 
unity, not of authority but-conviction, which is the divine authority and 
way of Christ’s power and spirit in his people; making good his blessed 
promise, “That he would be in the midst of his, where and whenever 
‘ they were met together in his name, even to the end of the world.” Se 

e it. 

Now it may be expected I should here set down what sort of authority 
‘s exercised by this people upon such members of their society as cor- 
respond not in their lives with their profession, and that are refractory 
to this good and wholesome order settled among them; and the rather, 
hecause they have not wanted their reproach and suffer ng from some 
-ongues upon this occasion in a plentiful manner. 


PREFACE. XXIL 


The power they exercise is such as Christ has given to his own [-eo- 
ple to the end of the world in the persons of his disciples; viz. “ To 
oversee, exhort, reprove.” and-after long-suffering and waiting upon the 
disobedient and refractory, “to disown them as any more of their com- 
“munion, or that they will any longer stand charged in the sight and 
‘judgment of God or men with their conversation or behaviour as one 
‘of them until they repent.” The subject-matter about which tl is 
authority, in any of the foregoing branches of it, is exercised, is, first, 
in relation to common and general practice: and, secondly, about those 
things that more strictly refer to their own character and profession, 
and distinguish them from all other professors of christianity ; avoiding 
two extremes upon which many split, viz. persecution and libertinism. 
A coercive power to whip people into the temple; that such as will not 
conform, though against faith and conscience, shall be punished in their 
persons and estates; or leaving all loose and at large as to practice, un- 
accountable to all but God and the magistrate. ‘lo which hurtful ex- 
treme nothing has more contributed, than the abuse of church-power by 
such as suffer their passions and private interests to prevail with them to 
carry it to outward force and corporal punishment; a practice they have 
been taught to dislike by their extreme sufferings, as well as their known 
principle for an universal liberty of conscience. 

On the other hand they equally dislike an independency in society ; an 
unaccountableness in practice and conversation to the terms of their 
own communion, and to those that are the members of it. They distin- 

‘ guish betweenimposing any practice that immediately regards faith or 
worship (which is never to be done, nor suffered, or submitted unto) and 
requiring christian compliance with those methods that only respect 
church-business in its more-civil-part and concern, and that regard the 
discreet and orderly maintenance of the character of the society, as a 
sober and religious community. In-short, what is for the promotion of 
holiness and charity, that men may practice what they profess, live up 
to their own principles, and not be at liberty to give the lie to their own 
profession without rebuke. They compel none to them, but oblige those 
that are of them to walk suitably, or they are denied by them: that is 
all the mark they set upon them, and the power they exercise, or judge 
a christian society can exercise upon those that are the members of it. 

The way of their proceedings against such as have lapsed or trans- 
gressed is this. He is visited by some of them, and the matter of fact 
laid home to him, be it any evil practice against known and general 
virtue, or any branch of their particular testimony, which he, in com- 
mon, professeth with them. They labour with him in much love and zeal 
for the good of his soul, the honour of God, and reputation of their pro- 
fession, to own his fault, and condemn it, in as ample a manner as the 
evil or scandal was given by him; which for the most part, is performed 
by some written testimony under the party’s hand: and if it so happen 
that the party prove refractory, and is not willing to clear the truth they 
profess from the reproach of his or her evil-doing or unfaithfulness, they, 
after repeated intreaties, and due waiting for a token of repentance, give 
forth a paper to disown such a fact, and the party offending; recording 
the same as a testimony of their care for the honour of the truth they 
profess. { 

And if he or she shall clear their profession and theinselves, by sin- 
cere acknowledgement of their fault, and godly sorrow for so doing 


XXIV PREFACE 


they are received, and looked upon again as members of their com 
munion For as God, so his true people upbraid no man after repent 
ance. 

This is the account I had to give of the people of God called Quakers, 
as to their rise, appearance, principles, and practices in this age of the 
world, both with respect to their faith and worship, discipline and con- 
versation. And I judge it very proper in this place, because it is to pre- 
face the journal of the first blessed and glorious instrument of this work, 
and for a testimony to him in his singular qualifications and services, in 
which he abundantly excelled in this his day, and are worthy to be set 
forth as an example to all succeeding times, to the glory of the Most 
High God, and for a just memorial to that worthy and excellent man, 
his faithful servant and apostle to this generation of the world. 

I am now come to the third head or branch of my preface, viz. the 
instrumental author. For it is natural for some to say, Well, here is the 
people and work, but where and who was the man, the instrument; he 
that in this age was sent to begin this work and people? I shall, as God 
shall enable me, declare who and what he was, not only by report of 
others, but from my. own long and most inward converse and intimate 
knowledge of him; for which my soul blesseth God, as it has often done ; 
and I doubt not, but by that time I have discharged myself of this part 
of my preface, my serious readers will believe I had good cause so to do. 

The blessed instrument of and in this day of God, and of whom I am 
now about to write, was Grorce Fox, distinguished from another of that 
name, by that other’s addition of younger to his name in all his writings ; 
not that he was so in years, but that he was so in the truth; but he was 
also a worthy man, witness and servant of God in his time. 

-— But this George Fox was born in Leicestershire, about the year 1624. 

' He descended of honest and sufficient parents, who endeavoured to bring 
him up, as they did the rest of their children, in the way and worship of 
the nation; especially his mother, who was a woman accom™%shed 
above most of her degree in the place where she lived. But »~m a 
child he appeared of another frame of mind than the rest of his vreth- 
ren; being more religious, inward, still, solid, and observing, beyond his 
years, as the answers he would give, and the questions he would put 
upon occasion manifested, to the astonishment of those that heard him, 
especially in divine things. 

His mother taking notice of his singular temper, and the gravity, wis- 
dom, and piety that very early shone through him, refusing childish and 
vain sports and company when very young, she was tender and indul- 

\.gent over him, so that from her he met with little difficulty. As to his 
einployment, he was brought up in country business; and as he took 
most delight in_sheep, so he was very skilful in them; an employment 
that very well suited his mind in several respects, both for its innocency 
and solitude;and was a just figure of his after ministry and service. 

I shall not breakin upon his own account, which is by much the best 
that can be given; and therefore desire, what I can, to avoid saying any 
thing of what is said already, as to the particular passages of his coming 
forth; but, in general, when he was somewhat above twenty, he left his 
friends, and visited the most retired and religious people, and some there 
were at that time in this nation, especially in those parts, who waited for 
tne consolation of Israel night and day, as Zacharias, Anna, and good 
old Simeon did of old time. To these he was sent, and these he sought 


PREFACE XXV 


out in the neighbouring countr:es, and among them he sojourned tll his 
more ample n-inistry came upon him. 

At this time he taught and was an example of silence, endeavouring 
to bring people from self-performances, testifying and turning to the light 
of Christ within them, and encouraging them to wait in patience to feel 
the power of it to stir in their hearts, that their knowledge and worship 
of God might stand in the power of an endless life, which was to be 
found in the ight, as it was obeyed in the manifestation of it in man 
“ For in the Word was life, and that life was the light of men.” Life in 
the Word, light in men, and life too, as the light is obeyed; the children 
of the light living by the life of the Word, by which the Word begets 
them again to God, which is the regeneration and new birth, without 
which there is no coming unto the kingdom of God; and which, who- 
ever comes to, is greater than John, that is, than John’s ministry, which 
was not that of the kingdom, but the consummation of the legal, and 
opening of the gospel-dispensation. Accordingly, several meetings were 
gathered in those parts; and thus his time was employed for some years. 

In 1652, he-being in his usual retirement to the Lord upon a very high 
mountain, in-some of the hither parts of Yorkshire, as I take it, his mind 
exercised towards the Lord, he had a vision of the great work of God 
in the earth, and of the way that he was to go forth to begin it. He saw 
people as thick as motes in the sun, that should in time be brought home 
to the Lord, that there might be but one Shepherd and one sheepfold in 
all the earth. There his eye was directed northward, beholding a great 
people that should receive him and his message in those parts. Upon 
this: mountain he was moved of the Lord to sound out his great and 
notable day, as if he had been ina great auditory, and from thence went 
north, as the Lord had shewn him: and in every place where he came, 
if not before he came to it, he had his particular exercise and service 
shewn to him, so that the Lord was his leader indeed; for it was not in 
vain that he travelled, God in most places sealing his commission with 
the convincement of some of all sorts, as well publicans as sober pro- 
fessors of religion. Some of the first and most eminent of them, which 
are at rest, were Richard Farnsworth, James Nayler, William Dews- 
berry, Francis Howgil, Edward Burrough, John Camm, John Audland, 
Richard Hubberthorn, T. Taylor, John Aldam, T. Holmes, Alexander 
Parker, William Simpson, William Caton, John Stubbs, Robert Widders, 
John Burnyeat, Robert Lodge, Thomas Salthouse, and many more wor- 
thies, that cannot be well here named, together with divers yet living of the 
first and great convincement, who after the knowledge of God’s purging 
judgments in themselves, and some time of waiting in silence upon him, 
to feel and receive power from on high to speak in his name (which 
none else rightly can, though they may use the same words.) felt the 
divine motions, and were frequently drawn forth, especially to visit the 
publick assemblies, to reprove, inform, and exhort them, sonietimes in 
markets, fairs, streets, and by the highway side, calling people to repent- 
ance, and to turn to the Lord with their hearts as well as their mouths; 
directing them to the light of Christ within them, to see and examine and 
consider their ways by, and to eschew the evil and do the good and ac- 
ceptable will of God. And they suffered great hardships for this their 
love and good-will, being often stocked, stoned. beaten, whipped, and. 
imprisoned, though honest men and of good report where they livea, 
hat had left wives and children, and houses and lands, to visit them with 


XXVI1 PREFACE. 


a living ca!] to repentance. And though the priests generally set thein- 
selves to oppose them, and write against them, and insinuated most false 
and scandalous stories to defame them, stirring up the magistrates to 
suppress them, especially in those northern parts, yet God was pleased 
so to fill them with his living power, and give them such an open door 
of utterance in his service, that there was a mighty convincement over 
those parts. 

And through the tender and singular indulgence of Judge Bradshaw 
and Judge Fell, in the infancy of things, the priests were never able to 
gain the point they laboured for, which was to have proceeded to blood, 
and if possible, Herod-like, by a cruel exercise of the civil power, to 
have cut them off and rooted them out of the country. Especially Judge 
Fell, who was not only a check to their rage in the course of legal pro- 
ceedings, but otherwise upon occasion, and finally countenanced this 
people; for his wife receiving the truth with the first, it had that influ- 
ence upon his spirit, being a just and wise man, and seeing in his own 
wife and family a full contutation of all the popular clamours against the 
way of truth, that he covered them what he could, and freely opened 
his doors, and gave up his house to his wife and her friends, not valuing 
the reproach of ignorant or evil-minded people, which I here mention to 
his and her honour, and which will be I believe an honour and a blessing 
to such of their name and family as shall be found in that tenderness, 
humility, love, and zeal for the truth and people of the Lord. 7 

That house was for some years at first, till the truth had opened its 
way in the southern parts of this island, an eminent receptacle of this 
people. Others of good note and substance in those northern countries 
had also opened their houses with their hearts to the many publishers, 
that in a short time the Lord had raised to declare his salvation to the 
people, and where meetings of the Lord’s messengers were frequent 
held, to communicate their services and exercises, and comfort and edify 
one another in their blessed ministry. 

But lest this may be thought a digression, having touched upon this 
before, I return to this excellent man: and for his personal qualities, 
both natural, moral, and divine, as they appeared in his converse with 
his brethren and in the church of God, take as follows. 

I. He was a man that God endowed with a clear and wonderful 
depth, a discerner of others’ spirits, and very much a master of his own. 
And though the side of his understanding which lay next to the world, 
and especially the expression of it, might-sound uncouth and unfashiona- 
ble to nice ears, his matter was nevertheless very profound, and would 
not only bear to be often considered, but the more it was so, the more 
weighty and instructing it appeared. And as abruptly and brokenly as 
sometimes his sentences would fall from him about divine things, it is 
well known they were often as texts to many fairer declarations. And 
indeed it shewed beyond all contradiction that God sent him, that no arts 
or parts had any share in the matter or manner of his ministry, and that 
so many great, excellent, and necessary truths as he came forth to 
preach to mankind, had therefore nothing of man’s wit or wisdom to re- 
commend them. So that as to man he was an original, being no man’s 
copy. And his ministry and writings shew they are from one that was 
not taught of man, nor had learned what he said by study. Nor were 
they notional or speculative, but sensible and practical truths, tending to 
cenversion and regeneration, and the setting up the kingdom of God in 


—_ 


PREFACE.  &Xvul 


the hearts of men, and the way of it was his work. So tha. | have 
many times been cvercome in myself, and been made to say with my 
Lord and Master upon the like occasion, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord 
“of heaven and ezrth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise ana 
“prudent of this world, and revealed them to babes ;” for many times 
hath my soul bowed in an humble thankfulness to the Lord, that he did 
not choose any of the wise and learned of this world to be the first mes- 
senger in our age of his blessed truth to men; but that he took one that 
was not of high degree, or elegant speech, or learned after the way of 
this world, that his message and work he sent him to do might come 
with less suspicion or jealousy of human wisdom and interest, and with 
more force=and-elearnessupon_the consciences of those that sincerely 
sought the way of-truth-in the love of it. I say, beholding with the eye 


~ of my mind, which the God of heaven had opened in me, the marks of 


God's finger and hand visibly in this testimony from the clearness of the 
principle, the power and efficacy of it in the exemplary sobriety, plain- 
ness, zeal, steadiness, humility, gravity, punctuality, charity, and circum- 
spect care in the government of church-affairs, which shined in his and 
their life and testimony that God employed in this work, it greatly con- 
firmed me that it was of God, and engaged my soul in a deep love, fear, 
reverence, and thankfulness for his love and mercy therein to mankind ; 
in which mind I remain, and shall, I hope, to the end of my days. 

lJ. In his testimony or ministry he much laboured to open truth to the 
people’s understandings, and to bottom them upon the principle and 
principal, Christ Jesus, the light of the world, that by bringing them to 
something that was of God in themselves, they might the better know 
and judge of him and themselves. 

He had an extraordinary gift in opening the scriptures. He would go 
to the marrow of things, and shew the mind, harmony, and fulfilling of 
them with much plainness, and to great comfort and edification. 

The mystery of the first_and second Adam, of the fall and restora- 
tion, of the law and gospel, of shadows and substance, of the servant 
and son’s state, and the fulfilling of the scriptures in Christ, and by Christ 
the true light, in all that are his, through the obedience of faith, were 
much of the substance and drift of his testimonies. In all which he was 
witnessed to be of God, being sensibly felt to speak that which he had 
received of Christ, and was his own experience in that which never errs 
nor fails. 

But above all he excelled in prayer. The inwardness and weight of 
his spirit, the reverence and solemnity of his address and behaviour, and 
the fewness and fullness of his words, have often struck even strangers 
with admiration, as they used to reach others with consolation. The 
most awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say, was 
his in prayer. And truly it was a testimony he knew, and lived nearer 
to the Lord than other men; for they that know him most will see most 
reason to approach him with reverence and fear. 

He was of an innocent life, no busy-body, nor self-seeker, neither 
touchy nor critical: what fell from him was very inoffensive, if not very 
edifying -So meek, contented,modest, easy, steady, tender, it was a 
pleasure to be-in-his company. He exercised no authority but over evil, 
and that every-where and in all; but with love, compassion, and long 
suffering. A most merciful man, as ready to forgive as unapt to take or 
give an offence. Thousands can truly say, he was of an excellent spirit 


XXVUl . PREFACE. 


and savour among them, and because thereof the most excellent spirits 
loved him with an unfeigned and unfading love. 

He was an incessant labourer; for in his younger time, before his 
many great and deep sufferings and travels had enfeebled nis body for 
‘tinerant services, he laboured much in the word and doctrine and dis- 
cipline in England, Scotland, and Ireland, turnmg many to God, and 
confirming those that were convinced of the truth, and settling good or- 
der as to church-affairs among them. And towards the conclusion of 
his travelling services, between the years seventy-one and seventy-seven, 
he visited the churches of Christ in the plantations in America, and in 
the United Provinces, and Germany, as his following Journal relates, to 
the convincement and consolation of many. After that time he chiefly 
resided in and about the city of London, and besides the services of his 
ministry, which were frequent, he wrote much both to them that are 
within and those that are without tne communion. But the care he took 
of the affairs of the church in general was very great. : 

He was often where the records of the affairs of the church are kept, 
and the letters from the many meetings of God’s people over all the 
world, where setiled, come upon occasions; which letters he had read 
to him, and communicated them to the meeting that is weekly held there 
for such services; he would be sure to stir them up to discharge them, 
especially in suffering cases: showing great sympathy and compassion 
upon all such occasions, carefully looking into the respective cases, and 
endeavouring speedy relief according to the nature of them; so that the 
churches and any of the suffering members thereof. were sure not to be 
forgotten or delayed in their desires if he were there. 

As he was unwearied, so he was undaunted in his services for God 
and his people ; he was no more to be moved to fear than to wrath. His 
behaviour at Derby, Litchfield, Appleby, before Oliver Cromwell at Lan- 
ceston, Scarborough, Worcester, and Westminster-hall, with many 
other places and exercises, did abundantly evidence it to his enemies as 
well as his friends. 

But as in the primitive times some rose up against the blessed apostles 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, even from among those that they had turned 
to the hope of the gospel, and who became their greatest trouble, so this 
man of God had his share of suffering from some that were convinced 
by him, who through prejudice or mistake ran against him as one that 
sought dominion over conscience; because he pressed, by his presence 
or epistles, a ready and zealous compliance with such good and whole- 
some things as tended to an orderly conversation about the aflairs of the 
church, and in their walking before men. That which contributed much 
to this ill work, was in some a begrudging of this meek man the love 
and esteem he had and deserved in the hearts of the people, and weak 
ness in others that were taken with their groundless suggestions of im 
position and blind obedience. . 

They would have had every man independent, that as he had the 
principle in himself, he should only stand and fall to that and nobody 
else; not considering that the principle is one in all, and though the 
measure of light or grace might differ, yet the nature of it was the 
same, and being so they struck at the spiritual unity, which a people 
guided by the same principle are naturally led into: so that what is evil 
to one is so to all, and what is virtuous, honest, and of good report tu 


one, is so to all, from the sense and savour of the one universal principle 
\ 


| 


PREFACE. XX13 


which is common to all, and (which the disafiected profess to te) the 
root of all true christian fellowship, and that spirit into which the people 
of God drink, and come to be spiritually minded, and of one heart and 
one soul. 

Some weakly mistook good order in the government of church-affairs 
for discipline in worship, and that it was so pressed or recommended by 
him and other-brethren: and they were ready to reflect the same things 
that dissenters had very reasonably objected upon the national churches, 
that have coercively pressed conformity to their respective creeds ana 
worships: whereas these things related wholly to conversation, and ths 

@utward and (as I may say) civil part of the church, that men should 
walk up to the principles-of their belief, and not be wanting in care and 
charity. But though some have stumbled and fallen through mistakes and 
an unreasonable obstinacy, even to a prejudice, yet blessed be God, the 
generality have returned to their first love, and seen the work of the 
enemy, that loses no opportunity or advantage by which he may check 
or hinder the work of God, and disquiet the peace of his church, and 
chill the love of his people to the truth, and one to another; and there is 
hope of divers that are yet at a distance. 

In all these occasions, though there was no person the discontented 
struck so sharply at as this good man, he bore all their weakness and 
prejudice, and returned not reflection for reflection; but forgave them 
their weak and bitter speeches, praying for them that they might have a 
sense of their hurt, and see the subtilty of the enemy to rend and divide, 
and return into their first love that thought no ill. 

And truly, I must say, that though God had visibly cloathed him with 
a divine preference and authority, and indeed his very presence ex- 
pressed a religious majesty, yet he never abused it, but held his place 
in the church of God with great meekness, and a most engaging humility 

,and moderation. For upon all occasions, like his blessed Master, he was 
a servant to all, holding and exercising his eldership in the invisible 
power that had gathered them, with reverence to the head and care over 
the body, and was received only in that spirit and power of Christ, as 
the first and chief elder in this age; who as he was therefore worthy of 
double honour, so for the same reason it was given by the faithful of this 
day; because his authority was inward and not outward, and that he 
got it and kept it by the love of God and power of an endless life. I 
write my knowledge and not report, and my witness is true, having been 
with him for weeks and months together on divers occasions, and those 
of the nearest and most exercising nature, and that by night and by day, 
by sea and by land, in this and in foreign countries: and I can say I 
never saw him out of his place, or not a match for every service or 
occasion. 

For in all things he acquitted himself like a man, yea a strong man, a 
new and heavenly-minded man. A divine, and a naturalist. and ail of 
God Almighty’s making. I have been surprised at his questions and 
answers in natural things, that whilst he was ignorant of useless and 
sophistica! science, he had in him the foundation of useful and com- 
mendable knowledge, and cherished it every-where. Civil beyond all 
forms of breeding in his behaviour; very temperate, eating little ana 
sleeping less, though a bulky person. 

Thus he lived and sojourned among us, and as he lived so he died, feeling 
the same eternal power that had raised and preserved him in his last 


XXX PREFACE. 


moments. So full of assurance was he that he triumphed over death; ana 
su even to the last, as if death were hardly worth notice or a mention: 
recommending to some with him the dispatch and dispersion of an 
epistle, just before written to the churches of Christ, throughout the 
world, and his own books; but above all, friends, and of all friends those 
_ in Ireland and America, twice over: saying, Mind poor friends in Ire- 
land and America. 

And to some that came in and inquired how he found himself, he an- 
swered, “ Never heed, the Lord’s power is over all weakness and death, 
“the Seed reigns, blessed be the Lord:” which was about four or five 
hours before his departure out of this world. He was at the great meet-# 
ing near Lombard-street on the first day of the week, and it was the 
third following about ten at night when he left us, being at the house of 
H. Goldney in the same court. In a good old age he went, afier havin 
lived to see his children’s children to several generations in the truth. He 
had the comfort of a short illness, and the blessing of a clear sense to the 
last; and we may truly say with a man of God of old, that “ being dead, 
he yet speaketh;” and though absent in body, he is present in Spirit; 
neither time nor place being able to interrupt the communion of saints, 
or dissolve the fellowship of the spirits of the just. His works praise 
him, because they are to the praise of him that worked by him; for 
which his memorial is and shall be blessed. I have done, as to this part 
of my preface, when I have left this short epitaph to his name: “ Many 
“sons have done virtuously in this day, but, dear Gores, thou excellest 
“them all.” 

And now, Friends, you that profess to walk in the way this blessed 
man-was sent of God to turn us into, suffer I] beseech you the word of 
exhortation, as well fathers as children, and elders as young men. The 
glory of this day, and foundation of the hope that has not made us 
ashamed since we were a people, you know is that blessed principle of 
light and life of Christ, which we profess, and direct all people to, as the 
great instrument and agent of man’s conversion to God; it was by this 
we were first touched, and effectually enlightened, as to our inward 
s‘ate; which put us upon the consideration of our latter end, causing us 
to set the Lord before our eyes, and to number our days, that we might 
apply our hearts to wisdom. Jn that day we judged not after the sight 
of the eye, or after the hearing of the ear, but according to the light 
and sense this blessed principle gave us; we judged and acted in vefer- 
ence to things and persons, ourselves and others, yea, towards God 
our Maker. For being quickened by it in our inward man, we could 
easily discern the difference of things, and feel what was right, and 
what was wrong, and what was fit, and what not, both in reference to 
religion and civil concerns. That being the ground of the fellowship of 
all saints, it was in that our fellowship stood. In this we desired to have a 
sense one of another, acted towards one another and all men in love, 
faithfulness, and fear. : 

In the feeling of the motions of this principle we drew near to the 
Lord, and waited to be prepared by it, that we might feel those drawings 
and movings, before we approached the Lord in prayer, or opened our 
mouths in ministry. And in our begirining and ending with this, stood 
our comfort, service, and edification. And as we ran faster, or fell short, 
we n:ade burthens for ourselves to bear; our services finding in our 
ye.ves a rebuke, instead of an acceptance; and in lieu of “ Well done, 


PREFACE. XXX! 


“Who hath required this at your hands?” In that day we were an eu 
ercised people, our very countenances and deportment declared it. 

Care for others was then much upon us, as well as for oursel: es, 
especially the young convinced. Often had we the burthen of the word 
of the Lord to our neighbors, relations, acquaintance, and sometimes 
strangers also: we were in travail for one another’s preservation; not 
seeking, but shunning occasions of any coldness or misunderstanding, 
treating one another as those that believed and felt God present ; which 
kept our conversation innocent, serious, and weighty, guarding ourselves 
against the cares and friendships of the world. We held the truth in 
the Spirit of it, and not in our own spirits, or after our own will and affev- 
tions. They were bowed and brought into subjection, insomuch that it was 
visible to them that knew us, we did not think ourselves at our own disposal, 
to go where we list, or say or do what we list, or when we list. Our lib- 
erty stood in the liberty of the Spirit of truth; and no pleasure, no profit, 
no fear, no favour could draw us from this retired, strict, and watchful 
' frame. We were so far from seeking occasions of company, that we 
avoided them what we could, pursuing our own business with modera- 
tion, instead of meddling with other people’s unnecessarily. 

Our words were few and savoury, our looks composed and weighty, 
and our whole deportment very observable. True it is, that this retired 
and strict sort of life from the liberty of the conversation of the world, 
exposed us to the censures of many, as humourists, conceited, and self- 
righteous persons, &c. But it was our preservation from many snares, 
to which others were continually exposed by the prevalency of the lust 
of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, that wanted no oc- 
casions or temptations to excite them abroad in the converse of the 
world. 

I cannot forget the humility and chaste zeal of that day. O how 
constant at meetings, how retired in them, how firm to truth’s life, as 
well as truth’s principles, and how entire and united in our communion, 
as indeed became those that profess one head, even Christ Jesus the 
Lord! 

This being the testimony and example the. man of God before-men- 
tioned was sent to declare and leave amongst us, and we having em- 
braced the same as the merciful visitation of God to us, the word of ex- 
hortation at this time is, that we continue to be found in the way of this 
testimony with all zeal and integrity, and so much the more by how 
much the day draweth near. 

And first, as to you, my beloved and much honoured brethren in Christ 
that are in the exercise of the ministry; O feel life’in the ministry! Let 
sife be your commission, your well-spring and treasury in all such occa- 
sions; else you well know there can be no begetting to God, since 
nothing can quicken or make people alive to God, but the life of God: 
and it must be a ministry in and from life that enlivens any people to 
God. We have seen the fruit of all other ministries by the few that are 
turned from the evil of their ways. It is not our parts or memory, the 
repetition of former openings in our own will and time, that will do God’s 
work. A dry doctrinal ministry, however sound in words, can reach 
but the ear, and is but a dream at the best: there is another soundness, 
that is soundest of all, viz. Christ the power of God. This is the key of 
avd, that opens, and none shuts; and shuts, and none can open; as 
the oil to the lamp and the soul to the body, so is that to the best of 


XXxXil PREFACE. 


words. Which made Christ to say, “ My words they are spirit, and 
“they are life ;” that is, they are from life, and therefore they make you 
alive that receive them. If the disciples, that had lived with Jesns 
were to stay at Jerusalem till they received it; so must we wait to re- 
ceive before we minister, if we will turn people from darkness to light, 
and from Satan’s power to God. 

I fervently bow my knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, that you may always be like-minded, that you may ever wait. 
teverently for the coming and opening of the word of life, and attend 
upon it in your ministry and service, that you may serve God in his 
Spirit. And be it little, or be it much, it is well; for much is not too 
much, and the least is enough, if from the motion of God’s spirit; and 
without it, verily, never so little is too much, because to no profit. 

For it is the Spirit of the Lord immediately, or through the ministry 
of his servants, that teacheth his people to profit; and to be sure, so 
far as we take him along with.us in our services, so far are we profita- 
ble, and no farther. For if it be the Lord that must work all things in 
us, and for ourselves, much more is it the Lord that must work in us for 
the conversion of others. If therefore it was once a cross to us to 
speak, though the Lord required it at our hands, let it never be so to be 
silent, when he does not. 

It is one of the most dreadful sayings in the revelations, That he that 
adds to the words of the prophecy of this book, God will add the 
plagues written in this book. To keep back the counsel of God, is as 
terrible; for he that takes away from the words of the prophecy of this 
book, God shall take away his part out of the book of life. And truly 
it has great caution in it to those that use the name of the Lord, to be 
well assured the Lord speaks, that they may not be found of the number 
of those that add to the words of the testimony of prophecy which the 
Lord giveth them to bear; nor yet to mince or diminish the same, botn 
being so very offensive to God. 

Wherefore, brethren, let us be careful neither to out-go our guide, nor 
yet loiter behind him; since he that makes haste may miss his way, and 
he that stays behind lose his guide: for even those that_have received 
the word of the Lord had need wait for wisdom, that they may see 
how to divide the word aright; which plainly implieth, that it is possible 
for one that hath received the word of the Lord to miss in the division 
and application of it, which must come from an impatiency of spirit, 
and a self-working; which makes an unsound and dangerous mixture, 
and will hardly beget a right-minded living people to God. 

I am earnest in this, above all other considerations, as to publick 
brethren, well knowing how much it concerns the present and future 
state and preservation of the church of Christ Jesus, that has been 
gathered and built up by a living and powerful ministry, that the minis- 
try be held, preserved, and continued in the manifestations, nutions, and 
supplies of the same life and power from time to time. 

And where-ever it is observed that any one does minister more trom 
gifis and parts than life and power, though they have an enlightened 
and doctrinal understanding, let them in time be advised and admonished 
for their preservation; because insensibly such will come to depend 
upon self-sufficiency, to forsake Christ the living fountain, and to hew 
out unto themselves cisterns that will hold no living waters, and by de- 
grees draw others from waiting upon the gift of God in themselves, and 


. 


PREFACE. XXXIU 


«to feel it in others, in order to their strength and refreshment, to wait 
upon them, and to turn from God to man again, and so to make ship- 
wreck of the faith once delivered to the Saints, and of a good con- 
science towards God; which are only kept by that divine gift of life 
that begat the one and weakened and sanctified the other in the beginning. 

Nor is it enough that we have known the divine gift, and in it have 
reached to the spirits in prison, and been the instruments of the convinc- 
ing of others of the way of God, if we keep not as low and poor in our- 
selves, and as depending upon the Lord as ever; since no memory, no 
repetitions of former openings, revelations, or enjoyments will bring a 
soul to God, or afford bread to the hungry, or water to the thirsty, un- 
less life go with what we say, and that must be waited for. 

O that we may have no other fountain, treasury, or dependance! that 
none may presume at any rate to act of themselves for God; because 
they have long acted from God; that we may not supply want of wait- 
ing with our own wisdom, or think that we may take less care and more 
liberty in speaking than forinerly; and that where we do not feel the 
Lord by his power to open us and enlarge us, whatever be the expecta- 
tion of the people or has been our customary supply and character, we 
may not exceed or fill up the time with our own. 

I hope we shall ever remember who it was that said, “ Of yourselves 
ye can do nothing ;” our sufficiency is in Him: and if we are not to 
speak our own words, or take thought what we should say to men in 
our defence when exposed for our testimony, surely we ought to speak 
none of our own words, or take thought what we shall say in our testi 
mony and ministry in the name of the Lord to the souls of the people ; 
for then of all times, and of all other occasions, should it be fulfilled in 
us; “for it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of my Father that 
“ speaketh in you.” 

And indeed the ministry of the Spirit must and does keep its analogy 
and agreement with the birth of the Spirit ; that as no man can inherit 
the kingdow of God unless he be born of the Spirit, so no ministry can 
beget a soul to God, but that which is from the Spirit, For this, as I 
said before, the disciples waited before they went forth, and in this our 
elder brethren, and messengers of God in our day, waited, visited, and 
reached to us. And having begun in the Spirit, let none ever hope or 
seek to be made perfect in the flesh; for what is the flesh to the spirit, 

-or the chaff to the wheat? And if we keep in the spirit, we shall keep in 
the unity of it, which is the ground of true fellowship. For by drinking 
into that one Spirit, we are made one people to God, and by it we are 
continued in the unity of the faith and the bond of peace. No envying, 
no bitterness, no strife can have place with us. We shall watch always 
for good, and not for evil over one another, and rejoice exceedingly, 
and not begrudge at one another’s increase in the riches of the grace 
with which God replenisheth his faithful servants. 

And, brethren, as to you is committed the dipensation of the oracles 
of God, which give you frequent opportunities and great place with the 
people among whom you travel, I beseech you that you would not think 
it sufficient to declare the word of life in their assemblies, however edi- 
fying and comfortable such opportunities may be to you and them; but 
as was the practice of the man of God before-mentioned in great mea 
sure, when among us, inquire the state of the several churches you visit, 
who among them are afflicted or sick. who are tempted, if any are at- 


AXXIV PREFACE. 


faithful or obstinate, and endeavour to issue those things in tne wisaom 
and power of God, which will be a glorious crown upon your ministry. 
As that prepares your way in the hearts of the people to receive you as 
men of God, so it gives you credit with them to do them good by your 
advice in other respects. The afflicted will be comforted by you, the 
tempted strengthened, the sick refreshed, the unfaithful convicted and 
restored, and such as are obstinate softened and fitted for reconcilistion, 
which is clenching the nail, and applying and fastening the genera: tes- 
timony by that particular care of the several branches of it, in refer ence 
to them more immediately concerned in it. 

For though good and wise men and elders too may reside in such 
places, who are of worth and importance in the general and in -’ther 
places, yet it does not always follow that they may have the room they 
deserve in the hearts of the people they live among, or some parti :ular 
occasion may make it unfit for him or them to use that authority ; but 
you that travel as God’s messengers, if they receive you in the greater, 
shall they refuse you in the less? And if they own the general testimony, 
can they withstand the particular application of it in their own cases? 
Thus ye will show yourselves workmen indeed, and carry your business 
before you to the praise of his name that hath called you from darkness 
to light, that you might .urn others from Satan’s power unto God and 
his kingdom which is within. And oh! that there were more of such 
faithful labourers in the vineyard of the Lord! never more need since 
the day of God! 

Wherefore I cannot but cry_and call aloud to you, that have beer 
long professors of the truth,and know the truth in the convincing power 
of it, and have had a sober conversation among men, yet content your- 
selves only to know truth for yourselves; to go to meetings, and exer- 
cise an ordinary charity in the church and an honest behaviour in the 
world, and limit yourselves within those bounds, feeling little or no con- 
cern upon your spirits for the glory of the Lord in the prosperity of his 
truth in the earth, more than to be glad that others succeed in such ser- 
vice; arise ye in the name and power of the Lord Jesus! behold how 
white the fields are unto harvest in this and other nations, and how few 
able and faithful labourers there are to work therein! your country 
folks, neighbours, and kindred want to know the Lord and his truth, and 
to walk in it. Does nothing lie at your door upon their account? Search 
and see, and lose no time, I beseech you, for the Lord is at hand. Ido 
not judge you; there is one that judgeth all men, and-his judgment is 
true; you have mightily increased in your outward substance, may you 
equally increase in your inward riches, and do good with both while 
you have a day todo good. Your enemies would once have taken 
what you had from you for his name’s sake in whom you have believed, 
wherefore he has given you much of the world in the face of your ene- 
mies. But oh! let it be your servant and not your master, your diver- 
sion rather than your business! let the Lord be chiefly in your eye, and 
ponder your ways, and see if God has nothing more for you to do; and 
if you find yourselves short in your account with him, then wait for his 
preparation, and be ready to receive the word of command, and be not 
weary of well-doing when you have put your hand to the plough; and 
assuredly you shall reap, if you faint not, the fruit of your heavenly In 
bour in God’s everlasting kingdom. 

And you, young convinced ones, be yon intreated and exhoned te 


PREFACE. EXXY 


diligent and « naste waiting upon God in the way of his blessed 1 1anifes 

' tationand appearance of himself to you. Look not out but within; let 
not another’s [i be your snare: neither act by imitation, but sense 
and feeling of God’s power in yourselves: crush not the tender buddings 
of it in your souls, nor over-run in your desires and your warmness ot 
affections the holy and gentle motions of it. Remember it is a still voice 
that speaks to us in this day, and that it-is not to be heard in the noises 
and hurries of the mind, but_ is distinctly understood in a retired frame. 
,Jesus loved _and chose out solitudes, often going to mountains, to gardens, 
and sea-sides, to avoid crowds and hurries, to shew his disciples it was 
good to be solitary and sit loose to the world. Two enemies lie near 
your state, Imagination and Liberty ; but the plain, practical, living, how 
truth, that has convinced you will preserve you, if you mind it in your 
selves, and bring all thoughts, imaginations, and affections to the test of 
it, to see if they are wrought in God, or of the enemv or vour own 
selves: so will a true taste, discerning, and judgment be preserved to 
you, of what you should do and leave undone: and in your diligence and 
faithfulness in this way you will come to inherit substance, and Christ, the 
eternal wisdom, will fill your treasury. And when you are converted, 
as well as convinced, then confirm your brethren, and be ready to every 
good word and work that the Lord shall call you to, that you may be to 
his praise who has chosen you to be partakers with the Saints in light of 
a kingdom that cannot be shaken, an inheritance incorruptible, in eternal 
habitations. 

And now, as for you that are the children of God’s people, a great 
concern is upon my spirit for your good, and often are my knees bowed 
to the God of your fathers for you, that you may come to be partakers 
of the same divine life and power, that has been the glory of this day, 
that a generation you may be to God, a holy nation and a peculiar peo- 

\ ple, zealous of good works, when all our heads are laid in the dust. Oh! 

: you young men and women, let it not suffice you that you are the chil- 
dren of the people of the Lordt-yeu-must also be born again if you will 
inherit the kingdom of God! ~Your fathers are but such after the flesh, 
and could but beget you into the likeness of the first Adam: but you 
must be begotten into the likeness of the second Adam by a spiritual ' 
generation. And therefore look carefully about you, O ye children of 
the children of God, consider your standing, and see what you are in re- 
lation to this divine kindred, family, and birth! Have you obeyed the 
light, and received and walked in the Spirit, that is the incorruptible seed 
of the word and kingdom of God, of which you must be born again? 
God is no respecter of persons: the father cannot save or answer for 
the child, the child for the father, but in the sin thou sinnest thou shalt 
«“ die, and in the righteousness thou doest through C hrist Jesus thou shalt 
‘lix> * for it is the willing and obedient that shall eat the good of the 
.anu. 

Be not deceived, God is not mocked, such as all nations and people 
sow, such shall they reap at the hand of the just God. And then your 
many and great privileges above the children of other people will add 
weight in the scale against you, if you choose not the way of the Lord; 
for you have had line upon line, and precept upon precept, and not only 
good doctrine buy good example; and which is more, you have been 
urned to and acquainted with a principle in yourselves which others 
pave been ignorant of, and you know you may be as good as you please, 


XXXVi PREFACE. 


without the fear of frowns and blows, or being turned out of doors, and 
forsaken of father and mother for God’s sake and his holy religion, as has 
been the case of some of your fathers in the day they first entered inte 
this holy path: and if you, after hearing and seeing the wonders that 
God has wrought in the deliverance and preservation of them through a 
sea of troubles, and the manifold temporal as well as spiritual blessings 
that he has filled them with in the sight of their enemies, should neglect 
or turn your backs upon so great and so near a salvation, you would not 
only be most ungrateful children to God and them, but must expect that 
God will call the children of those that knew him not to take the crown 
out of your hands, and that your lot will be a dreadful judgment at the 
land of the Lord. But oh! that it may never be so with any of you! 
The Lord forbid, saith my soul. 

Wherefore, O ye young men and women, look to the rock of your 
fathers; choose the God of your fathers: there is no other God but him, 
no other light but his, no other grace but his, nor Spirit but his to con- 
vince you, quicken and comfort you, to lead, guide, and preserve you to 
God's everlasting kingdom ; so wiil you be possessors as well as professors 
of the truth, embracing it not only by education but judgment and con- 
viction, from a sense begotten in your souls through the operation of the 
eternal Spirit and power of God in your hearts, by which you may come 
to be the seed of Abraham through faith, and the circumcision not made 
with hands, and so heirs of the promise made to the fathers of an incor- 
ruptible crown; that, as I said before, a generation you may be to God, 
holding up the profession of the blessed truth in the life and power of it. 
For formality in religion is nauseous to God and good men; and the 
more so, where any form or appearance has been new and peculiar, and 
begun and practised upon a principle with an uncommon zeal and strict- 
ness. Therefore, I say, for you to fall flat and formal, and continue the 
profession without that salt and savour by which it is come to obtain a 
good report among men, is not to answer God’s love, nor your parents’ 
care, nor the mind of truth in yourselves, nor in those that are without ; 
who though they will not obey the truth, have sight and sense enough to 
see if they do that make a profession of it. For where the divine virtue 
of it is not felt in the soul, and waited for, and lived in, imperfections 
will quickly break out, and shew themselves, and detect the unfaithfulness 
of such persons, and that their insides are not seasoned with the nature 
of that holy principle which they profess. 

Wherefore, dear children, let me intreat you to shut your eyes at the 
temptations and allurements of this low and perishing world, and not 
suffer your affections to be captivated by those lusts and vanities that 
your fathers, for truth’s sake, long since turned their backs upon: but as 
you believe it to be the truth, receive it into your hearts, that you may 
become the children of God; so that it may never be said of you as the 
evangelist writes of the Jews of his time, that Christ the true light came 
to his own, but his own received him not; but to as many as received 
him, to them he gave power to become the “children of God; which 
“ were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of 
“man, but of God.” A most close and comprehensive passage to this oc- 
casion: you exactly and peculiarly answer to those professing Jews, in 
that you bear the name of God’s people, by being the children and wear- 
my the form of God’s people: so that he by his light in you may be said 
to come to his own, and if you obey it not, but turn your back upon it 


PREFACE. XXXVI. 


and walk after the vanities of your minds, you will be of those that re- 
ceive him not, wlich I pray God may never be your case and judg- 
ment; but that you may be thoroughly sensible of the many and great 
obligations you lie under to the Lord for his love, and your parents fox 
their care; and with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your 
strength, turn to the Lord, to his gift and Spirit in you, and hear his 
voice and obey it, that you may seal to the testimony of your fathers by 
the truth and evidence of yous own experience; that your children’s 
children may bless you, and the Lord for you, as those that delivered a 
faithful example, as well as record of the truth of God unto them. Sc 
will the grey hairs of your dear parents yet alive go down to the grave 
with joy, to see you the posterity of truth, as well as theirs, and that not 
only their natures but Spirit shall live in you when they are gone. 


I shall conclude this preface with a few words to those that are not 
of our communion, into whose hands this may come, especially those of 
our own nation. 

Friends, as you are the sons and daughters of Adam, and my breth- 
ren after the flesh, often and earnest have been my desires and prayers 
to God on your behalf, that you may come to know him that has made 
you to be yotr Redeemer and Restorer to the image, that through sin 
you have lost, by the power and Spirit of his Son Jesus Christ, whom 
he hath given for the light and life of the world. And O that you, who 
are called Christians, would receive him into your heart! for there it is 
you want him, and at that door he stands knocking, that you should let 
him in, but you do not open to him ; you are full of other guests, so that 
a manger is his lot among you now, as well as of old; yet you are full 
of profession, as were the Jews when he came among them, who knew 
him not, but rejected and evilly intreated him. So that if you come not 
to the possession and experience of what you profess, all your formality 
in religion will stand you in no stead in the day of God’s judgment. 

I beseech you ponder with yourselves your eternal condition, and see~ 
what title, what ground and foundation, you have for your christianity : 
if more than a profession, and an historical belief of the gospel. Have 
you known the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, and the fan of Christ 
that winnows away the chaff, the carnal lusts and affections? That 
divine leaven of the kingdom, that, being received, leavens the whole 
iump of man, sanctifying him throughout in body, soul, and spirit? If 
this be not the ground of your confidence, you are in a miserable estate. 

You will say, perhaps, that though you are sinners, and live in the 
daily commission of sin, and are not sanctified, as I have been speaking, 
yet you have faith in Christ, who has borne the curse for you, and in 
him you are complete by faith; his righteousness being imputed to you. 

But my friends, let me intreat you not to deceive yourselves in so im- 
portant a point as is that of your immortal souls. If you have true faith 
in Christ, your faith will make you clean, it will sanctify you; for the 
saints’ faita was their victory: by this they overcame sin within and 
sinful men without. And if thou art in Christ, thou walkest not after 
the flesh, hut after the Spirit, whose fruits are manifest. Yea thou art 
a new creature, new made, new fashioned after God’s will and mould: 
old things are done away, and behold all things are become new: new 
love, desires, will, affections, and practices. It is not any longer thou 
shat livest, thou disobedient, carnal, worlely one; but it is Christ liveth 


XXXVili PREFACE. 


in thee, and to live is Christ, and to die 1s thy eterna gain; tecatse 
thou art assured, “ That thy corruptible shail put on incorruption, and 
thy mortal immortality ;” and that thou hast a glorious house eternal in 
the heavens, that will never wax old or pass away. All this follows 
being in Christ, as the sensation of heat follows fire, and light the sun. 

Therefore have a care how you presume to rely upon such a notion 
as that you are in Christ whilst in your old fallen nature. For “ what 
communion hath light with darkness, or Christ with Belial?” Hear 
what the beloved disciple tells you; “ If we say we have followship with 
God, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” That is, if we 
go on in a sinful way, are captivated by our carnal affections, and are 
not converted to God, we walk in darkness, and cannot possibly have 
any fellowship with God. Christ clothes them with his righteousness, 
that receive his grace in their hearts, and deny themselves, and take 
up his cross daily, and follow him: Christ’s righteousness makes men in- 
wardly holy, of holy minds, wills, and practices. It is nevertheless 
Christ’s because we have it; for it is ours not by nature, but by faith 
and adoption: it is the gift of God: but still, though not ours as of or 
from ourselves, for in that sense it is Christ’s, for it is of and from him, 
yet it is ours, and must be ours in possession, efficacy, and enjoyment, 
to do us any good, or Christ’s righteousness will profit us nothing. It 
was after this manner that he was made to the primitive Christians, 
righteousness, sanctification, justification, and redemption; and if ever 
you will have the comfort, kernel, and marrow of the christian religion, 
thus you must come to learn.and-obtain it. 

Now my friends, by what you have read, and will read in what fol- 
lows, you may perceive that God has visited a poor people among you 
with this saving knowledge and testimony; whom he has upheld and 
increased to this day, notwithstanding the fierce opposition they have 
met withal. Despise not the meanness of this appearance: It was, and 
yet is, we know, a day of small things, and of small account with too 
many; and many hard and ill names are given to it; but it is of God, 
it came trom him, because it leads to him. This we know, but we can- 
not make another know it as we know it, unless he will take the same 
way to know it that we took. The world talks of God; but what do 
they do? They pray for power, but reject the principle in which it is. 
If you would know God, and worship and serve God as you should do, 
you must come to the means he has ordained and given for that pur- 
pose. Some seek it in books, some in learned men; but what they look 
for is in themselves, yet they overlook it. The voice is too still, the seed 
too small, and the light shineth in darkness. They are abroad, and so 
cannot divide the spoil; but the woman, that lost her silver, found it at 
home, after she had lighted her candle and swept her house. Do you 
so too, and you shall find what Pilate wanted to know, viz. truth. 

The light of Christ within, who is the light of the world, and-so a 
light to you, that tells you the truth of your condition, leads all that take 
heed unto it out of darkness into God’s marvellous light; for light grows 
upon the obedient. It is sown for the righteous, and their way is a 
shining light, that shines forth more and more to the perfect day. 

Wherefore, O friends, turn in, turn in, I beseech you! Where is the 
poison, there is the antidote: there you want Christ, and there you must 
find him; and blessed be God, there you may find him. “ Seek and you 
shall find,” I testify for God: but then you must seek aright with your 


PREFAUE. EXSX X 


whule heart, as men that seek for their lives, yea, for their e‘ernal lives 

diligently, humbly, patiently, as those that can taste no pleasure, com- 
fort, or satisfaction in any thing else, unless you find him whom your 
souls want, and desire to know and love above all. O it is a travel, 2 
spiritual travel! let the carnal profane world think and say as it will 
And through this path you must walk to the city of God, that has eter 
nal foundations, if ever you will come there. 

Well! and what does this blessed light do for you?’ Why, 1. It sets 
a_ your sins in order before you: it detects the spirit of this world in 
al! its baits and allurements, and shews how man came to fall from God, 
and the fallen estate he is in. 2. It begets a sense and sorrow, in such 
as believe in it, for this fearful lapse. You will then see him distinctly 
whom you have pierced, and all the blows and wounds you have given 
him by your disobedience; and how you have made him to serve witk 
your sins, and you will weep and mourn for it, and your sorrow will be 
a godly sorrow. 3. After this it will bring you to the holy watch, to 
take care that you do so no more, that the enemy surprise you not 
again: then thoughts, as well as words and works, will come to judg- 
ment, which is the way of holiness, in which the redeemed of the Lord 
do walk. Here you will come to love God above all, and your neigh- 
gours as yourselves. Nothing hurts, nothing harms, nothing makes 
afraid on this holy mountain: now you come to be Christ’s indeed, for 
you are his in nature and spirit, and not your own. And when you are 
thus Christ’s, then Christ is your’s, and not before: and here communion 
with the Father and with the Son you will know, and the efficacy 
of the blood of cleansing, even the blood of Jesus Christ, that immacu- 
late Lamb, which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, and 
which cleanseth from all sin the consciences of those that, through the 
living Faith, come to be sprinkled with it from dead works to serve the 
living God. 

To conc.ade, Behold the testimony and doctrine of the people called 
Quakers! Behold their practice and discipline! And behold the blessed 
man and men that were sent of God in this excellent work and service! 
All which will be more particularly expressed in the ensuing annals of 
the man of God; which I do heartily recommend to my reader’s most 
serious perusal, and beseech Almighty God that his blessing may go 
along with it, to the convincing of many as yet strangers to this holy 
dispensation, and also to the edification of the church of God in general: 
who, for his manifold and repeated mercies and blessings to his people, 
in this day of his great love, is ever worthy to have the glory, honour 
thanksgiving, and renown; and be it rendered and ascribed, with fear 
and reverence, through him in whom he is well pleased, his beloved Son 
and Lamb, our light and life, that sits with him upon the throne, werld 
without end. Amen. 

Says one whom God has long since mercifully favoured with his 
fatherly visitation, and who was not disobedient to the heavenly 
vision and call; to whom the way of truth is more lovely and 
precious than ever, and that knowing the beauty and benefit of 
it above all worldly treasure, has chosen it for his chiefest joy, 
and therefore recommends it to thy love and choice, because he 
is with great sincerity and affection thy soul’s friend, 

WILLIAM PENN 


al 


The Testimony of Margaret Fox, concerning her late Husband 
GEORGE FOX: together with a brief Account of some of 
his Travels, Sufferings, and Hardships endured for the Truth’s 
Sake. 


Ir having pleased Almighty God to take away my dear husband out 
ef this troublesome world, who was not a man thereof, being chosen out 
of it, and had his life and being in another region, and his testimony was 
against the world that the deeds thereof were evil, and therefore the 
world hated him ; so I am now to give in my account and testimony for 
my dear husband, whom the Lord hath taken unto his blessed kingdom 
and glory: and it is before me from the Lord, and in my view, to give 
a relation and leave upon record the dealings of the Lord with us from 
the beginning. 

He was the instrument in the hand of the Lord in this present age, 
which he made use of to send forth into the world to preach the ever- 
lasting gospel, which had been hid from many ages and generations; the 
Lord revealed it unto him, and made him open that new and living way 
that leads to life eternal, when he was but a youth and a stripling. And 
when he declared it in his own country of Leicestershire, and in Derby- 
shire, Nottinghamshire, and Warwickshire, and his declaration being 
against the hireling-priests and their practices, it raised a great fury and 
opposition amongst the priests and people against him; yet there was 
always some that owned him in several places, but very few that stood 
firm to him when persecution came on him. There was he and one 
other put in prison at Derby, but the other declined and left him in prison 
there; where he continued almost a whole year, and then he was re- 
leased out of prison, and went on with his testimony abroad, and was 
put in prison again at Nottingham; and there he continued awhile, and 
after was released again. 

And then he travelled on into Yorkshire, and passed up and down that 
great county, and several received him; as William Dewsbury, Richard 
Farnsworth, Thomas Aldam, and others, who all came to be faithful 
ministers of the Spirit for the Lord. And he continued in that country, 
and travelled through Holderness and the Woulds, and abundance were 
convinced; and several were brought to prison at York for their testi- 
mony to the truth, both men and women: so that we heard of such a 
people that were risen, and we did very much inquire after them. And 
after awhile he travelled up farther towards the dales in Yorkshire, as 
Wensdale and Sedbur; and amongst the hills, dales and mounains he 
came on, and convinced many of the eternal truth. 

In the year 1652 it pleased the Lord to draw him towards us; so he 
came on from Sedbur into Westmoreland, to Firbank-Chapel, where 
John Blaykling came with him; and so on to Preston, Grarig, Kendal, 
Under-barrow, Poobank, Cartmel, and Staveley, and so on to Swarth- 
more, my dwelling-house, whither he brought the blessed tidings of the 
everlasting gospel, which I and many hundreds in these parts have 
cause to praise the Lord for. My then husband, Thomas Fell, was not 
at home at that time, but gone the Welsh circuit, being one of the judges 
of assize, and our house being a place open to entertain ministers and 
religious people at, one of Grorer Fox’s friends brought him thither, 
where he staid all night: and the next day, being a lecture or a fast-day 


~ ad 


THE TESTIMONY OF MARGARET FOX. xh 


ye went to Ulverston steeple-house, but came not in till people were 
gathered; I and my children had been a long time there before. And 
when tney were singing before the sermon he came in, and when they 
had done singing he stood up upon a seat or form, and desired “ that he 
might have liberty to speak;” and he that was in the pulpit said he 
might. And the first words that he spoke were as followeth: “ He is 
“not a Jew that is one outward, neither is that circumcision which is 
“ outward; but he is a Jew that is one inward, and that is circumc’sion 
“which is of the heart.” And so he went on and said “ that Christ was 
“the light of the world, and lighteth every man that cometh into the 
“ world, and that by this light they might be gathered to God,” &c. J 
stood up in my pew, and wondered at his doctrine; for I had never 
heard such before. And then he went on, and opened the scriptures and 
said, “ The scriptures were the prophets’ words, and Christ’s and the 
“ apostles’ words, and what, as they spoke, they enjoyed and possessed. 
“and had it from the Lord:” and said, “’Then what had any te do with 
“ the scriptures, but as they came to the spirit that gave them forth. You 
“will say, Christ saith this, and the apostles say this; but what canst thou 
“say? Art thou a child of light, and hast walked in the light, and what 
“thou speakest, is it inwardly from God?” &c. This opened me so, 
that it cut me-te-the heart; and then I saw clearly, we were all wrong. 
So I sat down in my pew again, and cried bitterly; and I cried in my 
spirit to the Lord, “ We are all thieves, we are all thieves, we have taken 
“the scriptures in words, and know nothing of them in ourselves.” So 
that served me, that I cannot well tell what he spoke afterwards; but he 
went on in declaring against the false prophets, priests, and deceivers of 
the people. And there was one John Sawrey, a justice of peace, and a 
professor, that bid the churchwarden take him away: and he laid his 
hands on him several times, and took them off again, and let him alone; 
and then after a while he gave over, and came to our house again that 
night. And he spoke in the family amongst the servants, and they were 
all generally convinced; as William Caton, Thomas Salthouse, Mary 
Askew, Anne Clayton, and several other servants. And I was struck 
into such a sadness, I knew not what to do, my husband being from 
home. I saw it was the truth, and I could not deny it; and I did, as the 
Apostle saith, “1 received the truth in the love of it: and it was opened 
to me so clear, that I had never a tittle in my heart against it; but I de- 
sired the Lord that I might be kept in it, and then I desired no greater 
portion. 

He went on to Dalton, Aldingham, Dendrum, and Ramsyde chapels 
and steeple-houses, and several places up and down, and the people 
followed him mightily: and abundance were convinced, and saw that 
which he spoke was truth, but the priests were all ina rage. And about 
‘wo weeks after James Naylor and Richard Farnsworth followed him 
and enquired him out till they came to Swarthmore, and there staid 
awhile with me at our house, and did me much good; for I was under 
great heaviness and judgment. But the power of the Lord entered upon 
me within about three weeks that he came, and about three weeks’ end 
my husband came home; and many were in a mighty rage, and a deal 
of the captains and great ones of the country went to meet my then 
husband as he was coming home, and informed him, “ That a great dis 
“aster was befallen amongst his family, and that they were witches; 
“and that they had taken us out of our religion; and that he must either 


xJil THE TESTIMONY OF MARGARET FOX. 


“set taem away, or all the country would be undone.” But 10 weapons 
formed against the Lord shall prosper, as you may see hereafter. 

\ So my husband came home greatly offended; and any may think 
what a condition I was like to be in, that either I must displease my 
husband or offend God; for he was very much troubled with us all in 
the house and family, they had so prepossessed him against it “Roomy 
James Naylor and Richard Farnsworth were both then at our house, 
and I desired them to come and speak to him; and so they did very 
moderately and wisely: but he was at first displeased with them, till 
they told him “ they came in Jove and good-will to his house.” And after 
that he had heard them speak awhile he was better satisfied, and they 
oflered as if they would go away; but I desired them to stay, and not 
\‘to go away yet, for Grorce Fox will come this evening. \ And I would 
have had my husband to have heard them all, and satisfied himself farther 
about them, because they had so prepossessed him against them of such 
dangerous fearful things in his coming first home. And then he was 
pretty moderate and quiet, and his dinner being ready he went to it, and 
I went in and sate me down by him. And whilst I was sitting the power 
of the Lord seized upon me, and he was struck with amazement, and 
knew not what to think; but was quiet and still. And the children were 
all quiet and still, and grown sober, and could not play on their musick 
that they were learning; and all these things made him quiet and still. 

At night Groree Fox came: and after supper my husband was sitting 
in the parlour, and I asked him, If Gzorer Fox might come in? And he 
said, Yes. So Grorce came in without any compliment, and walked 
into the room, and began to speak presently ; and the family, and James 

Naylor, and Richard Farnsworth came all in: and he spoke very ex 
cellently as ever I heard him, and opened Christ’s and the apostles’ prac- 
tices, which they were in, in their day. And he opened the night of 
apostacy since the apostles’ days, and laid open the priests and their 
practices in the apostacy; that if all in England had been there, I 
thought they could not have denied the truth of those things. And so my 
husband came to see clearly the truth of what he spoke, and was very 
quiet that night, said no more, and went to bed. The next morning 
came Lampit, priest of Ulverston, and got my husband into the garden, 
and spoke much to him there; but my husband had seen so much the 
night before, that the priest got little entrance upon him. And when the 
priest, Lampit, was come into the house, Gzorcr spoke sharply to him, 
and asked him, “ When God spoke to him, and called him to go and 
“preach to the people?” But after awhile the priest went away: this 
was on the sixth day of the week, about the fifth month, 1652. And at 
our house divers friends were speaking one to another, how there were 
several convinced here-aways, and we could not tell where to get a 
meeting; my husband also being present, he overheard, and said of his 
ewn accord, “ You may meet here if you will:” and that was the first 
meeting we had that he offered of his own accord. And then notice 
was given that day and the next to friends, and there was a good large 
meeting the first day, which was the first meeting that was at Swarth- 
more, and so continued there a meeting from 1652 to 1690. And my 
husband went that aay to the steeple-house, and none with him but his 
_clerk, and his groom that rid with him: and the priest and the people 
were all fearfully troubled; but praised be the Lord, they never got the* 
wills upou us to this dav. 


THE TESTIMONY OF MARGARET FOX. xi 


After a few weeks Grorcr went to Ulverston steeple-house ayain, 
and the said justice Sawrey, with others, set the rude rabble upon him, 
and they beat him so that he fell down as in a swoon, and was sore 
bruised and blackened in-his body, and on his head and arms. Then 
my husband was not at home; but when he came home, he was dis- 
pleased that they should do so, and spoke to justice Sawrey, and said, 
“It was against law to make riots.” After that he was sore beat and 
stoned at Walney till he fell down, and also at Dalton was he sore beat 
and abused; so that he had very hard usage in divers places in these 
paris. And then when a meeting was settled here, he went again into 

estmoreland, and settled meetings there; and there was a great con- 
vincement, and abundance of brave ministers came out there-aways ; as 
John Camm, John Audland, Francis Howgil, Edward Burrough, Miles 
Halhead, and John Blaykling, with divers others. He also went over the 
sands to Lancaster, and Yelland, and Kellet, where Robert Widders, 
Richard Hubberthorn, and John Lawson, with many others, were con- 
vinced. And about that time he was in those parts, many priests and 
professors rose up, and falsely accused him for blasphemy, and did en- 
deavour to take away his life, and got people to swear at a sessions at Lan- 
caster that he had spoken blasphemy. But my then husband and colonel 
West, having had some sight and knowledge of the truth, withstood the 

_two persecuting justices, John Sawrey and Thompson, and brought him 
off, and cleared him; for indeed he was innocent. And after the sessions 
there was a great meeting in the town of Lancaster; and many of the 
town’s-people came in, and many were convinced. And thus he was up 
and down about Lancaster, Yelland, Westmoreland, and some parts of 
Yorkshire, and our pa‘ts above one year; in which time there were 
above twenty-four ministers brought forth, that were ready to go with 
their testimony of the eternal truth unto the world: and soon afier 
Francis Howgil and John Camm went to speak to Oliver Cromwell. 

In the year 1653 Grorcr’s drawings were into Cumberland by Mil- 
holm, Lampley, Embleton and Brigham, Pardsey and Cockermouth, 
where at or near Nmbleton he had a dispute with some priests, as Lark- 
ham and Benson, but chiefly with John Wilkinson, a preacher at Em- 
bleton and Brigham; who was afterwards convinced, and owned the 
truth, and was a serviceable minister both in England, Ireland and 
Scotland. And then he went to Coldbeck and several places, till he 
came to Carlisle, and went to their steeple-house: and they beat and 
abused him, and had him before the magistrates ; who examined him, 
and put him in prison there in the common gaol among the thieves. 
And at the assizes was one Anthony Pearson, who had been a justice 
of peace, and was convinced at Appleby, when he was upon the bench, 
by James Naylor and Francis Howgil, who were then prisoners there, 
and brought before him; so Anthony Pearson spake to the justices at 
Carlisle, he being acquainted with them, having married his wife out of 
Cumberland; and after awhile they released him. Afterwards he went 
into several other parts of Cumberland, and many were convinced, and 
owned the truth: and he gathered and settled meetings there amongst 
them, and up and down in several parts there in the north. 

In the year 1654 he went southward to his own country of Leicester- 
shire, visiting friends. And then colonel Hacker sent him to Oliver 
Cromwell: and efter his being keyt prisoner awhile, he was brought 
betore Oliver, and was released. And then he staid awhile, visiting 


lV THE TESTIMONY OF MARGARET FOX. 


friends in Lcndon, and the meetings therein; and so passed westward 
to Bristol, and visited friends there: and after went into Cornwall, 
where they put him in prison at Launceston, and one Edward Pyot with 
him; where he had a bad, long imprisonment. When he was released, he 
passed into many parts in that county of Cornwall, and settled meetings 
there. And then he travelled through many counties, visiting friends 
and settling meetings all along: and so came into the north, and to 
Swarthmore, and to Cumberland. 

And so for Scotland he passed in the year 1657, and there went with 
him Robert Widders, James Lancaster, John Grave, and others. And 
he travelled through many places in that nation, as Douglas, Heads, 
Hamilton, Glasgow, and to Edinburgh, where they took him, and car- 
ried him before general Monk and the council, and examined him, 
and asked him his business into that nation; who answered, He came 
-0 visit the seed of God. And after they had threatened him, and charged 
him to depart their nation of Scotland, they let him go. And then he 
went to Linlithgow, and Stirling, and Johnstons, and many places, visit- 
ing the people: and several were convinced. And after he had staid a 
pretty while, and settled some meetings, he returned into Northumber- 
land, and into the bishoprick of Durham, visiting friends and settling 
meetings as he went; and then returned back again to Swarthmore, and 
staid amongst friends awhile, and so returned south again. [In 1658 
judge Fell died.] 

And in 1660 he came out of the south into the north, and had a great 
general meeting about Balby in Yorkshire; and so came on visiting 
friends in many places, till he came to Swarthmore again. And king 
Charles being then come in, the justices sent out warrants, and took him 
at Swarthmore, charging him in their warrants, that he drew away the 
king’s liege people, to the endangering the embruing the nation in blood, 
and sent him prisoner to Lancaster castle. And I having a great family, 
and he being taken in my house, I was moved of the Lord to go to the 
king at Whitehall; and took with me a declaration, and an informatior 
of our principles; and a long time, and much ado I had, to get to him. 
But at last, when I got to him, I told him, If he was guilty of those 
things, I was guilty, for he was taken in my house: and | gave him the 
paper of our principles, and desired that he would set him at liberty, as 
he had promised that none should suffer for tender consciences, and we 
were of tender consciences, and desired nothing but the liberty of our 
consciences. And then with much ado, after he had been kept prisoner 
near half a year at Lancaster, we got a habeas corpus, and removed 
him to the King’s Bench, where he was released. And then would I 
glaaly have come home to my great family; but was bound in my 
spirit, and could not have freedom to get away for a whole year. And 
the king had promised me several times, that we should have our 
liberty: and then the monarchy-men rose; and then came the great and 
general imprisonment of friends the nation through: And so could | not 
have freedom nor liberty to come home, till we had got a general procia- 
mation for all our friends’ liberty ; and then I had freedom and peace to 
come home. 

In 1663 he came north again, and to Swarthmore: and then they sent 
out warrants, and took him again, and had him to Holcrof before the 
justices, and tendered him the oath of allegiance, and sent him prisoner 
’o Lancaster castle—And about a month after, the justices sent for me 


THE TESTIMONY OF MARGARET FOX. xlv 


also out of my house, and tendered me the oath; and sent me prisoner 
to Lancaster. And the next assizes they tendered the oath of allegiance 
and supremacy again to us both, and premunired me: but they had 
missed the date and other things in his indictment, and so it was quash 
ed; but they tendered him the oath again, and kept him prisoner a year 
and a half at Lancaster castle. And then they sent him to Scarborough 
castle in Yorkshire, where they kept him prisoner close under the sol- 
diers most of a year and a half; so that a friend could scarcely have 
spoken to him; yet after that, it pleased the Lord that he was released. 
But I continued in prison, and a prisoner four years at that time; and 
an order was procured from the council, whereby I was set at liberty 
And in that time I went down into Cornwall with my son and daughter 

‘ Lower, and came back by London to the yearly meeting; and there 
I met with him again: And then he told me, The time was drawing 
towards our marriage, but he might first go into Ireland. And a little 
before this time was he prisoner in his own country at Leicester for 
awhile; and then released. And so into Ireland he went: and I went 
into Kent and Sussex ; and came back to London again; and afterward 
I went to the west, towards Bristol, in 1669, and there I staid till he 
came over from Ireland, which was eleven years after my former hus- 
band’s decease. In Ireland he had had a great service for the Lord and 
his eternal truth amongst friends and many people there, but escaped 
many dangers, and times of being taken prisoner, they having lain in 
wait aforehand for him in many places; and being returned, at Bristol 
he declared his intentions of marriage ; and there accordingly our mar- 
riage was solensnized: and then within ten days after 1 came home- 
wards; and my husband staid up and down in the countries amongst 
friends, visiting them. 

Soon after | came home, there came another order from the council 
to cast me into prison again; and the sheriff of Lancashire sent his 
bailiff, and pulled me out of my own house, and had me prisoner to 
Lancaster castle, upon the old premunire ; where I continued a whole 
year: and snost part of all that time I was sick and weakly, and also 
my husband was weak and sickly at that time. After a while he recov- 
ered, and went about to get me out of prison; and a discharge at last 
was got under the great seal, and so J was set at liberty: and then I 
was to go up to London again, for my husband was intending for Amer- 
ica; and he was full two years away before he came back again to 
England: and arriving at Bristol, he came thence to London, and in- 
tended to have come to the middle of the nation with me. But when 
we came into some parts of Worcestershire, they got there information 
of him; and one justice’ Parker by his warrant sent him and my son 
Lower to Worcester gaol; and the justices there tendered him the oath, 
and premunired him, but released my son Lower ; who staid with him 
most of the time he was prisoner there. 

And after some time he fell sick in a long lingering sickness, and many 
times was very ill; so they wrote to me from London, that if I would 
see him alive, I might go to him; which accordingly I did. And after 
I had tarried seventeen weeks with him at Worceste , and no discharge 
like to be obtained for him, I went up to London, and wrote to the king 
an account of his long imprisonment, and that he was taken in his travel 
homewards; and that he was sick and weak, and not like to live, if they 
iept him long there. And I went with it to Whitehall myself; and | 


~y 


alvi THE TESTIMONY OF MARGARET FOX. 


met with the king, and gave him the paper: and he said, 1 must go to 
the chancellor, he could do nothing in it. Then 1 writ also to the lord 
chancellor, and went to his house, and gave him my paper, and spoke 
to him, That the king had left it wholly to him; and if he did not take 
pity, and release him out of that prison, I feared he would end his davs 
there. And the lord chancellor Finch was a very tender man, me 
spoke to the judge, who gave out an habeas corpus presently. And 
when we got it, we sent it down to Worcester ; and they would not part 
with him at first, but said, he was premunired, and was not to go out 
en that manner. And then we were forced to go to judge North, and 
to the attorney-general, and we got another order, and sent down from 
them; and with much ado, and great labour and industry of William 
Mead, and other friends, we got him up to London, where he appeared 
et Westminster Hall at the King’s Bench, before judge Hales, who was 
a very honest, tender man; and he knew they had imprisoned him but 
in envy. So that which they had against him was read; and our coun- 
sel pleaded, that he was taken up in his travel and journey; and there 
was but little said till he was acquitted. And this was the last prison 
that he was in, being freed by the court of King’s Bench. 

When he was at liberty, he recovered again; and then I was very 
desirous to go home with him, which we did; and this was the first 
time that he came to Swarthmore after we were married, and he staid 
here about two years, and then went to London again to the yearly 
meeting ; and after awhile went into Holland, and some parts of Ger- 
many, where he staid a pretty while, and then returned to London again 
at the next yearly meeting. And after he had staid awhile in and about 
London, he came into the north to Swarthmore again, and staid that 
time nigh two years; and then he grew weakly, being troubled with 
pains and aches, having had many sore and long travels, beatings, and 
hard imprisonments. But after some time he rode to York, and so pass- 
ed on through Nottinghamshire and several counties, visiting friends till 
he came to London to the yearly meeting, and staid there and there- 
abouts till he finished his course, and laid down his head in peace. 

And though the Lord had provided an outward habitation for him, yet 
he was not willing to stay at it, because it was so remote and far from 
London, where his service most lay. And my concern for God and his 
holy eternal truth was then in the north, where God had placed and set 
me; and likewise for the ordering and governing of my children and 
family ; so that we were willing both of us to live apart some years upon 
God’s account and his truth’s service, and to deny ourselves of that 
comfort which we might have had in being together, for the sake and 
service of the Lord and his truth. And if any took occasion, or judged 
hard of us because of that, the Lord will judge them; for we were inno- 
cent. And for my own part, I was willing to make many long journeys 
for taking away all occasion of evil thoughts: and though I lived two 
hundred miles from London, yet have I been nine times there, upon the 
Lord’s and his truth’s account; and of all the times that I was at Lon- 
don, this last time was most comfortable, that the Lord was pleased to 
give me strength and ability to travel that great journey, being seventy- 
six years of age, to see my dear husband, who was better in his health 
and’strength than many times I-had seen him before. I look upon if 
tha. the Lord’s special hand was in it that I show4 go then, for he lived 


’ 


THE TESTIMONY OF MARGARET FOX. xvii 


put about half a year after I left him; which makes me admire the wis 
dom and goodness of God in ordering my journey «t that time. 

And now he hath finished his course and his testimony, and is enter- 
ed into his eterna] rest and felicity. I trust in the same powerful God, 
‘hat his holy arm and power will carry me through, whatever he hath 
yet for me to do; and that he will be my strength and support, and the 
bearer-up of my head unto the end and in the end. For | know his 
faithfulness and goodness, and I have experience of his love; to whom 
be glory and powerful dominion for ever. Amen. M. F. 


The Testimony of some of the AUTHOR'S Relations. 


Nerruer days nor length of time with us can wear out the memory 
of our dear and honoured father Grorer Fox, whom the Lord hath 
taken to himself: and though his earthly house of this tabernacle be dis-. 
solved, and mortality put off, yet we believe he has a “ building with 
“God eternally in the heavens, and is entered into rest,” as a reward 
to those great labours, hard sufferings, and sore trials, he patiently en- 
dured for God and his truth. Of which truth he was made an able min- 
ister, and one, if not the first promulgator of it in our age; who, though 


of no great literature, nor seeming much learned as to the outward, be- 


, ing hid from the wisdom of this world, yet he had the tongue of the 
} learned, and could speak a word in due season to the conditions and 
| capac.ties of most, especially to them that were weary and wanted soul’s 


— 


ag 


oe, 


rest, being deep in the divine mysteries of the kingdom of God. And 
the word of life and salvation through him reached into many souls, 
whereby many were convinced of their great duty of inward retiring to 
wait upon God ; and as they became diligent in the performance of that 
service, were also raised to be preachers of the same everlasting gospel 
of peace and glad tidings to others; who are as seals to his ministry 
both in this and other nations, and may possibly give a more full account 
thereof. Howbeit we knowing his unwearied diligence, not sparing but 
spending himself in the work and service whereunto he was chosen and 
called of God, could not but give this short testimony of his faithfulness 
therein, and likewise of his tender love and care towards us; who as a 
tender father to children, in which capacity we stood, being so related 
unto him, he never failed to give us his wholesome counsel and advice. 
And not only so, but, as a father in Christ, he took care of the whole 
family and household of faith, which the Lord had made him an eminent 
overseer of, and endued him with such an excellent spirit of wisdom and 
understanding, to propose and direct helps and advantages to the well- 


ordering and establishing of aflairs and government in the church, as 


now are found very serviceable thereunto, and have greatly disappoint- 
ed and prevented the false, loose, and libertine spirit in some, who to 
their confusion have endeavoured, by separation and division, to disturb 
the church’s peace. And although many of that sort have at sundry 
times shot their poisonous darts at him, publickly in print, and privately 
wther ways, yet he has always been preserved by the heavenly powe 


of God out of the reach of their envy, and all perils and difficulties that 
attended on their account; who, as a fixed star in the firmament of God’s 


x! vill THE TESTIMONY OF FRIENDS IN THE MINISTRY. 


power, dil constantly abide, and held his integrity to the last, being of 
a sweet savoury lite, and as to conversation kept his garments clean: and 
though outwardly dead yet liveth, and his memory is right precious 
unto us; and it is and will be to all that abide in the love of truth, and 
have not declined the way of it. For he was one of the Lord’s 
worthies, valiant for the truth upon earth, not turning his back in the 
day of battle; but his bow still abiding in its strength, he, througt 
many hardships, brought gladness and refreshment to Israel’s camp, be 
ing assisted by the might of that power that always put the armies of 
aliens and enemies to flight. And now, having finished his course, is 
removed from us into a glorious state of immortality and bliss, and is 
gathered unto the Lord as a shock of corn in its full season, and to that 
habitation of safety where the wicked cease from troubling and the 
weary be at rest. 


John Rous, Margaret Rous, 
William Meade, Sarah Meade, 
Thomas Lower, Mary Lower, 
William Ingram, Susanna Ingram, 
Daniel Abraham, Rachel Abraham, 
Abraham Morrice, Isabel Motrice. 


An EPISTLE by way of Testimony to Friends and Brethren 
of the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England, Wales, 
and elsewhere, concerning the Decease of our faithful Brother 
Georce Fox. 


From our Second Day’s Morning-Meeting in London, the 26th 
of the 11th month, 1690. 


Dear and truly beloved friends, brethren, and sisters in Christ Jesus, 
our blessed Lord and Saviour, we sincerely and tenderly salute you ali 
in his free and tender love, wherewith he hath graciously visited us, and 
largely shed it abroad in our souls, to our own unspeakable comfort and 
consolation, and towards his whole heritage and offspring: blessed be 
his pure and powerful name for evermore. And our souls do truly and 
fervently desire, and breathe unto the God of all our mercies, that you 
all may be preserved and kept truly faithful and diligent in his work and 
service, according to your heavenly calling and endowments, with his 
light, grace, and truth unto the end of your days; as being livingly en- 
gaged thereby all your appointed time to serve him, and to wait till 
your change come; that none may neglect that true improvement of 
your times and talents that God has afforded you here for your eternal 
advantage hereafter in that inheritance and life immortal that never 
fades away. And that the whole flock and heritage of Christ Jesus, 
which he has purchased and bought for himself with a price incorrupti- 
ble, may always be preserved in his own pure love and life, so as to 
grow, increase, and prosper in the same, and thereby be kept in love, 
unity, and peace with one another, as becomes his true and faithful fol- 
towers, is that which our very hearts and souls desire, being often truly 


THE TESTIMONY OF FRIENDS IN THE MINISTRY. xlix 


comforted and enlarged in the living sense and feeling of the increase 
and aboundings thereof among faithful friends and brethren. 

And dear brethren and sisters, unto this our tender salutation we arecon- 
cerned, in brotherly love and true tender-heartedness, to add and impart 
unto you some account of the decease of our dear and elder brother in 
Christ, namely, his and his church’s true and faithful servant and min- 
ister Grorcr Fox, whom it hath pleased the Lord to take unto himself, 
as he hath divers others of his faithful servants and ministers of late 
time ; who have faithfully served out their generation, and finished their 
testimony and course with joy and peace. Howbeit, O dear brethren 
and friends! that so many worthies in Israel, and serviceable instru- 
ments in the Lord’s hand, are of late taken away and removed from us, 


. so soon one after another, appears a dispensation that deeply and sor- 
_ rowfully affects us and many more, whose hearts are upright and tender 


towards God and one to another in the truth. The consideration of the 
depth, weight, and meaning thereof is very weighty upon our spirits, 
tho’ their precious life and testimony lives with us, as being of that same 
body, united to one head, even Jesus Christ ; in which we still, and hope 
ever shall have secret comfort and union with them, whom the Lord has 
removed and taken to himself, out of their earthly tabernacles and 
houses, into their heavenly and everlasting mansions. 

This our dear brother, Georce Fox, was enabled by the Lord’s power 
to preach the truth fully and effectually in our public meeting in White 
Hart Court, by Grace-church-street, London, on the 11th day of this 
istant 11th month, 1690: after which he said, “I am glad J was here; 
now I am clear, I am fully clear.” He was the same day taken 
with some illness or indisposition of body more than usual, and continu- 
ed weak in body for two days after at our friend Henry Gouldney’s 
house in the same court, close by the meeting-house, in much content- 
ment and peace, and very sensible to the last. In which time he men- 
tioned divers friends, and sent for some in particular; to whom he ex- 
pressed his mind for the spreading friends’ books and truth in the world and 
through the nations thereof, as his spirit in the Lord’s love and power 
was universally set and bent for truth and righteousness, and the making. 
known the way thereof to the nations and people afar off; signifying 
also to some friends, “ That all is well; and the seed of God reigns over 
all, and over death itself: that though he was weak in body, yet that the 
power of God is over all, and the seed reigns over all disorderly spirits :” 
which were his wonted sensible expressions, being in the living faith and 
sense thereof, which he kept to the end. And on the 18th instant, be- 
tween the ninth and tenth hour of the night, he quietly departed this life 
in peace, being two days after the Lord enabled him to publish and 
preach the blessed truth in the meeting as aforesaid. So that he clearly 
and evidently ended his days in his faithful testimony, in perfect love and 
unity with his brethren, and peace and good-will to all men, being 
about sixty and six years of age, as we understand, when he departed 
this life. 

And on the sixteenth of this instant, being the day appointed for his 
funeral, a very great concourse of friends and other people assembled 
at our meeting-house in White Hart Court aforesaid, about the mid-day, 
in order to attend his body to our burying place near Bunhillfields, to be 
imterred, as friends’ last office of love and respect due on that account. 
The meeting was held about two hours, with great and heavenly solem- 


1 THE TESTIMONY OF FRIENDS IN THE MINISTRY. 


nity manifestly attended with the Lord’s blessed power and presence ; and 
divers living testimonies given from a lively remembrance and sense of 
this his dear ancient servant, his blessed ministry and testimony of the 
breaking .orth of this gospel-day ; his innocent life, long and great travels, 
and labours of love in the everlasting gospel, for the turning and gathering 
nany thousands from darkness to the light of Christ Jesus, the founda- 
tion of true faith; also of his manifold sufferings, afflictions, and oppo- 
sitions which he met withal for his faithful testimony, both from his open 
adversaries and false brethren; and his preservations, dominion, and de- 
liverances out of them all by the power of God: to whom the glory and 
honour was and is ascribed, in raising up and preserving this his faithful 
witness and minister to the end of his days, whose blessed memorial will 
everlastingly remain. : 

He loved truth and righteousness, and bore faithful testimony against 
deceit and the mystery of iniquity; and often, of late time especially, 
warned friends against covetousness, earthly-mindedness, against getting 
into the earth, and into a brittle spirit; and the younger sort, against 
looseness and pride of life. 

A few days before he died he had a great concern upon his mind 
concerning some in whom the Lord’s power was working, to lead 
them into a ministry and testimony to his truth; who, through their too 
much entangling themselves in the things of this world, did make them- 
selves unready to answer the call and leadings of the power of God, 
and hurt the gift that was bestowed upon them, and did not take that re- 
gard to their service and ministry as they ought. And mentioned the 
apostle’s exhortation to Timothy, to “take heed to his ministry, and to 
“shew himself approved,” &c. And expressed his grief concerning 
such as preferred their own business before the Lord’s business, and 
sought the advancing worldly concerns before the concerns of truth: and 
concluded with a tender and fatherly exhortation to all to whom God 
had imparted of his heavenly treasure, that they would improve it faith- 
fully ; and be diligent in the Lord’s work, that the earth might be sown 
with the seed of the kingdom, and God’s harvest might be minded by 
those whom he had called and enabled to labour therein: and _ that 
such would commit the care of their outward concerns to the Lord, 
who would care for them, and give a blessing to them. However, this is 
not mentioned to encourage any to run unsent, or without being called 
of God. , 

Many are living witnesses that the Lord raised him up by his power 
to proclaim his mighty day to the nations, and made him an effectual 
instrument in our day to turn many from darkness to light, and from 
Satan’s power to God ; and freely to suffer and bear all reproaches, and 
the manifold persecutions, buffetings, halings, stonings, imprisonments, 
and cruelties, that were in the beginning and for some time inflicted on 
him and others, for the name of Christ Jesus. 

He was in his testimony as a fixed star in the firmament of God’s 
power, where all that be truly wise, and that turn many to righteousness, 
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever 
and ever. He knew and preached the mystery of Christ revealed, the 
life and substance, and the power of godliness, above all shadows and 
forms: the Lord endued him wit! a hidden wisdom and hfe. He loved 
peace, and earnestly lak oured for universal love, unity, peace, and good 
order in the churcbes of Christ: and where-ever he met with the con- 


THE TESTIMONY OF FRIENDS IN THE MINISTRY. \s 


trary, it was his great grief and burden. He was greatly for the en 
couragement of faithful labourers in the Lord’s work; and it was a great 
offence and grief to him to have their testimony weakened, or labours 
slighted, through prejudice in any professing truth. 

And inasmuch as the Lord suffered him not to be delivered up to the 
will of his enemies and persecutors, who often heretofore breathed out 
eruelty against him, and designed his destruction ; but in his good pleasure 
so fairly and quietly took him away in his own time, when his testimony 
was so blessedly finished, and his work accomplished ; this is all remarka- 
ble, and worthy of serious and due observation, as being a special and 
divine providence and wisdom of God; to whom we ascribe the glory 
of all, and not unto man or creatures. Though we must needs allow 
and own that good report and due esteem which faithful elders, ministers 
and servants of God and Christ have by faith obtained, to the praise of 
that blessed Power that upheld them in every age in their day; many 
whereof are even of late taken away from the evil to come, and are at 
rest in the Lord, out of the reach of all envy and persecution, where the 
wicked cannot trouble them any more. 

And we must patiently bear our parting with them, and our loss and 
sorrow on that account, with respect to their unspeakable gain: yet how 
can we avoid being deeply affected with sadness of spirit and brokenness 
of heart, under the sense and consideration of such loss and revolutions, 
which we have cause to believe are ominous of calamities to the wicked 
world, though of good to the righteous? Did the death of plain upright 
Jacob, namely Israel, who was as a prince of God, so deeply affect both 
his own children and kindred, as that they made a great and sore lamenta- 
tion for him ; and even the Egyptians also, that they bewailed him seventy 
days? And the death of Moses so deeply affect the children of Israel, as 
that they “did weep and mourn for him in the plain of Moab thirty days?” 
And the death of Stephen, that faithful martyr of Jesus, so deeply affect 
certain men fearing God, as “ that they made great lamentation for him ?” 
And the apostle Paul, when taking his leave of the elders of the church 
of Ephesus, and telling them, “they should see his face no more!” If 
this did so deeply affect them, that they “ wept all abundantly, sorrowing 
most of all for these words, that they should see his face no more ;” with 
many more of this kind, how then can we otherwise choose but be 
deeply affected with sorrow and sadness of heart, though not as those 
_ which have no hope, when so many of our ancient, dear, and faithful 
brethren, with whom we have had much sweet society, are removed 
from us one after another? (We pray God raise up and increase more 
such!) Yet must we all contentedly submit to the good pleasure and 
wisdom of the Lord our God in all these things; who taketh away, and 
none can hinder him, nor may any say unto him, “ What dost thou!” 
Yet we have cause to bless the Lord that he hath of late raised 1nd is 
raising up more to publish his name in the earth; and we that yet re- 
main have but a short time to stay after them that are gone, but we shall 
be gone to them also. The Lord God of life keep us all faithful in his 

oly truth, love, unity, and life to the end. He hath a great work still to 
pring forth in the earth, and great things to bring to pass, in order tc 
make way for truth and righteousness to take place therein; and that 
his seed may come forth and be gathered, and the power and kingdom 
of our God and of his Christ made known and exalted in the earth, unto 
the ends thereof. 


i THE TESTIMONY OF FRIENDS IN THE MINISTRY. 


Deai friends and brethren, Be faithful till death, that a crown of life 
you may obtain. All dwell in the love of God in Christ Jesus, in umon 
and peace in him: to whom we tenderly commit you to keep ana 
strengthen you, bless and preserve you to the end of your days. In 
whose dear and tender love we remain 


Your dear friends and brethren, 


Stephen Crisp, ° Nicholas Gates, Daniel Monro, 
Geo. Whitehead, Francis Stamper, John Heywood, 
Fra. Camfield, John Vaughton, George Bowles, 
James Park, Gilbert Latey, William Robinson. 
John Elson, Charles Marshal, William Bingley, 
Peter Price, Rich. Needham, John Butcher, 
John Field, James Martin, Benjamin Antrobus. 
John Edridge, 

These names are since added, at the desire of the persons following: 

Sam. Goodaker, Amb. Rigg, William Fallowfield. 

POSTSCRIPT. 


Berore his death he wrote a little paper, desiring all friends every 
where, that used to write to him about the sufferings and affairs of frienas 
in their several countries, should henceforth write to their several cor- 
respondents in London, to be communicated to the Second Day’s Meet- 
ing, to take care that they be answered. 


Thomas Ellwood’s Account of that eminent and honourable Ser- 
vant of the Lord, George Fox. 


Tuts holy man was raised up by God in an extraordinary manner, for 
an extraordinary work, even to awaken the sleeping world, by pro- 
claim'ng the mighty day of the Lord to the nations, and publishing again 
the everlasting gospel to the inhabitants of the earth, after the long and ~ 
dismal night of apostacy and darkness. For this work the Lord began 
to prepare him by many and various trials and exercises from his very 
childhood ; and having fitted and furnished him for it, he called him into 
it very young; and made him instrumental, by the effectual working of 
the Holy Ghost, through his ministry, to call many others into the same 
work, and to turn many thousands from darkness to the light of Christ, 
and froin the power of Satan unto God. I knew him not till the year 
1660: from that time to the time of his death, 1 knew him well, con- 
versed with him often, observed hiin much, loved him dzarly, and hon- 
oured him truly; and upon good experience can say, he was indeed an © 
heavenly-minded man, zealous for the name of the Lord, and preferred 
the honour of God before all things. 


a 


THE TESTIMONY OF THOMAS ELLWOOD, &c. liti 


He was valiant for the truth, bold in asserting it, patient in suffering 
for it, unwearied in labouring in it, steady in his testimony o it; im- 
movable as a rock. Deep he was in divine knowledge, clear 1n opening 
heavenly mysteries, plain and powerful in preaching, fervent in prayer. 
He was richly endued with heavenly wisdom, quick in discerning, sound 
in judgment, able and ready in giving, discreet in keeping counsel; a 
lover of righteousness, an encourager of virtue, justice, temperance, 
meekness, purity, chastity, modesty, humility, charity and self-denial in 
all, both by word and example. Graceful he was in countenance, manly 
in personage, grave in gesture, courteous in conversation, weighty in 
communication, instructive in discourse; free from affeciation in speech 
or carriage. A severe reprover of hard and obstinate sinners: a mild 
and gentle admonisher of such as were tender, and sensible of their fail- 
ngs not apt to resent personal wrongs; easy to forgive injuries: but 


., zealously earnest where the honour of God, the prosperity of truth, the 


a 


peace of the church were concerned. Very tender, compassionate, and 

itiful he was to all that were under any sort of affliction; full of bro- 
therly love, full of fatherly care: for indeed the care of the churches of 
Christ was daily upon him, the prosperity and peace whereof he studi- 
ously sought. Beloved he was of God, beloved of God’s people; and 
(which was not the least part of his honour) the common butt of all apos- 
tates’ envy, whose good notwithstanding he earnestly sought. 

He lived to see the desire of his soul, the spreading of that blessed 
principle of divine light through many of the European nations, and not 
a few of the American islands and provinces, and the gathering many 
thousands into an establishment therein; which the Lord vouchsafed him 
the honour to be-the-first-effectual publisher of in this latter age of the 
world. And having fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the 
faith, his righteous soul, freed from the earthly tabernacle, in which he 
had led an exemplary life of holiness, was translated into those heavenly 
mansions, where Christ our Lord went to prepare a place for his; there 


_ to possess that glorious crown of righteousness which is laid up for, ard 


shall be given by the Lord the righteous judge to all them that love his 
appearance. Ages to come and people yet unborn shall call him blessed, 
and bless the Lord for raising of him up: and blessed shall we also be, 
if we so walk as we had him for an example: for whom this testimony 
lives in my heart. He lived and died the SERVANT of the LORD. 
T. E. 


The Appearance of the Lord’s Everlasting Truth breaking forth 


again in his Eternal Power in this our Day and Age in ENG- 
LAND—— 


Wuenrein the Lord’s mighty power and word of life hath been richly 
and freely preached, to the gathering of many into reconciliation with 
God, by it; to the exaltation and glory of the great God, through the 
bringing forth of the heavenly and spiritual fruits, from such as have 
been gathered by his eternal light, power, and Spirit unto himself. And 
by the sowing to the Spirt in the hearts of people, life eternal hath been 


liv APPEARANCE OF THE LORD'S EVERLASTING TRUTH, &c. 


reaped: that the flocks have been gathered, which have the milk of the 
word plenteously: that the riches of the word have flourished, ara 
mightily abounded; and God’s heavenly plough with his spiritual met 
hath gone on cheerfully, to the overturning the fallow ground of the 
hearts that had not borne heavenly fruit to God. And God’s heavenly 
threshers with his heavenly flail have with joy and delight threshed out 
the chaff and the corruptions that have been atop of God’s seed and 
wheat in man and woman: and thus have they threshed in hope, and 
are made partakers of their hope; through which God’s seed is come 
into his garner. 

O the unutterable glory and the inexpressible excellency of the everlast- 
ing glorious truth, gospel, and word of life, that the infinite, invisible, and 
wise God, (who is over all) hath revealed and manifested! And how have 
the professors, priests, and powers risen up in opposition against his chil- 
dren, that are born of the immortal seed by the word of God! And O how 
great have the persecutions and reproaches, and spoiling of goods been, 
that have been executed upon them! But they that have touched them, 
and touch them, which are as dear to God as the apple of his eye, how 
hath the Lord manifested himself to stand by them, in overthrowing 
powers, priests, and states! What changes have there been since 1644 
and 1650, and 1652! How have the gaols been filled since then in this 
nation with the heirs of life, God’s chosen ones, who had no helper in the 
earth but the Lord and his Christ! So that truth’s faithful witnesses 
were scarcely to be found but in gaols and prisons, where the righteous 
were numbered among the transgressors ; who had neither staff nor bag 
from man, but the staff, the bread of life, and the bag that holds the 
treasure that waxes not old. But the Lord Jesus Christ. that sent them 
forth, was their exceeding great supporter and upho der by his eternal 
power and Spirit, Loth then and now. 


A 


. JOURNAL, OR HISTORICAL ACCOUNT 
OF THE 


LIFE, TRAVELS, SUFFERINGS, &c. 


OF 


GEORGE FOX. 


THAT all may know the dealings of the Lorp with me, and the va- 
rious exercises, trials, and troubles through which he led me, in order te 
prepare and fit me for the work unto which he had appointed me, and 
may thereby be drawn to admire and glorify his infinite Wisdom and 
Goodness; I think fit, before I proceed to set forth my publick travels in 
the service of Truth, briefly to mention how it was with me in my youth, 
and how the work of the Lorp was begun, and gradually carried on in 
me, even from my childhood. 

I was born in the month called July, in the year 1624, at Drayton in 
the Clay, in Leicestershire. My father’s name was Christopher Fox. 
He was by profession a weaver, an honest man, and there was a Seed | 
of Gop in him. The neighbours called him Righteous Christer. My 
mother was an upright woman; her maiden name was Mary Lago, of 
the family of the Lago’s and of the stock of the martyrs. 

In my very young years | had a gravity and stayedness of mind and 
spirit not usual in children; insomuch that when I have seen old men 
carry themselves lightly and wantonly towards each other, a dislike 
thereof hath risen in my heart, and I have said within myself, “ If ever 
“1 come to be a man, surely I should not do so, nor be so wanton.” 

When I came to eleven years of age, I knew pureness and righteous- 
ness; for while I was a child I was taught how to walk so as to be kept 
pure. The Lorp taught me to be faithful in all things, and to act faith- 
fully two ways, viz inwardly to Gop, and outwardly to man; and to 
keep to yea and nay in all things. For the Lorp shewed me, though the 
people of the world have mouths full of deceit and changeable words, 


that I was to keep to yea and nay in all things, that my words should J 


be few and savoury, seasoned with grace: and that J might not eat and 
drink to make myself Wanton, but for health, using the creatures in their 
service, as servants in their places, to the glory of him that created 
them: they being in their covenant, and I being brought up into the 
covenant, as sanctified by the Word which was in the beginning. by 
which all things are upheld, wherein is unity with the creation. 

But people being strangers to the covenant of life with God, th-., eat 
and drink to make themselves wanton with the creatures, wastin, ‘¢2m 
upon thei “usts, living in all filthiness, and devouring the creati 1, all 


, 


V 


56 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1645 


this in the world, in the pollutions thereof without God: therefore I was 
to shun all such. 

As I grew up my relations thought to have made me a priest; but 
others persuaded to the contrary. hereupon I was put to a man who 
was a shoe-maker by trade, and dealt in wool. He also used grazing, 
and sold cattle; and a great deal went through my hands. While I was 
with him_he was blest, but after I left him he broke and came to nothing 
I never wronged man or woman in all that time; for the Lord's power 
was with me, and over me, to preserve me. While I was in that service, 
I used in my dealings the word Verily, and it was a common saying 
among those that knew me, “If George says verily, there is no altering 
“him.” When boys and rude persons would laugh at me; I let them 
/ alone and went my way: but people had generally a love to me for my 

innocency and honesty. 

When I came towards ‘nineteen years of age,)being upon business at 

a fair, one of my cousins, whose name was Bradford, a professor, having 

another professor with him, came and asked me to drink part of a jug 

of beer with them. I, being thirsty, went in with them; for I loved any 

who had a sense of good, or that sought after the Lord. When we had 

drank a glass apiece, they began to drink healths, and called for more 
V drink, agreeing together, that he that would not drink, should pay all. 
I was grieved that any, who made profession of religion should offer to 
do so. They grieved me very much, having never had such a thing put 
to me before, by any sort of people. Wherefore I rose up, and putting 
my hand in my pocket, took out a groat, and laid it upon the table before 
them, saying, “If it be so, I will leave you.” So I went away; and 
when I had done my business returned home; but did not go to bed that 
night, nor could I sleep; but sometimes walked up and down, and some- 
times prayed, and cried to the Lord, who said unto me; [(7 “ Thou 
“‘seest how young people go together into vanity, and old people into the _ 
“earth; thou must forsake all, young and old, keep out of all, and be as 
“a stranger unto all.” : 

Then at the command of God, the ninth of the\seventh month, 1643, 
I left my relations, and broke off all familiarity or fellowship with young® 
or old. I passed to Lutterworth, where | staid some time. From thence 
I went to Northampton, where also I made some stay; then passed to 
Newport-pagnel, in Buckinghamshire; where, after I had staid awhile I 
went to Barnet, in the fourth month called June, in the year 1644. ) As I 
thus travelled through the country, professors took notice of me, and 
sought to be acquainted with me: but I was afraid of them: for I was 
sensible they did not possess what they professed. During the time I 
was at Barnet, a strong temptation to despair came upon me. JI then 
saw how Christ was tempted, and mighty troubles I was in. Sometimes 
.j] kept myself retired in my chamber, and often walked solitary in the 

Chase to wait upon the Lord. 

I wondered why these things should come to me. I looked upon my- 
self and said, “ Was I ever so before?” Then I thought, because I had 
forsaken my relations, I had done amiss against them. So I was brought 
to call to mind all my time that I had spent, and to consider whether I 
had wronged any: but temptations grew more and more, and I was 
tempted almost to despair; and when Satan could not effect his design 
upon me that way, he laid snares and baits to draw me to commit some - 
sin, whereby he might take advantage to bring me to despair. I was 


—_——— 


= 


5644] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 57 


about twenty years of age when these exercises came upv.) me, ana 
y-some years I continued in that condition in great trouble, and fain | 
would have put it from me. I went to many a pries( to look for comfort, 
but found no comfort from them. 

From Barnet I went to London, where I took a lodging, and waa 
under great misery and trouble there; for I looked upon the great pro- 
fessors of the city of London, and saw all was dark and under the chain 
of darkness. I had an uncle there, one Pickering, a baptist, and they 
were tender then; yet I could not impart my mind to him, nor join with | 
them; for I saw all, young and old, where they were. Some tender 
people would have had me staid, but I was fearful, and returned home. 
ward into Leicestershire, having a regard upon my mind to my parents ,, 
and relations, lest I should grieve them ; who, I understood, were troublec 
at my absence. 

Being returned into Leicestershire, my relations would have had me _ 
married; but | told them I was but a lad, and must get wisdom. Others 
would have had me into the auxiliary band among the soldiery, but I re- 
fused, and was grieved that they offered such things to me, being a ten- 
der youth. Then I went to Coventry, where I took a chamber for 
awhile at a professor’s house, till people began to be acquainted with me; 
for there were many tender people in that town. After some time I 
went into my own country again, and continued about a year, in great 
sorrow and trouble, and walked many nights by inyself. 

Then the priest of Drayton, the town of my birth, whose name was 
Nathaniel Stevens, came often to me, and I went often to him; and an- 
other priest sometimes came with him; and tkey would give place to 
me, to hear me; and I would ask them questions, and reason with them. 
This priest Stevens asked me, “ Why Christ cried out upon the cross, 
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” And why he said, 
“Tf it be possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will, but thine 
“be done!” I told him; at that time the sins of all mankind were upon 
him, and their iniquities and transgressions, with which he was wounded ; 
which he was to bear and to be an offering for, as he was man, but died 
not as he was God; so, in that he died for all men, tasting death for 
every man, he was an offering for the sins of the whole world. This I 
spoke, being at that time in a measure sensible of Uhrist’s sufferings. 
The priest said, “ It was a very good, full answer, and such a one as he 
“had not heard.” At that time he would applaud and speak highly of 
me to others; and what I said in discourse to him on week-days, he 
would preach of on first-days, which gave mea dislike to him. This 
priest afterwards became my great persecutor. — 

After this I went to another ancient priest at Mansetter in Warwick- 
_ shire, and reasoned with him about the ground of despair and tempta- 
. tions; but he was ignorant of my condition: he bid me take tobacco and 
_ sing psalms. Tobacco was a thing I did not love, and psalms I was not 
' ina state to sing; I could not sing. He bid me come again, and he 

would tell me many things; but when I came he was angry and pettish, 

for my former words had displeased him. He told my troubles, sorrows, 
and griefs to his servants, so that it was got among the milk-lasses. It 
grieved me that I should open mv mind to such a one. J saw they were 
all miserable comforters, and ‘.is increased my troubles upon me. | 
heard of a priest living about «amworth, who was accounted an ex- 
perienced man. I went seven mii+s to him, but four] him like an empty. 
’ H 


| [ 


|v 


= 


<= 


58 GEORGE FOX’S JOURN AL. (164) 


hollow cask. I heard of one called Dr. Cradock. of Soventrv, and wert 
to him; I asked him the ground of temptations and despa.r, and how 
troubles came to be wrought in man? He asked me, “ Who was Christ’s 
“father and mother?” J told him Mary was his mother, and that he was 
supposed to be the son of Joseph; but he was the Son of God. As we 
were walking together in his garden, the alley being narrow, I chanced, 
in turning, to set my foot on the side of a bed; at which he raged <s if 
his house had been on fire. Thus all our discourse was lost, and I went 
away in sorrow, worse than I was when I came. I thought them misera- 
ble comforters, and_saw they were all as nothing to me; for they could 
not reach my condition. After this I went to another, one Macham, a 
priest, in high account. He would needs give me some physick, and I 
J was to have been let blood; but they could not get one drop of blood 
from me, either in arms or head, though they endeavoured it, my body 
being, as it were, dried up with sorrows, grief, and troubles, which were 
¢~ So great upon me, that I could have wished I had never been born, or 
} that I had been born blind, that I might never have seen wickedness nor 
af vanity; and deaf, that I might never have heard vain and wicked words, 
‘ or the Lord’s name blasphemed. When the time called Christmas came, 
while others were feasting and sporting themselves, I looked out poor 
widows from house to house, and gave them some money. When I was 
invited to marriages I went to none at all; but the next day, or soon 
after, I would go and visit them; and if they were poor I gave them 
some money; for I had wherewith both to keep myself from being 
chargeable to others, and to administer something to the necessities of 
others. . 
About the beginning of the year 1646, as I was going into Coventry, 
a consideration arose in me, how it was said, that “ All christians are 
believers, both protestants and papists ;” and the Lord opened to me that 
if all were believers, then they were all born of God, and passed from 
death to life; and that none were true believers but such: and though 
others said they were believers, yet they were not. At another time as 
__ IT was walking in a field on a first-day morning, the Lord opened unto 
hme; “ That being bred at Oxford or Cambridge was not enough to fit and 
“qualify men to be ministers of Christ ;” and-twondered at it, because 
it was the common belief of people. But I saw it clearly as the Lord 
opened it to me, and was satisfied and admired the goodness of the Lord, 
who had opened this thing unto me that morning. This struck at priest 
Stevens’s ministry, namely, that “to be bred at Oxford or Cambridge 
“was not enough to make a man fit to be a minister of Christ.” So that 
which opened in me, I saw struck at the priest’s ministry. But my rela- 
tions were much troubled, that I would not go with them to hear the 
priest; for I would go into the orchard or the fields, with my bible, by 
myself. I asked them, did not the apostle say to believers, “ That they 
“needed no man to teach them, but as the anointing teacheth them?” 
Though they knew this was scripture, and that it was true, yet they 
were grieved because I could not be subject in this matter, to go to hear 
the priest with them. I saw that to be a true believer was another thing 
than they looked upon it to be; and I saw that being bred at Oxford or 
Cambridge did not qualify or fit a man to be a minister ef Christ; what 
tnen should I follow such for? so neith +r them, nor any of the dissenting 
people could I join with: but was as « stranger to all, relying wholly 
upon the Lord Jesus Christ. 


1646; GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 59 


- 


' At another time it was opened in me, “That !3.d who made -the \ 
“world did not dwell in temples made with hands.” ‘This at the first - 
seemed strange, because both priests and people useo to call their tem- 
les or churches, dreadful places, holy ground, and the temples of God. 
Bat the Lord shewed me clearly, that he did not dwell in these temples 
which men had wommanded and set up, but in _people’s hearts. Both 
Stephen and the apostle Paul bore testimony, that he did not dwell in 
temples made with hands, not even in that which he had once command- 
ed to be built, since he put an end to the typical dispensation; but that 
his people were his temple, and he dwelt in them. This opened in me, 
as I walked in the fields to my relation’s house. When I came there, 
they told me Nathaniel Stevens, the priest, had been there, and said, 
“He was afraid of me for going after new lights.” I smiled in myself, 
knowing what the Lord had opened in me concerning him and his 
brethren ; but I told not my relations, who though they saw beyond the 
priests, yet went to hear them, and were grieved because I would not go 
also. But I shewed them by the scriptures, there was an anointing 
within man to teach him, and that the Lord would teach his people him- 
self. I had great openings concerning the things written in the Reyela- 
tions; and when I spoke of them, the priests and professors would say, 
that was a sealed book, and would have kept me out of it. But I told 
them, Christ could open the seals, and that they were the nearest things 
to us; for the epistles were written to the saints that lived in former 
ages, but the Revelations were written of things to come. 
After this I met with a sort of people that held, women have no souls 


_ (adding in a light manner) no more than a goose. I reproved them, at) 


told them that was not right: for Mary said, “ My soul doth magnify 


\ “the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” 


Removing to another place I came among a people that relied much 


_ondreams. I told them except they could distinguish between dream 
and dream they would confound all together; for there were three sorts 


of dreams: multitude of business sometimes caused dreams; and there | 


_ were whisperings of Satan in man in the night season; and there were 


~“ 


speakings of God to man in dreams. But these people came out of 
these things, and at last became friends. 

Though I had great openings, yet great trouble and temptations 
came many times upon me, so that when it was day I wished for night, 
and when it was night I wished for day; and by reason of the openings 
I had in my troubles, I could say as David said, “ Day unto day uttereth 
“ speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” When I had open- 
ings they answered one another, and answered the scriptures; for I had 
great openings of the scriptures: and when I was in troubles, one trouble 
also answered to another. 

About the beginning of the year 1647 I was moved of the Lord to go 
into to Derbyshire, where I met with some friendly people, and had many 
discourses with them. Then passing into the Peak-country, I met with 
more friendly people, and with some in empty high notions. Travelling 
through some parts of Leicestershire, and into Nottinghamshire, I met 
with a tender people, and a very tender woman, whose name was 
Elizabeth Hootton. With.these I had some meetings and discourses ; 
but my troubles continued, ‘and I was often under great temptations. [ 


- fasted much, walked abroad in solitary places many days, and often 


took my bible, and sate in hollow trees and lonesome places til night 


} 


“ 


4 


50 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (164 


came on; and frequently in the night walked mournfully about by my 
self: for I was a man of sorrows in the time of the first workings of 
the Lord in me. 

During all this time I was never joined in profession of religion with 
any, but gave up myself to the Lord, having forsaken all evil company, 
taken leave of father and mother, and all other relations, and travelled 
up and down as a stranger in the earth, which way the Lord inclined 
my heart; taking a chamber to myself in the town where I came and 
tarrying sometimes more, sometimes less in a place: for I durst not stay 
long in a place, being afraid both of professor and profane, lest, being a 
tender young man, I should be hurt by conversing much with either. 
For which reason I kept much as a stranger, seeking heavenly wisdom 
and getting knowledge from the Lord; and was brought off from out- 
ward things, to rely on the Lord alone. Though my exercises and 
troubles were very great, yet were they not so continual but that I had 
some intermissions, and was sometimes brought into such an heavenly 
joy, that I thought I had been in Abraham’s bosom. | As I cannot de- 
clare the misery I was in, it was so great and heavy upon me, so neither 
can [ set forth the mercies of God unto me in all my misery. O the 
everlasting love of God to my soul, when I was in great distress! when 
my troubles and torments were great, then was his love exceeding 
great. Thou, Lord, makest a fruitful field a barren wilderness, and a 
barren wilderness a fruitful field! thou bringest down and settest up! 
thou killest and makest alive! all honour and glory be to thee, O Lord of 
Glory! The knowledge of thee in the Spirit is life; but that knowledge 
which is fleshly works death. While there is this knowledge in the 
flesh, deceit and self will conform to any thing, and will say Yes, Yes, 
to that it doth not know. The knowledge which the world hath, of what 
the prophets and apostles spake, is a fleshly knowledge; and the apos- 
tates from the life, in which the prophets and apostles were, have got 
their words, the holy scriptures, in a form, but not in the life nor spirit 
that gave them forth. So they all lie in confusion; and are making 
provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, but not to fulfil the law 
and command of Christ in his power and Spirit: for that, they say they” 
cannot do; but tu fulfil the lusts of the flesh, that they can do with 
delight. 

Alter I had received that opening from the Lord, that to be bred at 
Oxford or Cambridge, was not sufficient to fit a man to be a minister 
of Christ, I regarded the priests less, and looked more after the dissent- 
ing people. Among them I saw there was some tenderness ; and many 
of them came afterwards to be convinced, for they had some openings. 
But as I had forsaken the priests, so I left the separate preachers also,’ 
and those called the most experienced people; for ] saw there was 
none among them all that could speak to my condition. And when all 
my hopes in them and in all men were gone, so that I had nothing out- 
wardly, to help me, nor could tell what to do; then, O then, I heard a 

voice which said, “ There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to 
thy condition.” When | heard it, my heart did leap for joy. Then the 
Lord let me see why there was none upon the earth that could speak to 
my conditicn, namely, that I might give himwall the glory. For all ure 
concluded under sin, and shut up in unbelief“as I had been, that Jesus 
Christ might have the pre-eminence, who enlightens, and gives grace, © 
faith and power. Thus when God doth work. who shall let it? This] _ 


1647) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 61 


knew experimentally. My desires after the Lorl grew stronger, ana 
zeal in the pure knowledge of God, and of Christ alone, without the 
help of any man, book, or writing. For though I read the scriptures — 
that spake of Christ and of God, yet I knew him not but by revelation, 
as he who hath the key did open, and as the Father of life drew me to,“ 
his Son by his Spirit. |Then the Lord gently led me along, and let me 
see his love, which was endless and eternal, surpassing all the knowledge 
that men have in the natural state, or can get by history or books. That 
love let me see myself, as I was without him ;/and I was afraid of 
all company: for I saw them perfectly, where they were, through the 
love of God which let me see myself. (I had not fellowship)with any 
people, priests, nor professors, nor any sort of separated people, but 
(with Christ who hath the key, and opened the door of light and hfe unto ~ 
me.) I was afraid of all carnal talk and talkers, for I could see nothing 
but corruptions, and the life lay under the burden of corruptions. When 
I was in the deep, under all shut up, I could not believe that I should’ 
ever overcome; my troubles, my sorrows, and my temptations were so . 
great, that I often thought I should have despaired, I was so tempted. 
But when Christ opened to me how he was tempted by the same devil, 
and had overcome him, and had bruised his head; and that through 
him and his power, light, grace, and Spirit, I should overcome also, I 
had confidence in him. So he it was that opened to me when I was 
shut up, and had neither hope nor faith. Christ, who had enlightened 
me, gave me his light to believe in, and gave me hope, which is himself 
revealed in me, and gave me his spirit and grace, which I found sufh- 
cient in the deeps and in weakness. Thus in the deepest miseries, in the 
greatest sorrows and temptations that beset me, the Lord in his mercy 
did keep me. I found two thirsts in me; the one after the creatures, to 
have got help and strength there; and the other after the Lord the Crea- 
tor, and his son Jesus Christ; and I saw all the world could do me no 
good. If I had had a king’s diet, palace and attendance, all would have 
been as nothing; for nothing gave me comfort but the Lord by his 
power. I saw professors, priests, and people, were whole and at ease 
in that condition which was my misery, and they loved that which I 
would have been rid of. But the Lord did stay my desires upon him- 
self, from whom my help came, and my care was cast upon him alone, 
Therefore, all wait patiently upon the Lord, whatsoever condition you 
be in; wait in the grace and truth that comes by Jesus ; for if ye so do, 
there is a promise to you, and the Lord God will fulfil it in you. Blessed 
are all they indeed that do indeed hunger and thirst after righteousness, 
they shall be satisfied with it. I have found it so, praised be the Lord 
who filleth with it, and satisfieth the desires of the hungry soul. O let 
_the house of the spiritual Israel say, His mercy endureth for ever! It is 
‘the great love of Godj to make a wilderness of that which is pleasant to 
the outward eye and fleshly mind ; and to make a fruitful field of a bar 
ren wilderness. TThis-is the great work of God. But while people’s 
minds run in the earthly, after the creatures and changeable things, 
changeable ways and religions, and changeable uncertain teachers, 
their minds are in bondage, and they are brittle and changeable, tossed 
up and down with windy doctrines, thoughts, notions, and things; their 
minds being out of the unchangeable truth in the inward parts, the light 
of Jesus Christ, which would keep them to the unchangeable. He is the 


62 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 64 


way to the Father; who in all my troubles preserved me by his Spiri 
and power, praised be his holy name for ever ! 

Again, I heard a voice which said, Thou serpent, thou dost seek tu de 
stroy the life, but canst not; for the sword which keepeth the tree of 
life shall destroy thee. So Christ, the Word of God, that bruised the 
head of the serpent, the destroyer, preserved me; my mind being joined 
to his good seed that bruised the head of this serpent, the destroyer. 
This inward life sprung up in me, to answer all the opposing professors 
and priests, and brought scriptures to my memory to refute them with. 

At another time Isaw the great love of God, and was filled with ad- 
miration at the infiniteness of it. I saw what was cast out from God, and 
what entered into God’s kingdom; and how by Jesus, the opener of the 
door by his heavenly key, the entrance was given. I saw death, how it 
had passed upon all men, and oppressed the seed of God in man, and in 

-me; and how I in the seed came forth, and what the promise was to. 
( Yet it was so, that there seemed to be two pleading in me; and ques- 
tionings arose in my mind about gifts and prophecies, and I was tempted 
again to despair, as if I had sinned against the Holy Ghost. I was in 
great perplexity and trouble for many days; yet I gave up myself to 
the Lord still. One day, when I had been walking solitarily abroad, and 
was come home, I was taken up in the love of God, so that I could not 
but admire the greatness of his love; and while I was in that condition, 
it was opened unto me by the eternal light and power, and I therein 
clearly saw, That’ all was done and to be done in and by Christ; and 
how he conquers and destroys this tempter the devil, and all his works, 
_ and is atop of him; and that-all these troubles were good for me, and 
temptations for the trial of my faith, which Christ had given me. The 
Lord opened me, that I saw through all these troubles and temptations. 
My living faith was raised, that I saw all was done by Christ the life, 
and my belief was in him. When at any time my condition was veiled, 
my secret belief was stayed firm, and hope underneath held me, as an 
anchor in the bottom of the sea, and anchored my immortal] soul to its 
bishop, causing it to swim above the sea, the world, where all the raging 
waves, foul weather, tempests and temptations are. But O! then did I 
see my troubles, trials, and temptations more clearly than ever I had 
done. As the light appeared, all appeared that is out of the light; dark- 
ness, death, temptations, the unrighteous, the ungodly; all was manifest 
and seen in the light. After this, a pure fire appeared in me: then I saw 
how he sat as a refiner’s fire, and as the fuller’s soap. ‘Then the spiritual 
discerning came into me; by which I discerned my own thoughts, 
groans, and sighs; and what it was that veiled me, and what it was that 
opened me. That which could not abide in the patience, nor endure the 
fire, in the light I found to be the groans of the flesh, that could not give 
up to the will of God; which had so veiled me, that I could not be 
patient in all trials, troubles, anguishes, and perplexities; could not give 
up self to die by the cross, the power of God, that the living and quick- 
ened might follow him, and that that which would cloud and veil from 
the presence of Christ, that which the sword of the Spirit cuts down, 
and which must die, might not be kept alive. I discerned the groans of 
the Spirit, which opened me, and made intercession to God. in which 
Spirit is the true waiting upon God, for the redemption of the body, and 
of the whole creation. By this true Spirit, in which the true sighing is, 
I saw over the false sighings and groanings. By this invisible Spirit ] 


1 A 


J 


oh, a iets el 


1647] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 63 


discerned all the false hearing, the false seeing, and the false smelling 
which was above the Spirit quenching and grieving it; and that all that 
were there were in confusion and deceit, where the false asking and 

raying is, in deceit and atop, in that nature and tongue that takes God’s 

oly name in vain, wallows in the Egyptian sea, and asketh but hath 
not; for they hate his light, resist the Holy Ghost, turn the grace into 
wantonness, rebel against the Spirit, and are erred from the faith they 
should ask in, and from the Spirit they should pray by. He that knoweth 
these things in the true Spirit can witness them. The divine lght of 
Christ manifesteth all things, the spiritual fire trieth and severeth all 
things. Several things did I then see, as the Lord opened them to me; 
for he shewed me that which can live in his holy refining fire, and that 
ean live to God under his law. He made me sensible, how the law and 
the prophets were until John; and how the least in the everlasting king- 
dom of God is greater than John. The pure and perfect law of God is 
over the flesh, to keep it and its works, which are not perfect, under, by 


_ the perfect law: and the law of God which is perfect, answers the per- 


fect principle of God in every one. This law the Jews, the prophets, 
and John were to perform and do. None knows the giver of this law 
but by the Spirit of God; neither can any truly read it, or hear its voice, 
but by the Spirit of God. He that can receive it, let him. John, who 
was one of the greatest prophets that was born of a woman, bore wit- 
ness to the light which Christ, the great heavenly prophet, hath enlight- 
ened every man that cometh into the world withal; that they might be- 
lieve in it, become the children of light, and so have the light of life, and 
not come into condemnation. For the true belief stands in the light that 
condemns all evil; and the devil, who is the prince of darkness, and 
would draw out of the-ight into condemnation. They that walk in this 
light, come to the mountain of the house of God, established above all - 
mountains, and to God’s teaching, who will teach them his ways. These 
things were opened to me in the light. 

I saw also the mountains burning up, and the rubbish, the rough, 
crooked ways and places made smooth and plain, that the Lord might 
come into his tabernacle. These things are to be found in man’s heart; 
but to speak of these things being within, seemed strange to the rough, 
crooked, and mountainous ones. Yet the Lord saith, “ O earth, hear the 
“word of the Lord!” The law of the Spirit crosseth the fleshly mind, 
spirit, and will, which lives in disobedience, and doth not keep within the 
law of the Spirit. I saw this law was the pure love of God which was 
upon me, and which I must go through, though J was troubled while I 
was under it; for I could not be dead to the law but through the law, 
which did judge and condemn that which is to be condemned. I saw, 


_ many talked of the law, who had never known the law to be their 


school-master ; and many talked of the gospel of Christ, who had never 
known life and immortality brought to light in them by it. You that 
have been under that school-master, and the condemnation of it, know 
these things; for though the Lord in that day opened these things unto 
me in secret, they have been since published by his eternal Spirit, as on 
the house-top. (As you are brought into the law, and through the law to 
be dead to it, and witness the righteousness of the law fulfilled in you, 
ye will afterwards come to know what it is to be brought into the faith, 
and through faith from under the law; and abiding in the faith, which 


Christ is the author of, ye will have peace and access to God. But if ye 
we be iby 


64 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1647 


iook out from the faith, and from that which would keep you in the vic 
tory, and look after fleshly things or words, ye will be brought inte 
bondage to the flesh again, and to the law which takes hold upon the 
fles'1 and sin, and worketh wrath, and the works of the flesh will appear 
again.) This law of God takes hold upon the law of sin and death; but 
the law of faith, the law of the Spirit of life, which is the love of God, 
and which comes by Jesus (who is the end of the law for righteousness- 
sake) makes free from the law of sin and death. The law of life fleshly- 
minded men do not know; yet they will tempt you; to draw you from the 
Spirit into the flesh, and so into bondage. Therefore ye, who know the 
love of God, and the law of his Spirit, and the freedom that is in Jesus 
Christ, stand fast in him, in that divine faith which he is the author of in 
you; and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage. For the ministry 
of Christ Jesus, and his teaching, bringeth into liberty and freedom ; but 
the ministry that is of man,-and, by man, which stands in the will of 
man, bringeth into bondage, and under the shadow of death and dark- 
ness. Therefore none can be ministers of Christ Jesus but in the eternal 
Spirit, which was before the scriptures were given forth; for if they 
have not his Spirit, they are none of his. Though they may have his 
lignt to condemn them that hate it, yet they can never bring any into 
unity ana fellowship in the Spirit, except they be init; for the seed of 
God is a burthensome stone to the selfish, fleshly, earthly will, which 
reigns in its own knowledge and understanding that must perish, and 4s 
own wisdom that is devilish. The Spirit of God is grieved, vexed, and 
quenched with that which brings into the fleshly bondage; and that 
which wars against the Spirit of God must be mortified by it; for the 
flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these 
are contrary the one to the other. The flesh would have its liberty, and 
the Spirit would have its liberty ; but the Spirit is to have its liberty, and 
. not the flesh. If therefore ye quench the Spirit, join to the flesh, and be 
servants of it, then ye are judged and tormented by the Spirit; but if 
ye join to the Spirit, and serve God in it, ye have liberty and victory 
over the flesh and its works. \ Therefore keep in the daily cross, the 
power of God, by which ye may witness all that to be crucified which 
is contrary to the will of God, and which shall not come into his king- 
dom. ‘These things are here mentioned and opened for information, 
exhortation, and comfort to others, as the Lord opened them unto me 
in that day. In that day I wondered that the children of Israel should 
murmur for water and victuals, for I could have fasted long without 
murmuring or minding victuals. But I was judged at other times, that 
I was not contented to be sometimes without the water and bread of 
life, that I might learn to knew how to want, and how to abound. 3 
I heard of a woman in Lancashire, who had fasted two-and-twenty — 
days, and | travelled to see her; but when I came to her, I saw she 
was under a temptation. When I had spoken to her what I had from 
“the Lord, I left her, her father being high in profession. Passing on, | 
went among the professors at Duckenfield and Manchester, where I staid 
awhile and declared truth among them. There were some convinced, 
who received the Lord’s teaching, by which they were confirmed, and 
“\stood in the truth. /The professors were in a rage, all pleading for sin 
’ and imperfection; and could not endure to hear talk of perfection, or of 
a holy and sinless life. But the Lord’s power was over all; though they 


eh ial 


647] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 65 


were chained under darkness and sin, which they pleaded for and 
quenched the tender thing in them. 

About this time there was a great meeting of the baptists at Broagh- 
ton, in Leicestershire, with some that had separated from them. People 
of other counties went thither, and I went also. Not many of the bap- 
tists came, but abundance of other people were there; and the Lord 
opened my mouth, and his everlasting truth was declared amongst them, 

_and the power of the Lord was over them all. In that day the Lord’s 
power began to spring; I had great openings in the scriptures, and seve- 
ral were convinced in those parts, and turned from darkness to light 
and from the power of Satan unto God: his power they did receive. 
and by it many were raised up to praise God. (When I reasoned with 
professors and other people, some were convinced, and did stand. Yet 
[ was under great temptations sometimes, and my inward sut'erings 


were heavy; but J could find none to open my condition to but the © 


Lord alone, unto whom I cried night and day. ) I went back into Not- 
tinghamshire, where the Lord shewed me, that the natures of those 
things which were hurtful without, were within in the hearts and minds 
of wicked men, The natures of dogs, swine, vipers, of Sodom and 
Egypt, Pharaoh, Cain, Ishmael, Esau, &c. The natures of these I saw 
within, though people had been looking without. I cried to the Lord, 
saying, “ Why should I be thus, seeing I was never addicted to commit 
“ those evils?” And the Lord answered, “It was needful I should have 
&: sense of all conditions, how else shquld I speak to all conditions PSE 
n this I saw the infinite love of God. I saw also, that there was an ~ 
ocean of darkness and death; but an infinite ocean of light and love, 
which flowed over the ocean of darkness. In that also I saw the infi- 
nite love of God, and I had great openings. As I was walking by the ™ 
steeple-house side in the town of Mansfield, the Lord said unto me, 
«That which people trample upon must be thy food.” And as the Lord 
spake he opened to me, that people and professors trampled upon the 
life, even the life of Christ was trampled upon; they fed upon words, and 
fed one another with words; but trampled under foot the blood of the 
son of God, which blood was my life: and they lived in their airy no- 
tions talking of him. It seemed strange to me at the first, that I should 
feed on that which the high professors trampled upon; but the Lord y 
opened it clearly to me by his eternal Spirit and power. 

Then came people from far and near to see me; but I was fearful of 
being drawn out by them: yet I was made to open things to them. One 
Brown had great prophecies and sights upon his death-bed of me. He 
spoke openly, of what I should be made instrumental by the Lord to 
bring forth. And of others he spoke, that they should come to nothing ; 
which was fulfilled on some, who then were something in shew. _ When 
this man was buried, a great work of the Lord fell upon me, to the ad- 
miration of na.., who thought I had been dead; and many came to see 
me for about fourteen days. I was very much altered in countenance 
and person, as if my body had been new-moulded or changed. While 
[ was in that condition, I had a sense and discerning given me by the 
Lord, through which I saw plainly, that when many people talked of 
God and of, Christ, &c. the serpent spoke in them; but this was hard to 
be borne. (Yet the work of the Lord went on in some, and my sorrows 
and troubles began to wear off, and tears of joy dropped from me, so 
that I could have wept night and day with tears of joy to the Lord, in 


V 


66 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. , 647 


humility and biqkenness of heart. I saw irto that which was without 
end, things which cannot be uttered, and of the greatness and .infinite- 
ness of the love of God, which cannot be expressed by words. | For I 
had been brought through the very ocean of darkness and death, and 
through and over the power of Satan, by the eternal glorious power of 
Christ; even through that darkness was I brought which covered over 
all the world, which chained down all, and shut up all in the ieath The 
same eternal power of God which brought me through these things; was 
that which afterwards shook the nations, priests, professors, and people. 
Then could I say, I had been in spiritual Babylon, Sodom, Egypt, 
and the grave; but by the eternal power of God I was come out of it, 
was brought over it, and the power of it into the power of Christ. ( And 
I saw the harvest white, and the seed of God lying thick in the ground, 
as ever did wheat that was sown outwardly, and none to gather it; for 
“this I mourned with tears.) A report went abroad of me, that I was a 
young man who had a dis¢erning spirit; whereupon many came to me 
from far and near, professors, priests, and people.\ The Lord’s power 
broke forth, and I had great openings and prophecies, and spoke unto 
them of the th nzs ot Goa, which .hey heard with attention and silence, and 
“went away and spread the tame thereof. Then came the tempter and 
set upon me again, charging me, that I had sinned against the Holy 
Ghost; but I could not tell in what. Then Paul’s condition came before 
me, how after he had been taken up into the third heavens, and seen 
things not lawful to be uttered, a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet 
him. Thus by the power of Christ I got over that temptation also. 

In the year 1648 as I was sitting in a friend’s house in Nottingham- 
shire (for by this time the power of God had opened the hearts of some 
to receive the word of life and reconciliation) | saw there was a great 
crack to go throughout the earth, and a great smoke to go as the crack 
went, and that after the crack there should be a great shaking. This 
was the earth in people's hearts, which was to be shaken before the seed 
of God was raised out of the earth. And it was so; for the Lord’s 
power began to shake them, and great meetings we began to have, and 
a mighty power and work of God there was amongst people, to the 
astonishment of both people and priests. 

There was a meeting of priests and professors at a justice’s house, 
and I went among them. Here they discoursed how Paul said, “ He 
“had not known sin but by the law, which said, Thou shalt not lust :” 
and they held that to be spoken of the outward law. But I told them, 
Paul spoke that after he was convinced; for he had the outward law 
before, and was bred up in it, when he was in the lust of persecution; 
but this was the law of God in his mind which he served, which the law 
in his members warred against: for that which he thought had been life 
.o him, proved death. So the more sober of the priests and professors 
consented that it was not the outward law, but the inward, which shew- 
ed the inwarc lust which Paul spake of after he was convinced; for the 
outward law took hold of the outward action, but the inward law of the 
inward lust. 

After this I went again to Mansfield, where was a great meeting of 
professors and people, where I was moved to pray; and the Lord’s 
power was so great, that the house seemed to be shaken. When I had 
done, some of the professors said, “ It was now as in the days of the 
“ apostles, when the house was shaken where they were.” After I had 


1648] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 67 


prayed, one of the professors would pray; which brought deadness and 
a veil over them. Others of the professors were grieved at him, and 
told him, “ It was a temptation upon him.” Then he came to me, and _ 
desired that ] would pray again; but I could not pray in man’s will. 

Soon after there was another great meeting of professors, and a cap- 
tain named Amor Stoddard came in. They were discoursing of the 
blood of Christ. As they were discoursing of it, I saw, through the im- 
mediate opening of the invisible Spirit, the blood of Christ; and cried 
out among them, saying, “ Do ye not see the blood of Christ? See it in 
“your hearts, to sprinkle your hearts and consciences from dead works, 
“to serve the living God.” For I saw the blood of the new covenant, how 
it came into the heart. This startled the professors, who would have 
the blood only without them, and not in them. But captain Stoddard 
was reached, and said, “ Let the youth speak, hear the youth speak ;” 
when he saw they endeavoured to bear me down with many words. 

There were also a company of priests, that were looked upon to be 
tender ; one of their names was Kellet, and several tender people went 
to hear them. I was moved to go after them, and bid them mind the 
Lord’s teaching in their inward parts. Priest Kellet was against par- 
sonages then: but afterwards he got a great one, and turned persecutor. 

After I had some service in these parts, I went through Derbyshire 
in‘o my own country Leicestershire again, and several tender people 
were convinced. Passing thence, I met with a great company of pro- 
fessors in Warwickshire, who were praying and expounding the scrip- 
tures in the fields. ‘They gave the bible to me, and I opened it on the 
fifth of Matthew, where Christ expounded the law; and I opened the 
inward state to them, and outward state; upon which they fell into a 
fierce contention, and parted: but the Lord’s power got ground. 

Then I heard of a great meeting to be at Leicester for a dispute, 
wherein presbyterians, independents, baptists, and common-prayer-men, 
' were said to be all concerned. ‘The meeting was in a steeple-house; to 
which I was moved by the Lord God to go, and be amongst them. [ 
heard their discourse and reasonings, some being in pews, and the priest 
in the pulpit, abundance of people being gathered together. At last one 
woman asked a question out of Peter, What that birth was, viz. A being 
born again of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, that liveth and 
abideth for ever? The priest said to her, I permit not a woman to 
speak in the church; though he had before given liberty for any to speak. 
Whereupon I was wrapped up as ina rapture, in the Lord’s power; 
and I stepped up, and asked the priest, Dost thou call this place (the 
steeple-house) a church? or dost thou call this mixed multitude a church? 
For the woman asking a question, he ougl to have answered it, having 
given liberty for any to speak. But, instec 1 of answering me, he asked 
me, What a church was! I told him, The church was the pillar and 
ground of truth, made up of living stones, living members, a spiritual 
household, which Christ was the head of: but he was not the head of a 
mixed multitude, or of an old house made up of lime, stones, and wood. 
_ This set them all on a fire. The priest_came.down from his pulpit, and 
others out of their pews,and the dispute there was marred. I went to 
a great inn, and there disputed-the thing with the pries‘s and professors, 
who were all on fire. But I maintained the true church, and the true 
head thereof, over their heads, till they all gave out and fled away. One 
man seemed loving, and appeared for a while to join with me; but he 


68 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1643 


soon turned against me, and joined with a priest in peading for iniant- 
baptism, though himself had been a baptist before; so he left me alone. 
{Towbeit, there were several convinced that day ; the woman that asked 
the question was convinced, and her family; and the Lord’s power and 
glory shined over all. ! 

After this I returned into Nottinghamshire again, and went into the 
Vale of Beavor. As I went, I preached repentance to the people. There 
were many convinced in the Vale of Beavor, in many towns; for I staid 
some weeks amongst them. One morning, as I was sitting by the fire, 
a great cloud came over me, a temptation beset me; and I sat still. It 
was said, “ All things come by nature:” and the elements and stars 
came over me, so that was"in a manner quite clouded with it. But as 
I sat still and said nothing; the-people of the house perceived nothing. 
And as I sat still under it and let it alone, a living hope and a true voice 
arose in me, which said, “ There is a living God who made all things.” 
Immediately the cloud and temptation vanished away, and life rose over 
it all; my heart was glad, and | praised the living God. After some time 
I met with some people who had a notion that there was no God, but 
that all things come by nature. I had a great dispute with them, and 
overturned them, and made some of them confess, that there is a living 
God. Then I saw that it was good that I had gone through that exer- 
cise. We had great meetings in those parts; for the power of the Lord © 
broke through in that side of the country. Returning into Nottingham: 
shire, I found there a company of shattered baptists, and others. The 
Lord’s power wrought mightily, and gathered many of them. After- 
wards I went to Mansfield and there-away; where the Lord’s power 
was wonderfully manifested both at Mansfield, and other towns there- 
abouts. In Derbyshire the mighty power of God wrought in a wonder- 
ful manner. At Eton, a town near Dérby, there was a meeting of 
friends, where appeared such a mighty power of God that they were 
greatly shaken, and many mouths were opened in the power of the Lord 
God. Many were moved by the Lord to go to steeple-houses, to the 
puiests and people, to declare the everlasting truth unto them. 

‘At a certain time when I was at Mansfield there was a sitting of the 
" justices about hiring servants; and it was upon me from the Lord to go 

and speak to the justices, that they should not oppress the servants in 
their wages. So I walked towards the inn where they sat; but finding 
a company of fiddlers there, I did not go in, but thought to come in the 
morning, when I might have a more serious opportunity to discourse 
with them, not thinking that a seasonable time. But when I came again 
in the morning, they were gone, and I was struck even blind, that I 
could not see. I inquired of the inn-keeper, where the justices were to 
sit that day? He told me, At a town eight miles off. My sight began 
to come to me again; and I went and ran thitherward as fast as I could. 
_ When I was come to the house where they were, and many servants 
\ with them, I exhorted the justices not to oppress the servants in their 
wages, but to do that which was right and just to them; and I exhorted 
the servants to do their duties, and serve honestly, &c. They all re- 
ceived my exhortation kindly, for I was moved of the Lord re) 
Moreover, I was moved to go to several courts and steeple-houses at 
Mansfield and other places, to warn them to leave off oppression and 
oaths, and to turn from deceit to the Lord, and do justly. Particularly 
at Mansfield, after I had been at a court there, 1 was moved to go and 


1648] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 69 


speak to one of the wickedest men in the country, one who was a coin- 
mon drunkard, a noted whoremaster, and a rhime-maker; and I 1e- 
proved him, in the dread of the mighty God, for his evil courses. ) When 
I had done speaking, and left him, he came after me, and told f.e, He 
was so smitten when | spake to him, that he had scarce any strength 
left in him. So this man was convinced, turned from his wickedness. 
and remained an honest, sober man, to the astonishment of the people 
who had known him before. Thus the work of the Lord went f cward™ 
and many were turned from darkness to light, within the compass of 
these three years, 1646, 1647, and 1648. Divers meetings of friends in 
several places, were ee ee to God’s teaching, by his light, Spirit, 
and power: for the Lord’s power broke forth daily more and more 
wand ako a 

ow was | come up in Spirit, through the flaming sword, into the 
paradise of God. All things were new; and all the creation gave an- 
other smell unto me than before, beyond what words can utter. J knew 
nothing but pureness, innocency, and righteousness, being renewed up 
into the image of God by Christ Jesus; so that I was come up to the 
state of Adam, which he was in before he fell. The creation was open- 
ed to me; and it was shewed me, how all things had their names given 
them, according to their nature and virtue. I was at a stand in my 
mind, whether I should practice physick for the good of mankind, seeing 
the nature and virtues of the creatures were so opened to me by the 
Lord. But I was immediately taken up in Spirit, to see into another or 
more steadfast state than Adam’s in imnocency, even inte—a state in 
Uhrist Jesus, that should never fall. The Lord shewed me, thai such as 
were faithful to him, in the power and light of Christ, should come up 
into that state in which Adam was before he feil; in which the admira- 
ble works of the creation, and the virtues thereof may be known, through 
the openings of that divine Word of wisdom and power by which they 
were made. Great things did the Lord lead me into, and wondertul 
depths were opened unto me, beyond what can by words be declared ; 
but as people come into subjection to the Spirit of God, and grow up in 
the image and power of the Almighty, they may receive the word of 
wisdom that opens all things, and come to know the hidden unity in the» 
Eternal Reing. 

‘Thus travelled I in the Lord’s service, as he led me. ‘ When I came 
to Nottingham, the mighty power of God was there among friends. 
From thence I went to Clauson in Leicestershire, in the Vale of Beavor, 
and the mighty power of God appeared there also, in several towns and 
villages where friends were gathered. While I was there, the Lord 
opened to me three things, relating to those three great professions in 
the world, law, physick, and divinity (so called.) He shewed me, that 
the physicians were out of the wisdom of God, by which the creatures 
were made; and knew not the virtues of the creatures, because they 
were out of the Word of wisdom, by which they were made. He shew- 
ed me, the priests wer€-out-of the true faith, which Christ is the author 
of; the faith which purifies, gives victory, and brings people to have ac- 
cess to God, by which they please God; the mystery of which faith is 
held in a pure conscience. He shewed me also, that the lawyers were out 
of the equity, out of the true justice, and out of the law of God, whict 
went over the first transgression, and over all sin, and answered the 
Spirit of Ged that was grieved and transgressed in man. And that 


70 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1648 


these three, the physicians, the priests, and the lawyers, ruled the world 
vut of the wisdom, out’ of the faith, and out of the equity and law of 
God; the one pretending the cure of the body, the other the cure of the 
soul, and the third the protection of the property of the people. But ! 
saw they were all out of the wisdom, out of the faith, out of the equity 
and pertect law of God. And as the Lord opened these things unto me 
I felt his power went forth over all, by which all might be reformed, if 
they would receive and bow unto it. The priests might be reformed, 
and brought into the true faith, which is the gift of God. The lawyers 
might be reformed, and brought into the law of God, which answers 
that of God, which is transgressed, in every one, and brings to love 
one’s neighbour as himself. ‘This lets man see, if he wrongs his neigh- 
bour, he wrongs himself; and this teaches him to do unto others as he 
would they shou‘d do unto him. The physicians might be reformed, and 
brought into the wisdom of God,, by which all things were made and 
created; that they might receive a right knowledge of the creatures, 
and understand the virtues of them, which the Word of Wisdom, by 
which they were made and are upheld, hath given them. Abundance 
was opened concerning these things; how ali lay out of the wisdom of 
God, and out of the righteousness and holiness that man at the first was 
made in. But as all believe in the light, and walk in the light which 
Christ hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withal, 
and become children of the light, and of the day of Christ; in his day 
all things are seen, visible and invisible, by the divine light of Christ, the 
spiritual heavenly man, by whom all things were made and created. 

I saw concerning the priests, that although they stood in the deceit, and 
acted by the dark power which both they and their people were kept 
under; yet they were not the greatest deceivers spoken of in the scrip- 
tures, for they were not come so far as many of these had come. But 
the Lord opened to me who the greatest deceivers were, and how far 
they might come; even such as came as far as Cain, to hear the voice 
of God; such as came out of Egypt, and through the Red Sea, to praise 
od on the banks of the sea-shore; such as could speak by experience 
of God’s miracles and wonders; such as were come as far as Corah, 
Dathan, and their company; such as were come as far as Balaam, who 
could speak the word of the Lord, who heard his voice and knew it, 
and knew his Spirit, and could see the star of Jacob, and the goodliness 
of Israel’s Tent; the second birth, which no enchantment could prevail 
against: these that could speak so much of their experiences of God, 
and yet turned from the Spirit and the Word, and went into the gainsay- 
ing, these were and would be the great deceivers, far beyond the priests. 
Likewise among christians, such as should preach in Christ’s name, 
should work miracles, cast out devils, and go as far as a Cain, a Corah, 
and a Balaam in the gospel-times, these were and would be the great de- 
ceivers. They that could speak some experiences of Christ and God, 
but lived not in the life, these were they that led the world after them, 
who got the form of godliness, but denied the power; who inwardly 
ravened from the Spirit, and brought people into the form, but persecuted 
them that were in the power, as Cain did; and ran greedily after the 
error of Balaam, through covetousness, loving the wages of unrighte- 
ousness, as Balaam did. These followers of Cain, Corah, and Balaam, 
have brought the world, since the apostles’ days, to be like a sea. Such 
as these I saw might deceive now, as they did in former ages; but it is 


1848] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 71 
impossible for them te-deceive the elect, who were chosen m Christ, who 
was before the world began, and before the deceiver was: though others 
may be deceived in their openings and prophecies, not keeping their 
minds to the Lord Jesus Christ, who doth open and reveal to his. 

I saw the state of those, both priests and people, who in reading the 
scriptures cry out much against Cain, Hsau, Judas, and other wicked 
men of former times, mentioned in the holy scriptures: but do not see 
the nature of Cain, of Esau, of Judas, and those others, in themselves. 
These said, it was they, they, they, that were the bad people; putting it 
off from themselves: but when some of these came, with the light. and 
Spirit of truth, to see into themselves, then they came to say, I, I, I, it is 
I myself, that have been the Ishmael, the Esau, &c. For then they saw 
the nature of wild Ishmael in themselves; the nature of Cain, Esau, 
Corah, Balaam, and of the son of perdition in themselves, sitting above 
all that is called God in them. I saw, it was the fallen man that was got 
up into the scriptures, and was finding fault with those before-mentioned ; 
and with the backsliding Jews, calling them the sturdy oaks, tall cedars, 
fat bulls of Bashan, wild heifers, vipers, serpents, &c. and charging them, 
that it was they that closed their eyes, stopped their ears, hardened their 
hearts, and were dull of hearing; it was they that hated the light, re- 
belled against it, quenched the Spirit, vexed and. grieved it, walked de- 
spitefully against the Spirit of grace, and turned the grace of God into 
wantonness ; it was they that resisted the Holy Ghost, got the form of 
godliness, and turned against the power; and they were the inwardly 
ravening wolves who had got the sheep’s cloathing; they were the wells 
without water, clouds without rain, trees without fruit, &c. But when 
these, who were so much taken up with finding fault with others, and 
thoug/t themselves clear from these things, came to look into themselves, 
and with the light of Christ throughly to search themselves, they might 
see enough of this in themselves; then the cry could not be, It is he or 
they, but I and we are found in these conditions. 

I saw also, how people read the scriptures without a right sense of 
them, and without duly applymg them to their own states. For when 
they read, that death reigned from Adam to Moses; that the law and the 
prophets were until John; and that the least in the kingdom is greater 
than John; they read these things without them, and applied them to 
others (and the things were true of others) but they did not turn in to 
‘find the truth of these things in themselves. As these things were opened 
in me, I saw death reigned over them from Adam to Moses; from the 
entrance into transgression, till they came to the ministration of con- 
demnation, which restrains people from sin that brings death. When the 
ministration of Moses is passed through, the ministry of the prophets 
comes to be read and understood, which reaches through the figures, 
types, and shadows unto John, the greatest prophet born of a woman; 
whose ministration prepares the way of the Lord, by bringing down 
the exalted mountains, and making straight paths. As this ministration 
is passed through, an entrance comes to be known into the everlasting 
kingdom. I saw plainly, that none could read Moses aright without 
Moses’s Spirit, by which he saw how man was in the image of God ir 
paradise, how he fell, how death came over him, and how all men have 
been under this death. I saw how Moses received the pure law, tha: 
went over all transgressors: and how the clean beasts, which were 
figures and types, were offered up, when the people were come into the 


72 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1648 


righteous law that went over the first transgression. Moses and the 

prophets saw through the types and figures, and beyond them, and saw 

Christ the great prophet, that was to come to fulfil them. I saw that 

none could read John’s words aright, and with a true understanding of 

them, but in and with the same divine Spirit by which John spake them 
and by his burning, shining light which is sent from God. ,. For by tha' 

Spirit their crooked nature might be made straight, their rough natures 

smooth, and the exacter and violent doer in them might be cast out; and 

those that had been hypocrites, might come to bring forih fruits meet for 
repentance, and their mountain of sin and earthliness might be laid low 
and their valley exalted in them, that there might be a way prepared for 
the Lord in them: then the least in the kingdom is greater than John 

But all must first know the voice crying in the wilderness in their hearts, 

which through transgression were become as a wilderness. Thus I saw 

it was an easy matter to say, death reigned from Adam to Moses; and 

that the law and the prophets were until John; and that the least in the 

kingdom is greater than John; but none could know how death reigned 

from Adam to Moses, &c. but by the same holy Spirit which Moses, the 

prophets, and John were in. They could not know the spiritual meaning 
| of Moses, the prophets, and John’s words, nor see their path and travels, 
much less to see through them, and to the end of them into the kingdom, 
unless they had the Spirit and light of Jesus; nor could they know 
the words of Christ and of his apostles without his Spirit. But as man 
comes thro’ by the Spirit and power of God to Christ (who fulfils the 
types, figures, shadows, promises, and prophecies concerning him) and 
is led by the Holy Ghost into the truth and substance of the scriptures, 
sitting down in him who is the author and end of them, then are they 
read and understood with profit and great delight. 

‘Moreover the Lord God let me see, when I was brought up into his 
image in righteousness and holiness, and into the paradise of God, the 
state, how Adam was made a living soul; and also the stature of Christ, 
the mystery that had been hid from ages and iy mam which things 


\ 


are hard to be uttered, and cannot be borne by many.) For of all the 
sects in Christendom (so called) that I discoursed withal, | found none 
who could bear to be toid, that any should come to Adam’s perfection, 
into that image of God, that righteousness and holiness that Adam was 
in before he fell; to be clear and pure without sin as he was. There- 
fore, how should they be able to bear being told, that any should grow 
up to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, when they 
cannot bear to hear that any shall come, whilst upon earth, into the 
same power and Spirit that the prophets and apostles were in? Though 
it be a certain truth, that none can understand their writings aright, 
“., without the same spirit by which they were written. 
# The Lord God opened to me by his invisible power, how “ every man 
“ was enlightened by the divine light of Christ.” I saw it shine through 
all, and that they that believed in it came out of condemnation to the 
light of ufe, and became the children of it; but they that hated it, 
and did not believe in it, were condemned by it, though they made a 
“profession of Christ. This I saw in the pure openings of the light with- 
- out the help of any man; neither did I then know where to find it in the 
scriptures ; though afterwards, searching the scriptures, I found it. For 
I saw in that Light and Spirit which was before the Scriptures were 
given forth, and which led the holy men of God to give them forth, that 


1648/ GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 73 


all must come to that Spirit, if they would know God or Christ, or the 
Scriptures aright, which they that gave them forth were led and 


(a I Bisaved a dulness and drowzy heaviness upon people, which | 

wondered at; for sometimes, when | would set myself to sleep, my mind 
went over a'l to the beginning, in that which is frum everlasting to ever- 
lasting; I saw death was to pass over this sleepy heavy state, and ] 
told people they must come to witness death to that sleepy, heavy na. 
ture, and a cross to it in the power of God, that their minds and hearts 
mjght be on things above. 

On a certain time, as I was walking in the fields, the Lord said unto 
me, “ Thy name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, which was before 
“the foundation of the world :” and“as the Lord spoke it, I believed and 

i it in the new birth. Some time after, the Lord commanded me to 
go abroad into the world, which was like a briery, thorny wilderness. 

When I came in the Lord’s mighty power with the word of life into the 

world, the world swelled and made a noise like the great raging waves 

of the sea. Priests and professors, magistrates and people, were all like 

a sea, when I came to proclaim the day of the Lord amongst them, and 

toypreach repentance to them. 

J was sent to turn people from darkness to the light, that they might 
receive Christ Jesus; for to as many as should receive him in his ight, 
I saw he would give power to become the sons of God; which I had 
obtained by receiving Christ. I was to direct people to the Spirit, that 
gave forth the scriptures, by which they might be led into all truth, and 
up to Christ and God, as those had been who gave them forth. I was 
to turn them to the grace of God, and to the truth in the heart, which 
came by Jesus; that by this grace they might be taught, which would 
bring them salvation, that their hearts might be established by it, their 
words might be seasoned, and all might come to know their salvation, 

nigh. ) I saw Christ died for all men, was a propitiation for all, and en- 

_ lightened all men and women with his divine and saving light; and that 

pe could be true believers, but those who believed therein. I saw 
| that the grace of God, which brings salvation, had appeared to all men, 
and that the manifestation of the Spirit of God was given to every man, 

‘to profit withal. ‘These things I did not see by the help of man, nor by 

the letter, though they are written in the letter; but I saw them in the 

light of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by his immediate Spirit and power, 

,as did the holy men of God by whom the holy scriptures were written. 

(Yet I hadno slight esteem of the holy scriptures, they were very pre- 
: aaa ‘for I was in that Spirit by which they were given forth; 
and what the Lord opened in me, I afterwards found was agreeable to, 
them. }I could speak much of these things, and many volumes rmight be 
written; but all would prove too short to set forth the infinite love, wis- 
dom, and power of God, in preparing, fitting, and furnishing me for the 
service he had appointed me to; letting me see the depth of Satan on 
the one hand, and opening to me, on the other hand, the divine mysteries 
of, his own everlasting kingdom. 

When the Lord God and his ‘Son Jesus Christ sent me forth into the 
world to preach his everlasting gospel and kingdom, I was glad that I 
was commanded to turn people to that inward light, spirit, and grace, 
by which all might know their salvation and their way to God; even 


K 


x 


74 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL ~ 1648 


that Divine Spirit which would lead them into all truth,/and whi 4 T in- 
fallibly knew would never deceive any. 

But with and by this divine power and spirit of God, and the light of 
Jesus, I was to bring people off from all their own ways, te Christ the 
new and living way; from their churches, which men had made and 
gathered,to the church in God, the general assembly written in heaven, 
which Christ is the head of; and off from the world’s teachers made by 
men, to learn of Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life, of whon 
the Father said, “ This is my beloved Son, hear ye him;” and off fiom 
all the world’s worships, to know the Spirit of truth in the inward parts, 
and to be led thereby, that in it they might worship the Father of spirits, 
who seeks such to worship him; which Spirit they that worshipped not 
in, knew not what they worshipped. I was to bring people off from all 
the world’s religions, which are in vain; that they might know the pure 
religion, might visit the fatherless, the widows and the strangers, and 
keep themselves from the spots of the world: then there would not be 
so many beggars; the sight of whom often grieved my heart, as it de- 
noted so much hard-heartedness amongst those that professed the name 
of Christ. I was to bring them off from all the world’s fellowships, 
prayings, and singings, which stood in forms without power: that 
their fellowship might be in the Holy Ghost, the eternal Spirit of 
God; that they might pray in the Hely Ghost, sing in the Spirit, and 
with the grace that comes by Jesus ; making melody in their hearts to the 
Lord, who hath sent his beloved Son to be their Saviour, caused his 
heavenly sun to shine upon all the world, and through them all; and his 
heavenly rain to fall upon the just and the unjust (as his outward rain 
doth fall, and his outward sun doth shine on all) which is God’s unspeak- 
able love to the world. I was to bring people off from Jewish ceremo- 
nies, from heathenish fables, from men’s inventions and windy doctrines, 
by which they blowed the people about, this way and the other way. 
from sect to sect: and from all their beggarly rudiments, with their 
schools and colleges, for making ministers of Christ, who are indeed 
ministers of their own making, but not of Christ’s; and from all their 
images, crosses, and sprinkling of infants, with their holy-days (so called) 
and all their vain traditions, which they had got up since the apostles’ 
days, which the Lord’s power was against. In the dread and authority 
thereof was I moved to declare against them all, and against all that 
preached and not freely, as such who had not received freely from 
Christ. 

Moreover, when the Lord sent me into the world, he forbade me “ to 

fs off my hat” to any, high or low; and I was required to thee and 
ou all men and women, without any respect to rich or poor, great or 
small. And as I travelled up and down, I was not to bid people Good. 
morrow, or Good evening, neither might I bow or scrape with my leg 
to any one; this made the sects and professions rage. But the Lord's 
power carried me over all to his glory, and many came to be turned to 
God in a little time; for the heavenly day of the Lord sprung from on 
high, and broke forth apace; by the light of which many camie to see 
where they were. 

Oh! the rage that was in the priests, magistrates, prufessors, and 
people of all sorts; and especially in priests and professors: for though 
thou to a single person was according to their accidence and grammar 
‘ules, and according to the bible, yet they could not bear to hear it; and 


1648) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 74 


because I could not put off my hat to them, it set them all inte a rage. 
But the Lord shewed me that it was an honour below, which h2 would 
lay in the dust and stain; an honour which proud flesh looked for, but 
sought not the honour which comes from God only. That it was an 
honour invented by men in the fall and in the alienation from God, who 
were offended if it was not given them; yet would be looked upon as 
saints, church-members, and great Christians: but Christ saith, “ Hew 
“ can ye believe, who_receive honour one of another, and seek not the 
“honour that cometh from God only? And J (saith Christ) receive not 
“honour of men.” Shewing that men have an honour which they will 
receive-and give, but Christ will have none of it. This is the honour 
which Christ will not receive, and which must be laid in the dust. Oh! 
the scorn, heat, and fury that arose! Oh! the blows, punchings, beat 
ings, and imprisonments that we underwent for not putting off our hats 
to men! For that soon tried all men’s patience and sobriety, what it 
was. Some had their hats violently pluck’d off and thrown away, so 
that they quite lost them. The bad language and evil usage we received 
on this account is hard to be expressed, besides the danger we were 
sometimes in of losing our lives for this matter, and that by the great 
professors of christianity, who thereby discovered they were not true 
believers. And though it was but a small thing in the eye of man, yet 
a wonderful confusion it brought among all professors and priests; but, 
blessed be the Lord, many came to see the vanity of that custom of 
putting off the hat to men, and felt the weight of Truth’s testimony 
against it. 

(About this time I was sorely exercised in going to their courts to cry 
forjustice, in speaking and writing to judges and justices to do justly ; 
in warning such as kept publick houses for entertainment, that they 
should not let people have more drink than would do them good; in 
testifying against wakes, feasts, may-games, sports, plays, and shews, 
which trained up people to vanity and looseness, and led them from the 
fear of God; and the days set forth for holidays were usually the times 
wherein they most dishonoured God by these things. In fairs also, and 
in markets, | was made to declare against their deceitful merchandize, 
cheating, and cozening; warning all to deal justly, to speak the truth, 
to let their yea be yea, and their nay be nay, and to do unto others as 
they would have others do unto them; forewarning them of the great 
and terrible day of the Lord, which would come upon them all. I was 
moved also to cry against all sorts of musick, and’ against the mounte- 
banks playing tricks on their stages; for they burthened the pure life, 
aud stirred up people’s minds to vanity. I was much ,yexercised too 
with school-masters and school-mistresses, warning them to teach chil- 
dren sobriety in the fear of the Lord, that they might not be nursed and 
trained up in lightness, vanity, and wantonness. [I was made to warn 


_ masters and mistresses, fathers and mothers in private families, to take 


— 
ie — 


care that their children and servants might be trained up in the fear of 
the Lord, and that themselves should be therein examples and patterns 
of sobriety and virtue to te For I saw that as the Jews were to 
teach their children the law of Ged, the old covenant, and to train them 
up in it, and their servants, yea the very strangers were to keep the sab- 
bath among them, and be circumcised, before they ..'ght eat of their 
sacrifices: so all that made a profession of christianity ought to train 
up their children and servants in the new covenant of light, Christ Jesus, 


76 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [16 is 


who is God's salvation to the ends of the earth, that all may know thei: 
salvation. And they ought to train them up in the law of life, the law 
of the Spirit, the law of love and of faith, that they might be made free 
from the law of sin and death. And all christians ought to be circum- 
cised by the Spirit, which puts off the body of the sins of the flesh, that 
they may come to eat of the heavenly sacrifice, Christ Jesus, that true 
spiritual food, which none can rightly feed upon but iney that are cir- 
cumcised by the Spirit. Likewise I was exercised about the star-gazers 
who drew people’s minds from Christ, the bright and the morning-star, 
and from the Sun of 1ighteousness, by whom the sun, moon, and stars, 
and all things else were made, who is the wisdom of God, from whom 
the right knowledge of all things is received. _ 

_But the black earthly spirit of the priests wounded my life: and when 

‘heard the bell toll to call people together to the steeple-house,.it struck 
at my life; for it was like a market-bell to gather people together, that 
the priest might set forth his ware to sale. Oh! the vast sums of mo- 
ney that are got by the trade they make of selling the scriptures, and by 
their preaching, from the highest bishop to the lowest priest! What one 
trade else in the world is comparable to it? notwithstanding the scrip- 
tures were given forth freely, Christ commanded his ministers to preach 
freely, and the prophets and apostles denounced judgment against all 
covetous hirelings and diviners for money. But in this free Spirit of the 
Lord Jesus was I sent forth to declare the word of life and reconcilia- 
tion freely, that all might come to Christ, who gives freely, and renews 
| up into the image of God, which man and woman were in before they 

fell, that they might sit down in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 

As I went towards Nottingham on a first-day in the morning, with 
friends to a meeting there, when I came on the top of a hill in sight of 
the town, I espied the great steeple-house; and the Lord said unto me, 
“ Thou must go cry against yonder great idol, and against the worship- 
“pers therein.” JI said nothing of this to the friends, but went with them 
to the meeting, where the mighty power of the Lord God was amongst 
us; in which | left friends sitting in the meeting, and went to the steeple- 
house. When I came there all the people looked like fallow ground, and 
the priest, like a great lump of earth, stood in his pulpit above: he took 
for his text these words of Peter, “We have also a more sure word of 
‘prophecy, whereunto ye do well, that ye take heed, as unto a light 
“that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise 
“in your hearts.” He told the people this was the scriptures, by which 
they were to try all doctrines, religions, and opinions. Now the Lord's 
power was so mighty upon me, and so strong in me, that I could not 
hold ; but was made to cry out, “ Oh! no; it is not the scriptures ;” and 
told them it was theholy Spirit, by which the holy men of God gave 
forth the scriptures, whereby opinions, religions, and judgments were to 
be tried for it led into all truth, and so gave the knowledge of all truth. 
The Jews had the scriptures, yet resisted the Holy Ghost, and rejected 
Christ, the bright morning-star. They persecuted him and his apostles, 
and took upon them to try their doctrines by the scriptures, but erred in . 
judgment, and did not try them right; because they tried without the 
Holy Ghust. As I spoke thus amongst them, the officers came, took me 
away, and put me into a nasty stinking prison; the smell whereof got sc 
‘nto my nose and throat, that it very much annoyed me. 

But that diy the Lord’s power sounded so in their ears, that they were 


- 


1649] GEORGE FOX’S JURNAL. ig | 


amazed at the voice, and could not get it out of their ears for some time 
after; they were so reached by the Lord’s power in the steeple-house 
At night they took me before the mayor, alaermen, and sherifis of the 
town. When I was brought before them, the mayor was in a peevish 
fretful temper, but the Lord’s power allay’d him. They examined me at 
large; and | told them how the Lord had moved me to come. After 
some discourse between them and me, they sent me back to prison; but 
some time after the head sheriff, whose name was John Reckless, sen‘ 
for me to his house. When I came in, his wife met me in the hall, and 
said, “ Salvation is come to our house.” She took me by the hand, and 
was much wrought-upon by the power of the Lord,)and her husband, 
children, and servants were much changed, for the power of the Lord 
wrought upon them. I lodged at the sheritf’s. and great meetings we 
had in his house. Some persons of considerable condition in the world 
came to them, and the Lord’s power appeared eminently amongst them. 
This sheriff sent for the other sheriff, and a woman they had had deal- 
ings with in the way of trade; and he told her before the other sheriff, 
that they had wronged her in their dealings with her (for the other 
-sheriff and he were partners) and that they ought to make her restitu- 
tion. This he spoke cheerfully; but the other sheriff denied it, and the 
woman said she knew nothing of it. But the friendly sheriff said it was 
so, the other knew it well enough; and having discovered the matter, 
and acknowledged the wrong done by them, he made restitution to the 
woman, and exhorted the other sheriff to do the like. The Lord’s power 
was with this friendly sheriff, wrought a mighty change in him, and great 
openings he had. The next market-day, as he was walking with me in 
the chamber, he said, “I.must go into the market, and preach repent- 
* ance to the people.” Accordingly he went in his slippers into the market, 
and into several sireets, and preached repentance to the people. Several 
others also in the town were moved to speak to the mayor and magis- 
trates, and to the people, exhorting them to repent. Herenpon the mag- 
istrates grew very angry, sent for me from the sheriff’s house and com- 
mitted me to the common prison. When the assize came on, one person 
Was moved to come and offer up himself for me, body for body, yea, 
Life also: but when I should have been brought before the judge, the 
sheriff’s man being somewhat long in bringing me to the sessions-house, 
the judge was risen before | came. At which J understood the judge 
was offended, and said, “ He would have admonished the youth, if he 
“had been brought before him :” for I was then imprisoned by the name 
of a youth. So I was returned to prison again, and put into the common 
gaol. The Lord’s power was great among friends; but the people be- 
gan to be very rude: wherefore the governor of the castle sent soldiers, 
and dispersed them; after that they were quiet. Both priests and people 
were astonished at the wonderful power that broke forth; several of the 
priests.were made tender,\ and some did confess to the power of the 
taal) 

After I was set at liberty from Nottingham gaol, where I had been 
kept prisoner a pretty long time, [ travelled as before, in the work of 
the Lord. Coming to Mansfield Woodhouse, there was a distracted 
woman under a doctor’s hand, with her hair loose about her ears. He 
was about to let her blood, she being first bound, and many people about 
her, holding her by violence; but he could get no blood from her. I de- 
sired them to unbind her and let her alone, for they could not touch the 


78 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ? 164¥ 


spirit in her-by whieh-she-was tormented. So they did unbind her; and 
{ was moved to speak to her, and in the name of the Lord to bid her be 
quiet and still; and she was so. The Lord’s power settled her mind, 
and she mended. Afterwards she received the truth, and continued in 
it to her death; and the Lord’s name was honoured ; to whom the glory 
of all his works belongs. Many great and wonderful things were 
wrought by the heavenly power in those days; for the Lord made bare 
his omnipotent arm, and manifested his power to the astonishment of 
many; by the healing virtue whereof many have been delivered from 
great infirmities, and the devils were made subject through his name 
of which particular instances might be given, beyond what this unbe- 
lieving age is able to receive or bear. Blessed for ever be the name of 
the Lord, and everlastingly honoured, and over all exalted and magni- 
fied be the arm of his glorious power, by which he hath wrought glo- 
riously: let the honour and praise of all his works be ascribed to him 
alone. 

While I was at Mansfield Woodhouse, I was moved to go to the 
steeple-house, and declare the truth to the priest and people. But the 
people fell upon me in great rage, struck me down, and almost stifled me. 
I was cruelly beaten and bruised by them with their hands, bibles, and 
sticks. Then they haled me out, though I was hardly able to stand, and 
put me into the stocks, where I sat some hours; and they brought dog- 
whips and horse-whips, threatening to whip me. After some time they 
had me before the magistrate, at a knight’s house, where were many 
great persons; who, seeing how evilly I had been used, after much 
threatening set me at liberty: but the rude people stoned me out of the 
town, for preaching the Word of life to them. 1 was scarce able to go, 
or well to stand, by reason of the ill usage I had received; yet with 
much ado I got about a mile from the town, and then I met with some 
people that gave me something to comfort me, because I was inwardly 
bruised: but the Lord’s power soon healed me again. That day some 
people were convinced of the Lord’s truth, and turned to his ieenie 
at which I rejoiced. 

Then went J out of Nottinghamshire into Leicestershire, several 
friends accompanying me. There were some baptists in that country, 
whom I desired to speak with, because they were separated from the 
publick worship. So Oats, one of their chief teachers, and others of the 
heads of them, with several of their company, came to meet us at Bar- 
row, where we discoursed with them. One of them said, What was not 
of faith, was sin. Whereupon I asked them, What Faith was! and how 
it was wrought in man? But they turned off from that, and spake of 
their baptism in water. Then I asked them, Whether their mountain of 
sin was brought down, and laid low in them? and their rough and 
crooked ways made smooth and straight in them? They looked upon the 
scriptures as meaning outward mountains and ways; but I told them, 
they must find them in their own hearts; which they seemed to wonder 
at. We asked them, Who baptized John the baptist? who baptized 
Peter, John, and the rest of the apostles? and put them to prove by | 
sciipture, that these were baptized in water: but they were silent. Then 
I asked them, Seeing Judas; who betrayed Christ, and was called the son 
of perdition, had hanged himself, what son of perdition was that which 
Paul spake of, that sat in the temple of God, exalted above all that is 
called God And what temple of God that was in which this son of per 


49 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 79 


dition sat ? And whether he, that betrays Christ within in himself, be not 
_ one in nature with that Judas that betrayed Christ without? But they 
could not tell what to make of this, nor what to say to it. So after some 
discourse we parted; and some of them were loving to us. 

On the first-day following we came to Bagworth, and went to a steeple- 
house, where some friends were got in, and the people locked them in, 
and themselves too, with the priest. But after the priest had done they 
opened the door, and we went in also, and had service for the Lord 
amongst them. Afterwards we had a meeting in the town, amongst 
several that were in high notions. Then passing from thence, I heard 
of a people in prison at Coventry for religion. As I walked towards the 
gaol,\the word of the Lord came to me saying, My Love was aLways To 
THEE, AND THOU ART IN MY Love. And I was ravished with the sense of 
the love of God, and greatly strengthened in my inward man. But when 
I came into the gaol where those prisoners were, a great power of dark- 
ness struck at me; and | sai still, having my spirit gathered into the 
love of God. At last these prisoners began to rant, vapour and blas- 
pheme; at which my soul was greatly grieved. They said, They were 
God ; but we could not bear such things. When they were calm, [ stood 
up and asked them, Whether they did such things by motion, or from 
Scripture! They said, From Scripture. Then a bible lying by, I asked 
them for that scripture; and they shewed me that place where the sheet 
was let down to Peter; and it was said to him what was sanctified he 
should not call common or unclean. When I had shewed them That 
scripture made nothing for their purpose, they brought another, which 
spake of God’s reconciling all things to himself, things in heaven and 
things in earth. I told them I owned that scripture also; but shewed 
them it was nothing to their purpose neither. Then seeing they said, 
They were God, I asked them, If they knew whether it would rain to- 
morrow ! They said, They could not tell. I told them, God could tell. 
I asked them, If they thought they should be always in that condition, 
or should change? They answered, They could not tell. Then said I, 
God can tell, and he doth not change. You say you are God; and yet 
you cannot tell whether you shall change or no. So they. were con- 
founded, and quite brought down for the time. After I had reproved 
them for their blasphemous expressions, I went away: for I perceived 
they were Ranters. \ I had met with none before ;-and I admired the 
goodness of the Lord in appearing so unto me, before I went amongst 
them.. Not long after this, one of these Ranters, whose name was Jo- 
seph Salmon, published a recantation: upon which they were set at 
liberty. 

= Coventry I went to Atherstone; and it being their lecture day, 
I was moved to go to their chapel to speak to the priest and people. 
They were generally pretty quiet; only some few raged, and would 
have had my relations to have bound me. I declared largely to them, 
that God was come to teach his people himself, and to bring them from 
= their man-made teachers, to hear his Son; and some were convinced 

ere. . 
V/ ' Then I went to Market-Bossoth, and there was a lecture also. He 
_¥ that preached was Nathaniel Stevens, the priest of the town where |] 
was born. He raged much when I spake, and told the people I was 
_ mad; though he had said before to Colonel Purfoy, There was never 
_ such a plant bred in England: he bid the people not to hear me; who, 


~ 


i 


80 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [i649 


being stirred up by this deceitful priest, fell upon us, and stoned us out 
of the town; yet they did not do us much hurt. Howbeit some people 
were made loving that day; and others were confirmed, seeing the rage 
of both priests and professors; and some cried out, that the priest durst 
not stand to prove his ministry. 

As I travelled through markets, fairs, and divers places, I saw death 
and darkness in all people, where the power of the Lord had not shaken 
them. As I was passing on ,in Leicestershire, 1 came to Twy-Cross, 
where there were excisemen.( I was moved of the Lord to go and warn 
them to take heed of oppressing the poor; and people were much af- 
fected with it. There was in that town a great man that had long lain 
sick, and was given over by the physicians. Some friends in the town 
desired me to visit him. I went up to him in his chamber, and spake the 
word of life to him, and was moved to pray by him; and the Lord was 
entreated, and restored him to health. When I was come down the 
stairs into a lower room, and was speaking to the servants, and others 
there, a servant man of his came raving out of another room, with a 
naked rapier in his hand, and set it just to my side. I looked steadfastly - 
on him, and said, “ Alack for thee, poor creature! what wilt thou*do 
“ with thy carnal weapon? It is no more to me than a straw.” . The 
standers-by were much troubled, and he went away in a rage. ) But 
when the news of it came to his master, he turned him out of his ser- 
vice. Thus the Lord’s power preserved me, and raised up the weak 
man; who afterwards was very loving to friends. When I came to 
that town again, both he and his wife came to see me. 

After this | was moved to go into Derbyshire, where the mighty power 
of God was among friends. I went to Chesterfield, where one Britland 
was priest. He saw beyond the common sort of priests; for he had 
been parily convinced, and had spoken much on behalf of truth before 
he was priest there: but when the priest of that town died, he got the 
parsonage, and choked himself with it. I was moved to speak to him 
and the people in the great love of God, that they might come off from 
all men’s teaching unto God’s teaching; and he was not able to gainsay, 
But they had me before the mayor, and threatened to send me, with 
some others, to the house of correction; and kept us in custody till it 
was late in the night. Then the officers, with the watchmen, put us out 
of the town, leaving us to shift as we could. I bent my course towards 
Derby, having a friend or two with me. In our way we met with many 
professors; and at Kidsey Park many were convinced. 

Coming to Derby, I lay at a doctor’s house, whose wife was con- 
vinced ; and several more in the town. As I was walking in my chamber, 
the bell rung; and it struck at my life at the very hearing of it. Sol 
asked the woman of the house, What the bell rung for ? She said, There 
was to be a great lecture there that day, and many officers of the arniy, 
priests, and preachers, were to be there, and a colonel, that was a 
preacher. Then was I moved of the Lord to go up to them. When 
they had done, I spake to them what the Lord commanded me; and they 
were pretty quiet. But there came an officer, and took me by the hand, 
and said, ] must go before the magistrates, and the-other two that were 
with me. It was about the first hour after noon that we came before 
them. They asked me, Why we came thither? I said, God moved us so 
to do; and told them, “ God dwells not in temples made with hands.” | 
also said, All their preaching, baptism, and sacrifices would never sane 


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1650] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. $1 


tify them; and bid them look unto Christ in them, and not unto men; 
foz it is Christ that sanctifies. ‘Then they ran into many words; but I 
told them they were not to dispute of God and Christ, but to obey him. 
The power of God thundered among them, and they did fly jike chaff 
before it. They put me in and out of the room often, hurrying me 
backward and forward, for they were from the first hour till the ninth at 
night in examining me. Sometimes they would tell me in a deriding 
manner, that I was taken up in raptures.( At last they asked me, 
Whether I was sanctified? I answered, Yes; for I was in the paradise 
of God. Then they asked me, If I had no sin? I answered, Christ my 
Saviour has taken away my sin; and in him there is no sin. They asked, 
How we knew that Christ did abide in us? I said, By his Spirit that he 
hath given us. They temptingly asked, If any of us were Christ? I an- 
swered, Nay, we were nothing, Christ was all. They said, If a man 
steal, is it no sin! I answered, All unrighteousness is sin. ) When they 
had wearied themselves in examining me, they committed me and one 
other man to the house of correction in Derby for six months, as blas- 
phemers ; as may appear by the mittimus, a copy whereof here follow- 
eth: 
To the master of the house of correction in Derby, greeting. 


We have sent you herewithal the bodies of George Fox, late of Mans- 
field, in the cov:.ty of Nottingham, and John Fretwell, late of Staniesby 
in the county of Derby, husbandman, brought before us this present day, 
and charged with the avowed uttering and broaching of divers blasphe- 
mous opinions, contrary to a late act of parliament; which, upon their 
examination before us, they have confessed. These are therefore to re- 
quire you forthwith, upon sight hereof, to receive them the said George 
Fox and John Fretwell into your custody, and them therein safely to 
keep during the space of six months, without bail or mainprize, or until 
they shall find sufficient security to be of the good behaviour, or be 
thence delivered by order from ourselves. Hereof you are not to fail. 
Given under our hands and seals this 30th day of October 1650. 

Ger. BENNET, 
Natu. Barton. 


Now did the priests bestir themselves in their pulpits to preach up sin 
for term of life. Much of their work was, to plead for it; so that peo- 
ple said, Never was the like heard. After some time, the person com- 
mitted with me, not standing faithful in his testimony, got in with the 
gaoler, and by him made way to the justice to have leave to go see his 
mother; and so got his liberty. It then was reported, that he said I had 
bewitched and deceived him; but my spirit was strengthened when he 
was gone. ‘The priests, professors, justices, and the gaoler, were all in 
a great rage against me. The gaoler watched my words and actions, 
often asking me questions to ensnare me; and sometimes he would ask 
me such silly questions, as, Whether the door was latched or not? 
Thinking to draw some sudden, unadvised answer from me, from 
whence he might take advantage to charge sin upon me: but J was kept 
watchful and chaste, so that they could get no advantage of me; which 
they admired. 

Not long after my commitment, I was moved to write to the priests, 
and magistrates of Derby. And first to the priests. 


-O Friends, I was sent to you to tel. you, That if you had received 


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82 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1650 


the gospel freely, you would minister it freely without money or price: 
‘but you make a trade and sale of what the prophets and apostles have 
‘spoken; and so you corrupt the truth. You are the men that lead silly 
‘women captive, who are ever learning, and never able to come to the 
‘knowledge of the truth: you have a form of godliness, but you deny 
‘the power. As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do you resist 
‘the truth; being men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 
‘ But you shall proceed no further ; for your folly shall be made manifest 
‘to all men, as theirs was. Moreover the Lord sent me to tell you, that 
‘he doth look for fruits. You asked me, If the scripture was my rule! 
‘It is not your rule, to rule your lives by, but to talk of in words. You 
‘are the men that live in pleasures, pride, and wantonness, in fulness of 
‘bread, and abundance of idleness: see if this be not the sin of Sodom. 
‘Lot received the angels; but Sodom was envious. You shew forth 
‘the vain nature; you stand in the steps of them that crucified my Sa- 
‘viour, and mocked him. You are their children; you shew forth their 
‘fruit. ‘They had the chief place in the assemblies; and so have you: - 
they loved to be called Rabbi; and so do you. 7} ee dod 

I writ to the magistrates who committed me, to this effect : 

‘ Friends, 

‘I am forced, in tender love to your souls, to write unto you, and to 
beseech you to consider what you do, and what the commands of God 
call for. He doth require justice and mercy, to break every yoke, and 
to let the oppressed go free. But who calleth for justice! or loveth 
mercy ‘ or contendeth for the truth? Is not judgment turned backward ? 
Doth not justice stand afar off? Is not truth silenced in the streets? or 
can equity enter? Do not they that depart from evil make themselves 
a prey! Oh! consider what ye do, in time, and take heed whom ye 
imprison ; for the magistrate is set for the punishment of evil-doers, and 
for the praise of them that do well. “I intreat you, in time take heed 
what you do: for surely the Lord will come, and make manifest both 
the builders and the work. If it be of man, it will fail; but if it be of 
God, nothing will overthrow it. Therefore I desire and pray that you 
would take heed and beware what you do, lest ye be found fighters 
against God. G. FY? 


| Having thus far cleared my conscience to them, I waited in the holy 
patience, leaving the event to God, in whose will I stood. After some 
time I was moved to write again to the justices that had committed me, 
to lay their evils before them, that they might repent.) One of them, Na- 
thaniel Barton, was a colonel, a justice, and a preacher. 


‘ Friends, 
‘ You spoke of the good old way which the prophet spake of; but the 
prophet cried against the abominations which you hold up. Had you 
the power of God, ye would not persecute the good way. He that 
spake of the good way was set in the stocks. The people cried, “away 
‘with hi : to the stocks,” for speaking the truth. Ah! foolish people, 
who ha’ e eyes and see not, ears and hear not, without understanding ! 
“Fear y2 not me, saith the Lord, and will ye not tremble at my pre- 
‘sence!’ O your pride and abominations are odious in the eyes of God! 
‘ You that are preachers, have the chiefest place in the assemblies, and 
‘are called of men, Master. Such were and are against my Saviour 
and Maer: they shut up the kingdom of heaven from men; and net 


$50] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 83 


ther go in themselves, nor suffer others. Therefore ye shall receive 
the greater damnation, who have their places, and walk in their steps. 
* You may say, If you had been in the days of the prophets, or Christ, 
*ye would not have persecuted them. Be ye witnesses against your- 
‘selves, that ye are the children of these, seeing ye now persecute the 
‘way of truth. O consider, there is a true Judge, that will give every 
‘one of you a reward according to your works. O mind where you 
are, you that hold up the abominations which the true prophet cried 
‘against! O come down, and sit in the dust! The Lord is coming 
‘with power, and he will throw down every one that is lifted up, that 
‘he alone may be exalted.’ 


As I had thus written to them jointly ; after some time I writ to each ~ 
by himself. To justice Bennet in this manner: 
‘ Friend, 
‘Tuou that dost profess God and Christ in words, see how thou fol- 
lowest him. To take off burdens, to visit them that are in prison, to 
‘shew mercy, cloathe thy own flesh, and deal thy bread to the hungry; 
‘these are God’s commandments. ‘To relieve the fatherless, to visit the 
‘ widows in their affliction, and to keep thyself unspotted of the world, 
‘ this is pure religion before God. But if thou profess Christ, and follow- 
‘est covetousness and earthly-mindedness, thou deniest him in life, de- 
‘ceivest thyself and others, and takest him for a cloak. Wo be to you, 
‘ greedy men and rich men; weep and howl for your misery that shall 
_*come! Take heed of covetousness and extortion: God doth forbid that. 
‘Wo be to the man that coveteth an evil covetousness, that he may set 
‘his nest on high, and cover himself with thick clay. Oh! do not love 
‘that which God forbids. His servant thou art whom thou dost obey, 
‘whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. 
‘ Think upon Lazarus and Dives; the one fared sumptuously every day, 
‘the other was a beggar. See if thou be not Dives? Be not deceived, 
‘God is not mocked with vain words. Evil communication corrupteth 


‘good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not. GB? 
That to justice Barton was in this manner: 
‘ Friend, 


‘Tuovu that preachest Christ and the scriptures in words. When any 
“come to follow that which thou hast spoken of, and to live the life of 
‘the scriptures, those that preach the scriptures, but do not lead their 
‘lives according thereunto, persecute them. Mind the prophets, Jesus 
‘Christ, and his apostles, and all the holy men of God; what they 
‘spoke was from the life: but they that had not the life, but the words, per- 
‘secuted and imprisoned them that lived in the life which those had 
*backslidden from. Gaia 

Having written to the justices and the priests, it was upon me to 
write to the mayor of Derby also; who, though he did not sign the mit- 
timus, had a hand with the rest in sending me to prison. To him ] 
wrote after this manner : 

‘ Friend, 
‘ Txov art set in place to do justice; but, in imprisoning my body, thou 
hast done contrary to justice, according to your own law. O take 
‘heed of pleasing men more than God, for that’s the way of the scribes 
‘and pharisees: they sought the praise of men more than God. Remember 
‘who said. ‘I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; I was in prison, 


4 


84 GEORGE FOXS JOURNAL. > ae 


“and ye visited me not. O friend, thy envy is not agaist ‘me only, but 
‘against the power of truth: I had no envy to you, but loye. O take 
‘heed of oppression; “for the day of the Lord is coming, that shall 
“burn as an oven; and all the proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be 
“as stubble ; and the day that cometh shail burn them up, saith the Lord 
“of Hosts: it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Oi friend, if 
‘the love of God were in thee, thou wouldst love the truth, hear the 
‘truth spoken, and not imprison unjustly. The love of God beareth and 

suffereth, and envieth no man. If the love of God had broken your 

hearts, you would shew mercy; but you shew what ruleth you. Every 
‘tree doth shew forth its fruit; you shew your fruits openly. Fo: 
‘drunkenness, swearing, pride and vanity rule among you, both in teach- 
‘er and people. O friend, mercy, true judgment, and justice, are cried 
‘for in the streets: oppression, unmercifulness, cruelty, hatred, pride, 
‘pleasures, wantonness, and fulness are in your streets; but the poor is 
‘not regarded. Oh! take heed of the wo: “ Wo be to the crown of 
“pride! Wo be to them that drink wine in bowls, and the poor is ready 
“to perish.” O remember Lazarus and Dives! One fared deliciously 
‘every day, the other was a beggar. O friend, mind these things, for 
‘they are near: and see whether thou be not in Dives’s state.’ 


I wrote also to the Court at Derby thus: 


‘I am moved to write unto you, to take heed of oppressing the poor 
‘in your courts, or laying burdens upon poor people which they cannot 
‘bear; and of imposing false oaths, or making them take oaths which 
‘they cannot perform. The Lord saith, “1 will come near to judgment, 
“and will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the false 
“swearers, and against the idolaters; and against those that oppress 
“widows and fatherless;” therefore take heed of all these things be- 
‘times. ‘The Lord’s judgments are all true and righteous, and he de- 
‘lighteth in mercy. So love mercy, dear people, and consider in time.” 


Likewise to the ringers, who used to ring the bells in the steeple-house 

called St. Peter’s, in Derby, I sent these few lines: 
‘ Friends, 

‘ Take heed of pleasures, and prize your time now while you have it: 
‘do not spend it in pleasures nor earthliness. ‘The time may come that 
‘you will say, You had time, when it is past. Therefore look at the love 
‘of God now while you have time; for it bringeth to loath all vanities 
‘and worldly pleasures. Oh! consider, time is precious; fear God and 
‘rejoice in him, who hath made heaven and earth.’ 


\ While I was here in prison divers professors came to discourse with me 
I had a sense before they spoke, that they came to plead for sin and im- ’ 
perfection. I asked them, Whether they were believers and had faith? 
They said, Yes. I asked them, In whom! They said, In Christ. I replied 
if ye are true believers in Christ, you are passed from death to life; and 
if passed from death, then from sin that bringeth death: and if your 
faith be true, it will give you victory over sin and the devil, purify your 
hearts and consciences’ (for the true faith is held in a pure conscience) 
and bring you to please God, and give you access to him again. But 
they could not endure to hear of purity, and of victory over sin and the 
devil. They said, “ They could not believe any could be free from sin 
“on this side of the grave.” I bid them give over babbling about the 
scriptures, which were holy men’s words, whilst they pleaded for ur 


™ 


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a 


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1650) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 85 


holiness. At another time a company of professors came, who also 
began to plead for sm. I asked them, Whether they had hope? They 
said, Yes: God forbid but we should have hope. I asked them, What 
hope is it that you have? Is Christ in you the hope of your glory? 
Doth it purify you, as he js pure? But they could not abide to hear of 
being made pure here. (Then I bid them forbear talking of the scrip- 
tures, which were the holy men’s words; for the holy men that wrote 
the scriptures pleaded for holiness in heart, life, and conversation here: 
but since you plead for impurity and sin, which is of the devil, what 
have you to do with the holy men’s words? 

The keeper of the prison, being a high professor, was greatly enraged 
against me, and spoke very wickedly of me; but it pleased the Lord 
one day to strike him so, that he was in great trouble, and under much 
terror of mind. And as I was walking in my chamber, I heard a doleful 
noise; and standing still, 1 heard him say to his wife, “ Wife, I have 
“seen the day of judgment; and I saw Georex there, and I was afraid 
“of him; because I had done him so much wrong, and spoken so much 
* against him to the ministers and professors, and to the justices, and in 
“ taverns and alehouses.”” After this, towards the evening, he came into 
my chamber, and said to me, “1 have been as a lion against you; but 
“now I come like a lamb, and like the gaoler that came to Paul and 
«Silas trembling.” And he desired he might lodge with me; I told him, 
I was in his power, he might do what he would: but he said, “ Nay. he 
“ would have my leave; and he could desire to be always with me, but 
“not to have me as a prisoner.” He said, “ He had been plagued, and 
“ his house had been plagued for my sake.” So I suffered him to lodge 
with me. Then he told me all his heart, and said, He believed what I 
had said of the true faith and hope to be true; and he wondered that 
the other man, who was put in prison with me, did not stand it; and 
said, “ That man was not right, but I was an honest man.” He con- 
fessed also to me, that at those times when I had asked him to let me go 
forth to speak the word of the Lord. to the people, when he refused to 
let me go, and I laid the weight thereof upon him, that he used to be 
under great trouble, amazed, and almost distracted for some time after, 
and in such a condition that he had little strength left him. When the 
morning came, he rose and went to the justices, and told them, “ That 
he and his house had been plagued for my sake.” One of the justices 
replied (as he reported to me) that the plagues were upon them too for 
keeping me. This was justice Bennet of Derby, who was the first that 
called us Quakers, because I bid them tremble at the word of the Lord. 
This was in the year 1650. 

After this the justices gave leave, that I should have liberty to walk a 
mile. I perceived their end, and told the gaoler, If they would set down 
to me how far a mile was, I might take the liberty of walking it some- 
times. For I had a sense that they thought I would go away. And the 
gaoler confessed afterwards they did it with that intent to have me go 
away, to ease them of their plague; but I told him I was not of that 
spirit. 

This gaoler had a sister, a sickly young woman. She came up into 
my chrmber to visit me; and after she had staid some time, and I had 
spoken the words of truth to her, she went down and told them, “ we 

were an innocent people, and did none any hurt, but did good to all, 


86 GEORGE FOXS JOURNAL. 165 


“even to them that hated us;” and desired them te be tender to- 
wards me. 

As by reason of my restraint I had not the opportunity of traveling 
vbout to declare ahd spread truth through the countries, it came upon 
me to write a paper, and send it forth to be spread amongst friends and 
other tender people, for the opening of their understandings in the way 
of truth and directing them to the true teacher in themselves. It was 
ufter this manner : 

‘Tue Lord doth shew unto man his thoughts, and discovereth all the 
‘Secret workings in man. A man may be brought to see his evil 
‘thoughts, running mind, and vain imaginations, and may strive to keep 
‘them down, and to keep his mind in; but cannot overcome them, nor 
‘keep his mind within to the Lord. In this state and condition submit 
‘to the Spirit of the Lord that shews them, and that will bring to wait 
‘upon the Lord; and he that hath discovered them will destroy them. 
‘Therefore stand in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (who is the author 

of the true faith) and mind him; for he will discover the root of lusts, 
evil thoughts, and vain imaginations ; how they are begotten, conceived, 
‘and bred; how they are brought forth, and how every evil member 
‘doth work. He will discover every principle from its own nature and 
‘root. 

‘So mind the faith of Christ, and the anointing which is in you, to be 
* taught by it, which will discover all workings in you. As he teacheth 
‘you, so obey and forsake; else you will not grow in the faith, nor in 
‘the life of Christ, where the love of God is received. Love begetteth 
‘love, its own nature and image: and when mercy and truth meet, what 
‘joy there is! Mercy triumphs in judgment; and love and mercy bear 
‘the judgment of the world in patience. That which cannot bear the 
‘world’s judgment is not the love of God; for love beareth all things, 
‘and is above the world’s judgment; for the world’s judgment is but 
‘foolishness. Though it be the world’s judgment and practice to cast 
‘all the filthiness that is among themselves upon the saints, yet their 
‘judgment is false. The chaste virgins follow Christ the lamb, that 
‘takes away the sins of the world; but they that are of that spirit which 
‘is not chaste, will not follow Christ the lamb in his steps, but are dis- 
‘obedient to him in his commands. The fleshly mind doth mind the 
‘ flesh, talketh fleshly, and its knowledge is fleshly, and not spiritual; but 
‘savours of death, not of the Spirit of life. Some men have the nature 
‘of swine wallowing in the mire. Some have the nature of dogs, to bite 
‘both the sheep and one another. Some have the nature of lions, to tear, 
‘devour, and destroy. Some the nature of wolves, to tear and devour 

the lambs and sheep of Christ: and some the nature of the serpent (that 
old adversary) to sting, envenom, and poison. “ He that hath an ear 
‘ to hear, let him hear,” and learn these things within himself. Some 
‘men have the natures of other beasts and creatures, minding nothing 
‘put earthly and visible things, and feeding without the fear of God. 
‘Some have the nature of a horse, to prance and vapour in their strength, 
‘and to be swift in doing evil. Some have the nature of tall sturdy oaks, 
‘to flourish and spread in wisdom and strength, who are strong in evil, 
‘which must perish and come to the fire. Thus evil is but one in all, 
‘but worketh many ways; and whatsoever a man or woman’s nature is 
addicted to that is outward, the evil one will suit him, and please his 
nature and appetite, to keep his mind in his inventions, and in the crea- 


1650] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 87 


‘tures from the Creator. O therefore let not the mind go from God; 
“for if it do, it will be stamed, venomed, and corrupted. If the mind go 
‘forth from the Lord, it is hard to bring it in again: therefore take heed 
‘ of the enemy, and keep in the faith of Christ. Oh! therefore mind that 
‘ which is eternal and invisible, and him who is the Creator and Mover 
‘of all things: for the things that are made, are not made of things tha. 
‘ appear ; for the visible covereth the invisible sight in you. But as the 
‘Lord, who is invisible, doth open you by his invisible power and spirit, 
‘and brings down the carnal mind in you; so the invisible and immortal 
‘things are brought to light in you. O therefore you that snow the 
‘light, walk in the light! for there are children of darkness that will talk 
‘of the light, and of the truth, yet not walk in it; but the children of 
‘light love the light, and walk in the hight. But the children of darkness 
‘walk in darkness, and hate the light. In them the earthly lusts and 
‘carnal mind choke the seed of faith, which bringeth oppression on the 
‘seed, and death over themselves. O therefore mind the pure Spirit of 
the everlasting God, which will teach you to use the creatures in their 
right place, and which judgeth the evil. “ To thee, O God, be all glory 
“ and honour, who art Lord of all visibles and invisibles! To thee be all 
“praise, who bringest out of the deep to thyself; O powerful God, who 
“art worthy of all glory!” For the Lord who created all, and gives 
‘life and strength to all, is over all and merciful to all. “So thou, who 
“hast made all, and art over all, to thee be all glory! In thee is my 
“strencth, refreshment, and life, my joy and my gladness, my rejoicing 
“and glorying for evermore!” ( To live and walk in the Spirit of God 
‘is joy, peace, and life; but the’mind going forth into the creatures, or 
‘into any visible things from the Lord, this bringeth death. When the 
‘mind is got into the flesh, and into death, the accuser gets within, and 
the law of sin and death gets into the flesh. Then the life suffers under 
the law of sin and death, and then there is straitness and-failings. For 
‘then the good is shut up, and the self-righteousness is set atop. Then 
‘man doth work in the outward law, though he cannot justify himself 
‘by the law, but is condemned by the light: for he cannot get out of 
‘that state, but by abiding in the light, resting in the mercy of God, and 
‘believing in him from whom all mercy flows. For there is peace in 
‘resting in the Lord Jesus. This is the narrow way that leads to him, 
«the life; but few will abide in it. Keep in the innocency, and be obe- 
«dient to the faith in him. Take heed of conforming to the world, and 
‘of reasoning with flesh and blood, for that bringeth disohedience ; and 
‘then imaginations and questionings arise, to draw from obedience to 
‘the truth of Christ. But the bedience of faith destroyeth imaginations, 
questionings, and {reasonings}. with all the temptations in the flesh, buf 
‘ fetings, lookings forth, and fetching up things that are past. But, not 
‘ keeping i in the life and light, not crossing the corrupt will by the power 
of God, the evil nature grows up in man; then burdens will come, and 
«man will be stained with that nature.) But Esau’s mountain shall be 
‘laid waste, and become a wilderness, where the dragons lie ; but Jacob, 
«the second birth, shall be fruitful and shall arise. For Esau is hated 
and must not be lord ; but Jacob, the second birth, which is perfect and 
«p.ain, shall-be lord; for he is beloved of God. G. F? 


T wrote another much about the same time, and seut it :mongst the 
convinced people. 


88 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. AG) 


‘Tue Lorp 1s Kine over all the earth! therefore, all people, praise 
‘and glorify your king in true obedience, in tprightness, and in the 
beauty of holiness. Oh! consider, in true obedience the Lord is known, 
and an understanding from him is received. {Mark and consider in 
silence, in lowliness of mind, and thou wilt hear the Lord speak unto 
thee in thy mind. His voice is sweet and pleasant; his sheep hear his 
voice, and will not hearken to another. When they hear his voice, 
they rejoice and are obedient; they also sing for joy. Oh! their hearts 
are filled with everlasting triumph! they sing and praise the eternal 
God in Zion. Their joy man shall never take from them. Glorv to 
the Lord God for evermore!’ ) 


But many, who had been convinced of the truth, turned aside, be- 
cause of the persecution that arose: whereupon I writ a few lines for 
the comfort and encouragement of the faithful. 

‘Come, ye blessed of the Lord, rejoice together, keep in unity and © 
‘oneness of spirit. Triumph above the world! be joyful in the Lord ; 
‘reigning above the world! and above all things that draw from the 
‘Lord; that in clearness, righteousness, pureness, and joy, you may be 
‘preserved to the Lord. O hear! O hearken to the call of the Lord! 
‘Come out of the world, and keep out of it for evermore! Come, sing 
‘together, ye righteous ones, the song of the Lord, the song of the 
‘Lamb; which none can learn, but they who are redeemed from the 
‘earth, and from the world.’ 

While I was in the house of correction, my relations came to see 
me; and being troubled for my imprisonment, they went to the justices 
that cast me into prison, and desired to have me home with them; offer- 
ing to be bound in one hundred pounds, and others of Derby in fifty 
pounds apiece with them, that I should come no more thither to declare 
against the priests. | So I was had up before the justices; and because 
I would not consent’that they or any should be bound for me (for I was 
innocent from any ill behaviour, and had spoken the word of life and 
truth unto them) justice Bennet rose up in a rage; and as I was kneel- 
ing down to pray to the Lord to forgive him, he ran upon me, and 
struck me with both his hands, crying, “ away with him, gaoler: take 
“him away, gaoler.”| Whereupon I was had again to prison, and there 
kept, till the time of My commitment for six months was expired. But 
I had now the liberty of walking a mile by myself; which I made use 
of as I felt freedom. Sometimes I went into the market and streets, 
and warned the people to repent of their wickedness; and returned to 
prison again. And there being persons of several sorts of religion in 
the prison, I sometimes visited them in their meetings on first-days. 

After I had been before the justices, and they had required sureties for 
my good behaviour (which I could not consent should be given, to 
blemish my innocency) it came upon me to write to the justices again, 
which I did in the following manner: 


‘Friends, 

‘See what it is in you that doth imprison. See, who is head in yeu 
See, if something do not accuse you. Consider, you must be brought to 
judgment. Think upon Lazarus and Dives; the one fared sumptuously 

‘every day, the other a beggar. Now you have time, priz2 it while you 
‘have it. Would you have me bound to my good behaviour ? I am bound 
to my good behaviour, and cry for good behaviour of all people, to 


‘ 


\ 


1650} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 89 


*turn from the vanities, pleasures, oppression, and deceits of this world. 
‘There will come a time, that you shall know it. Therefore take heed 
‘of pleasures, deceits, and pride; and look not at man, but at the Lord 
‘for, “ Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved, saith the 
“ Lord.” 

Some little time after, I wrote to them again: 


‘ Friends, 

‘Woutp you have me bonnd to my good behaviour from drunkenness 
‘or swearing, or fighting, or adultery, and the like? The Lord hath re. 
‘deemed me from all these things; and the love of God hath brought me 
‘to loath all wantonness, blessed be his name. Drunkards, fighters, and 
‘ swearers, have their liberty without bonds; and you lay your law upon 
‘me, whom neither you nor any other can justly accuse of these things ; 
‘praised be the Lord! I can look at no man for my liberty, but at the 
‘Lord alone, who hath all men’s hearts in his hand.’ 

After some time, not finding my spirit clear of them, I wrote to them 
again : 

‘ Friends, 
‘Hap you known who sent me to you, ye would have received me 
for the Lord sent me to you, to warn you of the woes that are coming 
‘upon you; and to bid you look at the Lord, and not at man. But when 
‘I had told you my experience, what the Lord had done for- me, then 
‘your hearts were hardened, and you sent me to prison, where you have 
‘kept me many weeks. If the love of God had broke your hearts, then 


“* would ye see what ye have done: ye would not have imprisoned me, 


‘had not my Father suffered you; and by his power J shall be loosed: 
‘for he openeth and shutteth; to him be all glory! In what have I mis- 
‘behaved myself, that any should be bound for me? All men’s words will 
‘do me no good, nor their bonds neither, to keep my heart, if I have not 
‘a guide within, to keep me in the upright life to God. But I believe in 
‘the Lord, that through his strength and power I shall be preserved from 
‘ungodliness and worldly lusts. The scripture saith, “ Receive strangers ;” 
‘but you imprison such. As you are in authority, take heed of oppres- 
‘sion, oaths, injustice, and gifts or rewards, for God loaths all such. But 
‘love mercy and true judgment, for that the Lord delights in. Ido not 
‘write with hatred to you, but to keep my conscience clear: take heed 
‘how you spend your time.’ : 


I was moved also to write again to the priests of Derby; which I did 
after this manner ; 


‘Friends, 

‘You profess to be the ministers of Jesus Christ in words, but you 
‘shew by your fruits what your ministry is. Every tree shews its 
‘fruit: the ministry of Jesus Christ is in mercy and love, to loose them 
‘that are bound, to bring out of bondage, and to let them that are cap- 
‘tivated go free. Now, friends, where is your example, if the scriptures 
‘be your rule, to imprison for religion? Have you any command for it 
‘from Christ? If that were in you, which you profess, you would walk 
‘in their steps who spake the scriptures. But he is not a Jew who is one 
‘outward, whose praise is of men; but he is a Jew who is one inward, 
‘whose praise is of God. But if you build upon the prophets and apos- 
‘tles in words, and pervert their life, remember the woes which Jesus 
‘Christ spake against such. They that spoke the prophets words, bu 

M 


90 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. * [1650 


‘denied Christ, they professed a Christ to come; but had they known 
‘him, they would not have crucified him. The saints, whom the love of 
God did change, were brought thereby to walk in love and mercy ; for 
he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God. But where envy, pride, and 
hatred rule, the nature of the world rules, not the nature of Jesus Christ. 
I write with no hatred to you; but that you may weigh yourselves, and 
‘see how you pass your time.’ 

Thus having cleared my conscience to the priests, it was aot long be 
fore a concern came upon me to write again to the justices, which | did 
as followeth: 

‘I am moved to warn you to take heed of giving way to your own 
“wills. Love the cross; satisfy not your own minds in the flesh; but 

prize your time while you have it, and walk up to that you know, in 
‘ obedience to God; then you shall not be condemned for that you know 
‘not, but for that you know, and do not obey. } Consider betimes, weigh 
‘yourselves, see where you are, and whom you serve. For if ye blas- 
‘pheme God, and take his name in vain, if ye swear and lie, if ye give 
‘way to envy, hatred, covetousness, and greediness, pleasures and wan- 
‘tonness, or any other vices, be assured that ye serve the devil; but if 
‘ ye fear the Lord and serve him, ye will loath all these things. He that 
‘loveth God, will not blaspheme his name: but where there is opposing 
‘of God, and serving the devil, that profession is sad and miserable. O 
‘prize your time; do not love that which God forbids; lying, wrath, 
‘malice, envy, hatred, greediness, covetousness, oppression, gluttony, 
‘drunkenness, whoredom, and all unrighteousness, God doth forbid. So 
‘consider, evil communication corrupts good manners. Be not de- 
‘ceived, God will not be mocked with vain words; the wrath of God is 
‘revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. Therefore obey that _ 
‘which convinceth you of all evil, and telleth you that you should do no 
evil: it will lead to repentance, and keep you in the fear of the Lord. 
‘O look at the mercies of God, prize them, and do not turn them into 
‘wantonness. O eye the Lord, and not earthly things 


Besides this, I wrote the following to Colonel Barton, who was both a 

justice and a preacher : 
‘Friend, 

‘Do not cloak and cover thyself; there is a God who knoweth thy 
‘heart, and will uncover thee. He seeth thy way. “ Wo be to him that 
“covereth, and not with my Spirit, saith the Lord.” Dost thou do con- 
‘trary to the law, and then put it from thee? Mercy and true judgment 
‘thou neglectest ; look what was spoken against such. My Saviour said 
‘to such, “I was sick and in prison, and ye visited me not; I was hungry, 
“and ye fed me not; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in.” ‘And 

when they said, ““ When saw we thee in prison, and did not come to 
“thee,” &c. He replied, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these 
“little ones, ye did it not to me.” Friend, thou hast imprisoned me for 
‘bearing witness to the life and power of truth, and yet professest to be 
‘a minister of Christ; but if Christ had sent thee, thou wouldst bring out 
‘of prison, out of bondage, and wouldst receive strangers. ‘Thou hast 
‘been wanton upon earth, thou hast lived plenteously, and nourished thy 
‘heart as in a day of slaughter. Thou hast killed the just. O look 
where thou art, and how thou hast spent thy time! O remember thy- 
self, and now while thou hast time, prize it. Do nct slight the free — 


1650] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 9] 


mercy of God, and despise his long suffering, which is great salvation ; 
‘but mind that in thee which doth convince thee, and would not let thee 
‘swear, nor lie, nor take God’s name in vain. Thou knowest thou 
‘ shouldst do none of these things; thou hast learned that which will con- 
‘demn thee; therefore obey the light which doth convince thee, forsake 

thy sins, jook at the mercies of God, and prize his love in sparing thee 
‘till now. The Lord saith, “ Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, 
“ and be ye saved ;” and “Cease from man, whose breath is in his nos- 
“trils.” Friend, prize thy time, and see whom thou servest; for his ser- 
‘vant thou art whom thou dost obey, whether of sin unto death, or 
‘obedience unto righteousness. If thou servest God and fearest him, 
‘thou wilt not blaspheme his name, nor curse, nor swear, nor take his 
‘name in vain, nor follow pleasures and wantonness, whoredom and 
‘ drunkenness, or wrath, or malice, or revenge, or rashness, or headiness, 
‘pride or gluttony, greediness, oppression or covetousness, or foolish 
‘jesting, or vain songs; God doth forbid these things, and all unright- 
‘eousness. If thou professest God, and actest any of these things, thou 
‘takest him for a cloak, and servest the devil. Consider with thyself, and 
‘do not love that which God hateth. He that loveth God keepeth his 
‘commandments. The devil will tell thee, It is an hard thing to keep 
‘God’s commandments; but it is an easy thing to keep the devil’s com- 
‘ mandments, and to live in all unrighteousness and ungodliness, turning 
‘the grace of God into wantonness. But let the unrighteous man for- 
‘sake his ways, and turn unto me, saith the Lord, and I will have 
‘mercy; “Turn ye, why will ye die! saith the Lord.” 

‘Howl, ye great ones, for the plagues are pouring out upon you! 
* Howl,, ye oppressors, for recompense and vengeance is coming upon 
‘you! (Wo unto them that covetously join one house to another, and 
‘bring one field so nigh unto another that the poor can get no more 
‘ground; that ye may dwell upon the earth alone. ‘These things are 
‘in the ears of the Lord of Hosts. Wo unto him that covetously 
“ getteth evil-gotten goods into his house, that he may set his nest on high 
‘to escape from the power of evil.’ : 

While I was in the house of correction, there came a trooper, and 
said, as he was sitting in the steeple-house, hearing the priest, exceeding 
great trouble fell upon him; and the voice of the Lord came to him, 
saying, “ Dost thou not know that my servant is in prison? Go to him 
“for direction.” So I spake to his condition, and his understanding 
was opened. I told him, That which shewed him his sins, and troubled 
him for them, would shew him his salvation; for he that shews a man 
his sin, is the same that takes it away. While I was speaking to him, 
the Lord’s power opened him so that he began to have a good under- 
standing in the Lord’s truth, and to be sensible of God’s mercies. He 
poke boldly in his quarters amongst the soldiers, and to others, concern- 
ing truth (for the scriptures were very much opened to him) insomuch 
that he said, “ His colonel was as blind as Nebuchadnezzar, to cast the 
“servant of the Lord into prison.” Upon this, his colonel conceived a 
spite against him: and at Worcester fight the year after, when the two 
armies lay near one another, two came out from the king’s army, and 
challenged any two of the parliament army to fight with them; his 
colonel made choice of him and another to answey the challenge. And 
when in the encounter his companion was slain, he drove both his ene- 


32 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1650 


mies within musket-shot of the town, without firing a pistol at them. 
This, when he returned, he told me with his own mouth. But when the 
fight was over, he saw the deceit and hypocrisy of the officers; and 
being sensible how wonderfully the Lord had prese-ved him, and seeing 
also to the end of fighting, he laid down his arms. 

The time of my commitment to the house of correction being very 
near out, and there being many new soldiers raised, the commissioners 
would have made me.captain-over-them; and the soldiers cried, They 
would have none but me. So the keeper of the house of correction was 
commanded to bring me before the commissioners and soldiers in the 
market-place; where they offered me that preferment, as they called it, 
asking me, if I would not take up arms for the commonwealth against 
Charles Stewart ?/I told them I knew from whence all wars arose, even 
from the lusts, according to James’s doctrine; and that I lived in the 
virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars. 
Yet they courted me to accept of their offer, and thought I did but com- 
pliment them. But I told them I was come into the covenant of peace, 
which was before wars and strifes were. They said, They offered it in 
love and kindness to me, because of my virtue; and such-like flattering 
words they used. But I told them, If that was their love and kindness, 
I trampled it under my feet. Then their rage got up, and they said, 
“Take him away, Gaoler, and put him into the prison amongst the 
“ yogues and felons” So I was put into a lousy stinking place, without 
any bed, amongst thirty felons, where I was kept almost half a year; 
yet at times they would let me walk to the garden, believing I would 
not go away. When they had got me into Derby prison, it was the say- 
ing of people that I should never come out; but | had faith in God that 
I should be delivered in his time: for the Lord had given me to believe 
that I was not to be removed from that place yet, being set there for a 
service which he had for me to do. ) 

After it was bruited abroad that I was in Derby prison, my relations 
came to see me again; and were much troubled that I should be in 
prison; for they looked upon it to be a great shame to them for me to 
lie in gaol. It was a strange thing then to be imprisoned for religion ; 
and some thought I was mad, because | stood for purity, righteousness 
and perfection. 

Among others that came to see and discourse with me, there was a 
certain person from Nottingham, a soldier, who had been a baptist, as I - 
understood, and with him came several others. In discourse, this person 
said to me, “ Your faith stands in a man that died at Jerusalem, and 
“ there never was any such thing.” Being exceedingly grieved to hear 
hin, I said, “ How! did not Christ suffer without the gates of Jerusalem, 
“through the professing Jews, chief priests, and Pilate?” He denied 
that ever Christ suffered there outwardly. Tlicn I asked him, Whether 
there were not chief priest, and Jews, and Pilate there outwardly ! 
When he could not deny that, I told him, As certainly as there was a 
chief priest, and Jews and Pilate there outwardly, so certainly was 
Christ persecuted by them, and did suffer there outwardly under them. 
Yet from this man’s words was a slander raised upon us, That the 
Quakers should deny Christ, that suffered and died at Jerusalem: which 
was all utterly false ; the least thought of it never entered our hearts. 
The same person also said, That never any of the prophets, nor apostles, 
nor hn.y men of God, suffered any thing outwardly, but all their sufferings 


5! GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 93 


were inward. I instanced to him many of the prophets and apostles — 


how and by whom they suffered. So the power of the Loid was 
orought over his wicked imaginations and whimsies. 

There came also another company to me, that pretended they were 
triers of spirits: I asked them, What was the first step to peace? And 
what it was by which a man might see his salvation?’ They were pres- 
ently up in the airy mind, and said, ] was mad. Thus they came to try 
spirits, who did not know themselves nor their own spirits. 

In this time of my imprisonment I was exeedingly exercised about 
the proceedings of the judges and magistrates in their courts of judica- 
ture, and was moved to write to the judges concerning their putting 
men to death for small matters; and to shew them how contrary it was 
to the law of God in old time; for I was under great suffering in my 
spirit because of it, and under the very sense of death; but standing in 
the will of God, an heavenly breathing arose in my soul to the Lord. 
Then did I see the heavens opened, and I rejoiced, and gave glory to 
ai So I wrote to the judges in manner following : 


‘I am moved to write unto you, to take heed of putting men to death 

‘for stealing cattle, or money, &c. for thieves in old time were to make 
‘restitution; and if they had not wherewith, they were to be sold for 
‘their theft. ) Mind the laws of God in the scriptures, and the Spirit that 
‘gave them’ forth; let them be your rule in executing judgment; and 
‘shew mercy, that you may receive mercy from God, the judge of all. 
‘Take heed of gifts and rewards, and of pride; for God doth forbid 
‘them, and they blind the eyes of the wise. I do not write to give 

_ ‘liberty to sin, God hath forbidden it; but that you should judge accord- 
_ ‘ing to his laws, and shew mercy; for he delighteth in true judgment, 
- ‘and in mercy. I beseech you, mind these things, prize your time, 
_ *now you have it; fear God, and serve him, for he is a consuming fire.’ 


| Besides this, I wrote another letter to the judges, to this effect: 


‘1 am moved to write unto you, that ye do true justice to every man; see 
‘that none be oppressed nor wronged, nor any oaths imposed ; for the land 
‘mourneth because of oaths, adulteries, sorceries, drtnkenness, and pro- 
‘faneness. O consider, ye that are in authority : be moderate, and in lowli- 
‘ness consider these things. Shew mercy to the fatherless, the widows, 
‘and to the poor. Take heed of rewards or gifts, for they blind the eyes of 
‘the wise; the Lord doth loath all such. Love mercy and true judg 
_ ‘ment, justice and righteousness; for the Lord delighteth in such. Con- 


‘ye have time, prize it; and shew mercy, that ye may receive mercy 
‘from the Lord: for he is coming to try all things, and will plead with 
‘all flesh as by fire.’ 
y¥ Moreover, I laid before the judges.what an hurtful thing it was that 
/ prisoners should lie so Jong in gaol; shewing how they learned wicked- 
(ie one of another, in talking of their bad deeds; therefore speedy 


justice should be done. For I was a tender youth, and dwelt in the fear 
ot God; and being grieved to hear their bad language, I was often 
made to reprove them for their wicked words, and evil carriage towards 


never could catch a word or action from me, to make any thing of 
against me, all the time I was there; for the Lord’s infinite power up- 
held and preserved me all that time; to him be praises and glory for ever. 


_ sider these things in time, and take heed how ye spend your time. Now. 


each other. People admired that I was so preserved and kept; for they 


94 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ysdoL 


While I was here, there was a young woman in the gaol for robbing 
her master. When she was to be tried for her life, I wrote to the judge 
and jury, shewing them how contrary it was to the law of God in old 
time to put people to death for stealing; and moving them to shew 
mercy. Yet she was condemned to die, and a grave was made for he1 
and at the time appointed she was carried forth to execution. Then I 
wrote a few words, warning all to beware of greediness or covetous- 
ness, for it leads from God; and that all should fear the Lord, avoid 
earthly lusts, and prize their time while they have it; this I gave to be 
read a the gallows. And though they had her upon the ladder, with a 
cloth bound over her face, ready to be turned off, yet they did not put 
her to death, but brought her back to prison, where she afterwards came 
to be convinced of God’s everlasting truth. 

There was also in the gaol, while I was there, a wicked ungodly man 
who was reputed a conjurer. He threatened he would talk with me, 
and what he would do; but he never had power to open his mouth to 
me. And the gaoler and he falling out, he threatened to raise the devil, 
and break his house down; so that he made the gaoler afraid. I was 
moved of the Lord to go in his power and rebuke him, and to say to 
him, “ Come, let’s see what thou canst do; do thy worst.” I told him, 
“ The devil was raised high enough in him already; but the power of 
“ God chained him down ;” so he slunk away from me. 

The time of Worcester fight coming on, justice Bennet sent consta- 
bles to press me for a soldier, seeing I would not voluntarily accept of 
a command. I told them, that I was brought off from outward wars. 
They came again to give me press-money; but I would take none. 
Then I was brought up to serjeant Holes, kept there awhile, and taken 
down again. Afterwards the constables brought me a second time be- 
fore the commissioners, who said I should go for a soldier; but I told 
them I was dead to it. They said I was alive. I told them, where envy 
and hatred is, there is confusion. They offered me money twice, but J 
refused it. Being disappointed, they were angry, and committed me 
close prisoner, without, bail or mainprize. Whereupon I wrote to them 
again, directing my letter to colonel Barton, a preacher, and the rest 
that were concerned in my commitment. 1 wrote thus: 


{ «You who are without Christ, and yet use the words which he and 
“his saints have spoken, consider neither he nor his apostles did ever im- 
‘prison any; but our Saviour is merciful even to the unmerciful and 
‘rebellious. He brings out of prison and bondage; but men, while the 
‘carnal mind rules, oppress and imprison. My Saviour saith, “ Love 
“your enemies, and do good to them that hate you, and pray for them 
“that despitefully use and persecute you.” For the love of God doth 
not persecute any, but loveth all where it dwelleth. “ He that hateth 
his brother is a murderer.” You profess to be Christians, and one ol 
you a minister of Jesus Christ; yet you have imprisoned me, who am 
a servant of Jesus Christ. The apostles never imprisoned any, but 
were .mprisoned themselves. Take heed of speaking of Christ in 
words, and denying him in life and power. O friends, the imprisoning 
my body is to satisfy your wills; but take heed of giving way to your 
wills, for that will hurt au If the love of God had broken your hearts, 
you would not have imprisoned me; but my | ve is to you, as to al! 


5 


== 


; 


— ee ee 
7s 


"16511 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 95 


«my fellow-creatures ; and that you may weigh yourselves, and see how 
you stand, is this written.’ 


About this time I was moved to give forth the following lines, t» go 
amongst the convinced and tender people, to manifest the deceits of the 
world, and how the priests have deceived the people. 


To all that love the Lord Jesus Christ with a pure and naked heart, and 
the generation of the righteous 


‘ Curist was ever hated; and the righteous for his sake. Mind who 
‘they were that did ever hate them. He that was born after the tiesh 
persecuted him that was born after the Spirit; soit is now. Mind who 
were the chiefest against Christ; even the great learned men, the heads 
of the people, rulers, and teachers, that professed the law and the 
prophets, and looked for Christ. They looked for an outwardly-glori- 
ous Christ, to hold up their outward glory; but Christ spoke against 
the works of the world, and against the priests, scribes, and pharisees, 
and their hypocritical profession. He that is a stranger to Christ, is 
an hireling; but the servants of Christ are free men. False teachers 
always laid burdens upon the people; and the true servants of the 
‘Lord declared against them. Jeremiah spoke against hirelings, and 
‘said, It was an horrible thing ; and, What will ye do in the end? For 
‘the people and priests were given to covetousness. Paul spoke against 
‘such as made gain upon the people, and exhorted the saints to turn 
‘away from such as were covetous and proud, such as loved pleasures 
‘more than God, such as had a form of godliness, but denied the power 
‘thereof. ‘“ For of this sort,” said he, “are they, that creep into houses, 
‘and lead captive silly women, who are ever learning but never able to 
* come to the knowledge of the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate 
“concerning the faith, and as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so 
“do these resist the truth; but they shall proceed no farther, for their 
“folly shall be made manifest unto all men.” Moses forsook honours 
‘and pleasures, which he might have enjoyed. The aposile in his time 
‘saw this corruption entering, which now is spread over the world, of 
‘having a form of godliness but denying the power. Ask any of your 
‘teachers, whether you may ever overcome your corrupuons or sins ! 
‘ None of them believe that; but “as long as man is here, he must (say 
“they) carry about with him the body of sin.” Thus pride is kept up, 
‘and that honour and mastership which Christ denied, and all unright- 
‘eousness. Yet multitudes of teachers! heaps of teachers! the goiden 
‘cup full of abominations! Paul did not preach for wages, but laboured 
‘with his hands, that he might be an example to all that follow him. O 
‘people, see who follow Paul! The prophet Jeremiah said, “ The proph- 


_ fets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means;” but 


now the priests bear rule by the means they get from the people: take 
away their means, and they will bear rule over you no longer. They 


‘fare such as the apostle said, “ Intruded into those things which they 


“never saw, being vainly puffed up with a fleshly mind;” and as the 
‘scriptures declare of some of old, “ They go in the way of Cain, who 
“was a murderer, and in the way of Balaam, who coveted the wages 


_ “of unrighteousness.” The prophet Micah also cried against the judges 
‘that judged for reward, and the priests that taught for hire, and the 
_ ‘prophets that prophesied for money; yet leaned on the Lord, saying, 
_* Ts not the Lord amongst us?” Gifts blind the eyes of the wise. The 


96 GEORGE FOX’'S JOURNAL. 1651 


gift of God was never purchased with money. All the holy servants 
‘of God did ever cry against deceit ; and where the Lord hath manifest- 
‘ed his love, they loath it, and that nature which holdeth it up.’ 
Again a concern came upon me to write to the magistrates of Derby. 
‘ Friends, 

‘I pesire you to consider in time whom ye imprison; for the magis- 
‘trate is set for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them 
‘that do well. But when the Lord sends his messengers to warn you of 
‘the woes that will come upon you except you repent, you persecute 
‘them, put them in prison, and say, “ We have a law, and by our law 
“ we may do it.” For you indeed justify yourselves before men, but God 
‘knoweth your hearts. He will not be worshipped with your forms, pro- 
‘fessions, and shews of religion. Therefore consider, ye that talk of 
‘God, how ye are subject to him; for those are his children that do his 
‘will. What doth the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love and 
‘shew mercy, to walk humbly with him, and to help the widows and 
‘fatherless to their right? But instead thereof ye oppress the poor. Do 
‘not your judges judge for rewards, and your priests.teach for hire? 
‘ The time is coming, that he who seeth all things will discover all your 
‘secrets. Know this assuredly, The Lord will deliver his servants out 
‘of your hands, and he will recompense all your unjust dealings towards 
‘his people. I desire you to consider of these things; search the scrip- 
‘tures, and see, whether any of the people of God did ever imprison any 
‘for religion. They were themselves imprisoned. I desire you to con 
‘sider, that it is written, “ When the church is met together ye may all 
“prophesy one by one, that all may hear, learn, and be comforted ;” and 
‘then, “If any thing be revealed to him that sitteth by, let the first hold 
‘his peace.” Thus it was in the true church, and thus it ought now to 
‘be; but it is not so in your-assemblies. He that teaches for hire may 
‘speak, and none may-centradict him. Again, consider the liberty given 
‘to the apostles, even among the unbelieving Jews, when after the read- 
‘ing of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue said unto 
‘them, “ Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for 
“the people, say on.” I desire you to consider in stillness, and strive not 
‘against the Lord; for he is stronger than you. Though ye hold his 
‘people fast for a time, yet when he cometh, he will make known who 
‘are his; for his coming is like the refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap. 
‘ Then the stone that is set at nought by you builders shall be the head- 
‘stone of the corner. O friends, lay these things to heart. Let them 
‘not seem light things to you. I wrote to you in love, to mind the laws 
‘of God, and your own souls, and to do as the holy men of God did.’ 


Great was the exercise and travail in spirit that I underwent during 
my imprisonment here, because of the wickedness that was in this town ; 
for though some were convinced, yet the generality were a hardened 
people. I saw the visitation of God’s love pass away from them. I 
rourned over them; and it came upon me to give forth the following 
lines, as a lamentation for them: 


‘As the waters run away when the flood-gates are up, so doth the 

‘ visitation of God’s love pass away from thee,O Derby! Therefore look 
where thou art, and how thou art grounded ; and consider, before thou 
‘art utterly forsaken. The Lord moved me twice before I came to cry 
‘ against the deceits and vanities that are in thee, and to warn all to look 


© as 


1651] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 97 


at the Lord, and not at man. The wo is against the crown of pride, 
‘against drunkenness and vain pleasures, and against them that make 
‘a profession of religion in words, yet are high and lofty in mind, and 


_ ‘live in oppression and envy. O Derby! thy profession and preaching 


‘stinks before the Lord. You profess a sabbath in words, and meet to- 
‘ gether, dressing yourselves in fine apparel, and you uphold pride. Thy 
‘women go with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes, &c. which the 
‘true prophets of old cried against. Your assemblies are odious. an 
‘abomination to the Lord: pride is set up and bowed down to, covetous- 
“ness abounds, and he that doth wickedly is honoured. So deceit beai's 
‘with deceit, yet they profess Christ in words. Oh! the deceit that is 
‘ within thee! It even breaks my heart to see how God is dishonoured in 
‘thee, O Derby 


After I had seen the visitation of Gcd’s love pass away from this 
place, I knew that my imprisonment here would not continue long; but 
[ saw that when the Lord should bring me forth, it would be as the 


/ letting of a lion out of a den amongst the wild beasts of the forest. For 


all professions stood in a beastly spirit and nature, pleading for sin, and 
for the body of sin and imperfection, as long as they lived. They raged 
and ran against the life and spirit which gave forth the scriptures, yet 
professed them in words, as will appear hereafter. 

There was a great judgment upon the town, and the magistrates were 
uneasy about me; but could not agree what to do with me. One while 
they would have sent me up to the parliament; another while they would 
have banished me to Ireland. At first they called me a- deceiver, a 
seducer, and a blasphemer. Afterwards, when God had brought his 


plagues upon them, they styled me an honest virtuous man. But their. 


good report and bad report were nothing to me; for the one did not lift 
me up, nor the other cast me down: praised be the Lord! At length 
they were made to turn me out of gaol, about the beginning of winter 
in the year 1651, after | had been a prisoner in Derby almost a year ; 
six months in the house of correction, and the rest of the time in the 
common gaol. 

Being at liberty I went on, as before, in the work of the Lord, passing 
through the country into Leicestershire, having meetings as I went; and 
the Lord’s Spirit and power accompanied me. Afterwards I went near 
Burton upon Trent, where some were convinced; and to Bushel-House, 
where I had a meeting. I went into the country, where there were 
friendly people; yet an outrageous wicked professor had an intent to 
have done me a mischief, but the Lord prevented him: blessed be the 
Lord! 

As I was walking with several friends, I lifted up my head, and saw 
three steeple-house spires, and they struck at my life. I asked them 
what place that was! They said, Lichfield. Immediately the word of 
the Lord came to me, that I must go thither. Being come to the house 
we were going to, I wish’d friends to walk into the house, saying nothing 
to them whither I was to go. As soon as they were gone I stept away, 
and went by my eye over hedge and ditch till I came within a mile of 
Lichfield; where, in a great field, shepherds were keeping their sheep. 
Tnen was I commanded by the-Lord to pull off my shoes. 1 stood still. 
for it was winter; and the word of the Lord was like a fire in me. So 
I put off my shoes, and left them with the shepherds; and the poor shep 


§\ GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [16s 


hexus trembled, and were astonished. Then I walked on about a mile 
ai:u as soon as I was got within the city, the word of the Lord came te 
me again, saying; Cry, “Wo to the bloody city of Lichfield!” So I 
went up and down the streets, crying with a loud voice, Wo To THE - 
BLoopyY cITY or LicnrizLp! It being market-day, I went into the market- 
place, and to and fro in the several parts of it, and made stands, crying 
as before, Wo ro THE BLOopy city oF LicurieLp! And no one laid hands 
on me. As I went thus crying through the streets, there seemed to me 
to be a channel of blood running down the streets, and the market-place 
appeared like a pool of blood. When I had declared what was upon 
me, and felt myself clear, I went out of the town-in peace; and return- 
ing to the shepherds gave them some money, and took my shoes of them 
again. But the fire of the Lord was so in my feet, and all over me, that 
I did not matter to put on my shoes again, and was at a stand whether I 

shoulda or no, till I felt freedom from the Lord so to do: then, after I had 
washed my feet, I put on my shoes again. After this a deep considera- 
tion came upon me, for what reason I should be sent to ery against that 
city, and call it THe Bioopy city! For though the parliament had the 
minster one while, and the king another, and much blood had been shed 
in the own during the wars between them, yet that was no more than 
had beiallen many other places. But afterwards I came to understand, 
that in une emperor Dioclesian’s time a thousand christians were mar- 
tyr’d in Lichfield. So I was to go, without my shoes, through the chan- 
nel of their blood, and into the pool of their blood in the market-place, 
that I might raise up the memorial of the blood of those martyrs, which 
had been siied above a thousand years before, and lay cold in their 
streets. So the sense of this blood was upon me, and I obeyed the word 
of the Lord. Ancient records testify how many of the christian Britons 
suffered there. Much I could write of the sense I had of the blood of 
the martyrs, tha. hath been shed in this nation for the name of Christ, 
both under the ten persecutions and since; but I leave it to the Lord, © 
and to his book, out of which all shall be judged; for his book is a most 
certain record, anu his Spirit a true recorder. 

Then I passed through the countries, having meetings amongst friendly 
people in many places; but my relations were offended at me. After 
some time I returned into Nottinghamshire, to Mansfield, and into Derby- 
shire, visiting friends. ‘Then passing into Yorkshire, ] preached repent- 
ance through Doncaster, and several other places; and came to Balby, 
where Richard Farnsworth and others were convinced. So travelling 
through several places, preaching repentance, and the word of life to 
the people, I came into the parts about Wakefield, where James Nayler 
lived; who, with Thomas Goodyear, came to me, and were both con- 
vinced, and received the truth. William Dewsbury also and his wife, 
with many more, came to me, who were convinced, and received the 
truth. From thence I passed towards captain Pursloe’s by Selby, and 
visited John Leek, who had been to see me in Derby prison, and was 
convinced. I had a horse, but was fain to leave him, not knowing what 
to do with him; for I was moved to go to many great houses, to admon- 
ish and exhort the people to turn to the Lord. I was moved of the Lord 
to go to Beverly steeple-house, which was a place of high profession 
Being very wet with rain, I went first to an inn. As soon as I came to 
the door, a young woman of the house said, “ What! is it you? Come 
.n,” as if she had known me before; for the Lord’s power bowed thei: 


1651] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. £9 


hearts. So I refreshed myself, and went to bed. In the morning, my 
cloaths being still wet, I got ready, and having paid for what I had, went 
up to the steeple-house, where was a man preaching. When he had 
done, I was moved to speak to him and to the people in the mighty 
power of God, and turned them to their teacher, Christ Jesus. The 
power of the Lord was so strong, that it struck a mighty dread amongst 
the people. The mayor came and spoke a few words to me; but none 
had power to meddle with me. So I passed out of the town, and in the 
afternoon went to another steeple-house about two miles off. When 
the priest had done_I was moved to speak to him and to the people 
very largely, shewing them the way of life and truth, and the ground 
of election and reprobation. The priest said, he was but a child, and 
could not dispute with me. I told him I did not come to dispute, but to 
hold forth the word of life and truth unto them, that they might al: xznow 
the one seed which the promise of God was to, both in the male and in 
the female. Here the people were very loving, and would have had me 
come again on a week-day, and preach among them: but I directed 
them to their teacher, Christ Jesus; and the next day went to Cransick, 
to captain Pursloe’s, who accompanied me to justice Hotham’s. Justice 
Hotham was a pretty tender man, and had some experience of God’s 
workings in his heart. After some discourse with him of the things of 
God, he took me into his closet; where sitting together, he told me he 
had known that principle these ten years, and was glad that the Lord 
did now send his servants to publish it abroad to the people. After 
awhile a priest came to visit him, with whom I had some discourse con- 
cerning truth. His mouth was quickly stopt; for he was nothing but a 
notionist,; and not in possession of what he talked of. 

While I was there, a great woman of Beverly came to justice Hotham 
about some business. In discourse she told him, “ The last sabbath-day, 
“as she called it, there was an angel or spirit came into the church at 
'« Beverly, and spoke the wonderful things of God, to the astonishment 
of all that were there; and when it had done, it passed away, and 
“they did not know whence it came nor whither it went; but it aston- 
“ished all, priest, professors, and magistrates.” This relatien justice 
Hotham gave me afterwards; and then I gave him an account that | 
had been that day at Beverly steeple-house, and had declared truth to 
the priest and people there. 

In the country thereabouts were some noted priests and doctors that 
‘justice Hotham had acquaintance with. He would fain have them 
speak with me, and offered to send for them, under pretence of some 
business he had with them; but I wished him not to do so. 

When first-day was come, justice Hotham walked out with me into 
the fields; and captain Pursloe coming after us, justice Hotham left us, 
and returned home; but captain Pursloe went with me into the steeple- 
_ house. When the priest had done, I spoke to both priest and people; 

declared to them the word of life and truth, and directed them whee 
ithey might find their teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. Some were con- 
vinced, received the truth, and stand fast in it, and have a fine meeting 
to this day. 

In the afternoon I went to another steeple-house, about three miles off, 
where preached a great high priest, called a doctor, one of them whom 
justice Hotham would have sent for to have spoken with me. I went 
into the steeple-house, and staid till the priest had done’ The word 


100 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 165) 


which he took for his text were these: “ Ho, every one that tusteth, 
“come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and 
“eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” 
Then was I moved of the Lord God to say to him, “ Come dewn, thou 
* deceiver; dost thou bid people come freely, and take of the water of 
'* lite freely, and yet thou takest three hundred pounds a year of them 
‘ for preaching the scriptures to them? Mayst thou not blush for shame? 
“ Did the prophet Isaiah and Christ do so, who spake the words, and 
gave them forth freely? Did not Christ say to his ministers, whom he 
sent to preach, * Freely ye have_received, freely give?’” The priest, 
uke a man amazed, hasted away. After he had left his flock, I had as 
much time as [ could desire to speak to the people. I directed them 
from darkness to the light, and to the grace of God that would teach 
them, and bring them salvation; to the Spirit of God in their inward 
parts, which would be a free teacher unto them. , 
(Having cleared myself amongst that peoples returned to justice 
tham’s that night; who, when I came in, tobk me in his arms, and 
said, His house was my house, for hé was exceeding glad at the work 
of the Lord, and that his power was revealed. Then he told me why 
he went not with me to the steeple-house in the morning, and what rea- 
sonings he had in himself about it; for he thought, if he had gone with 
me to the steeple-house, the officers would have put me to him; and 
then he should not have known what to have done: but he was glad, he 
said, when captain Pursloe came up to go with me; yet neither of thera 
was dressed, nor had their bands about their necks. It was a strange 
thing then to see a man come into a steeple-house without a band; yet 
captain Pursloe went in with me without his band, the Lord’s power 
and truth had so affected him that he minded it not. 

From hence I passed on, and came at night to an inn where was a 
company of rude people. I bid the woman of the house, if she had any 
meat, to bring me some; but because I said Thee and Thou to her, she 
looked strangely on me. I asked her if she had any milk? She said, 
No. I was sensible she spake falsely ; and, being willing to try her fur- 
ther, I asked her, If she had any cream? She denied that she had any 
There stood a churn in the room, and a little boy playing about, put his 
hands into it, and pulled it down, and threw all the cream on the floor 
before my eyes. Thus was the woman manifested to bea liar. She 
was amazed, blessed herself, took up the child, and whipped it sorely : 
but I reproved her for her lying and deceit. (After the Lord had thus 
discovered her deceit and perverseness, I walked out of the house, and 
went away till I came to a stack of hay, and lay in the hay-stack that 
night, in rain and snow; it being but three days before the time called 
Christmas. ) 

The next day I came into York, where were several very tender 
people. Upon the first-day following, | was commanded of the Lord 
to go and speak to priest Bowles and his hearers in their great cathe- 
dral. Accordingly I went. When the priest had done, I told them | 
had something from the Lord God to speak to the priest and people 
“Then say on quickly,” said a professor, for it was frost and snow, and 
very cold weather. Then I told them, This was the word of the Lord 
God unto them, that they lived in words, but God Almighty looked for 
fruits amongst them. As soon as the words were out of my mouth 
thev hurried me out, and threw me down the steps. But I got up aga. 


651} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 10; 


without hurt, and went to my lodging, and several were convinced 
there. For what arose from the weight and oppression that was upon 
the Spirit of God in me, would open people, strike them, and make them 
confess that the groans which brake forth through me did reach them. 
or my life was burthened with their profession without possession, and 
words without fruit. 

After I had done my present service in York, and several were con- 
vinced there, received the truth of God, and were turned to his teach- 
ing; I ooked towards Cleaveland, and saw there was a people that had 
tasted of the power of God. I-saw there was a seed in that country 
and that God had an humble people there. Passing onwards that night, 
a papist overtook me, and talked to me of his religion, and of their 
meetings; and I let him speak all that was in his mind. That night I 
staid at an alehouse. Next morning I was moved to speak the word of 
the Lord to this papist. So I went to his house, and declared against 
all their superstitious ways; and told him, that God was come to teach 
his people himself. This put him into such a rage, that he could not 
endure to stay in his own house. 

Next day I came to Burraby, where a priest and several friendly 
people were met together. Many of the people were convinced, and 
have continued faithful ever since. There is a great meeting of friends 
in that town. The priest also was forced to confess to truth, though he 
came not into it. 

The day following I went to Cleaveland, amongst those people that 
had tasted of the power of God. They had formerly had great meet 
ings, but were then shattered to pieces, and the heads of them turned 
Ranters. I told them, That after they had such meetings, they did not 
wait upon God to feel his power to gather their minds inward, that they 
might feel his presence and power amongst them in their meetings, to 
sit down therein and wait upon him: for they had spoken themselves 
dry; they had spent their portions, and not living in that which they 
spake of, they were now become dry. They had some kind of meetings 
still; but they fook tobacco, and drank ale in their meetings, and were 
grown light and loose. But my message unto them from the Lord was, 
That they should all come together again, and wait to feel the Lord’s 
power and Spirit in themselves; to gather them to Christ, that they 
might be taught of him, who says, “ Learn of me.” For when they 
had declared that which the Lord had opened to them, then the people 
were to receive it; and both the speakers and the hearers were to live 
in that themselves. But when these had no more to declare, but went 
to seek forms without life, that made themselves dry and barren, and 
the people also; and from thence came all their loss: for the Lord re- 
news his mercies and his strength to them that wait upon him. The 
heads of them came to nothing: but most of the peop.e were con- 
vinced, and received God’s everlasting truth, and continue a meeting 
to this day, sitting under the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ their 
Saviour. 

Upon the first day of the next week, the word of the Lord came to 

| me to go to the steeple-house; which I did. When the priest had done, 

I spake the truth to him and the people, and directed them to their 
_ teacher within, Christ Jesus, their free tea:her who had bought them. 
\ The priest came to me, and I had a little discourse with him: but he 


102 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 165 


was soon stopped, and silent. Then, being clear of the place, I passed 
away, having had several meetings amongst those people. 

Though the snow was very deep, I kept travelling; and came to a 
market-town, where I met with many professors, with whom I had much 
reasoning. I asked them many questions, which they were not able to 
answer ; saying, They never had such deep questions put to them in 
ther lives. 

From them I went to Stath, where I met with many professors, and 
some Ranters. I had large meetings amongst them, and a great con- 
vincement there was. Many received the truth: amongst whom. one 
was a man of an hundred years of age; another was a chief constable ; 
a third was a priest, whose name was Philip Scafe. Him the Lord, by 
his free Spirit, did afterwards make a free minister of his free gospel. 

The priest of this town was a lofty one, who much oppressed the peo- 
ple for his tythes. If they went a fishing many leagues off, he would 
exact the tithe-money of what they made of their fish, though they 
catched them at.a-great distance, and carried them as far as Yarmouth 
to sell. I was moved to go to the steeple-house there, to declare the 
truth, and lay open the priest. When I had spoken to him, and laid his 
oppressing of the people upon him, he fled away. The chief of the parish 
were very light and vain. After I had spoken the word of life to them, 
{ turned away from them, because they did not Yeceive it; and left 
them. But the word of the Lord, which I had declared amongst them, 
stuck with some, so that at night some of the heads of the parish came 
to me. Most of them were convinced and satisfied, and confessed to 
the truth. Thus the truth began to spread in that country, and great 
meetings we had; at which the priest began to rage, and the Ranters to 
be stirred; who sent me werd-they would have a dispute with me; both 
the oppressing priest and the leader of the Ranters. A day was fixed, 
and the Ranter came with his company. Another priest, a Scotchman, 
came; but not the oppressing priest of Stath. Philip Scafe was with 
me; and a great number of people met. When we were settled, T. 
Bushel, the Ranter, told me, He had had a vision of me, that I was sit- 
ting in a great chair, and-that he was to come and put off his hat, and 
bow down to the ground~before me; which he-did. I told him, It was 
his own figure; and said, “ Repent, thou beast.” He said it was jeal- 
ousy in me to say so. I asked him the ground of jealousy, and how it 
came to be bred in man? And the nature of a beast, what made it, and 
how it was bred in man? For I saw him directly in that nature of the 
beast ; and therefore I queried how that nature came to be bred in him? 
[ told him, He should give me an account of things done in the body, 
before we came to discourse of things done out of the body. So I stopt 


his mouth-and his fellow Ranters were silenced: for he was the head ~ 


of them. Then I called for the oppressing priest; but only the Scotch 
priest came, whose mouth was soon stopt, with a very few words, he 
being out of the life of what he professed. Then I had good opportunity 
with the people. I laid open the Ranters, ranking them with the old 
Ranters in Sodom. The priests I manifested to be of the same stamp 
with their fellow hirelings, the false prophets of old, and the priests that 
then bore rule over the people by their means, seeking their gain from 
their quarter, divining for money, and teaching for filthy lucre. I brought 


all the prophets, Christ and the apostles, over the heads of the priests — 


shewing how the prophets, Christ, and the apostles, had long since dis 


: 
| 
4 


Fit 


1651] GEORGE FCX’S JOURNAL. 103 


covered them by their marks and fruits. I directed the ,eople to the 
mward teacher, Christ Jesus their Saviour; and preached up Christ in 
the hearts of his people, when all these mountains were laid low. The 
people were all quiet, and the gainsayers’ mouths were stopped; for 
though they broiled inwardly, the divine power so bound them down, 
that they could not break out. 

After the meeting, this Scottish priest desired me to walk with him ator 
of the cliffs. Whereupon I called a brother-in-law of his, who was ‘a 
some? measure convinced, and desired him to go with me, telling him, I 
was willing to have somebody by to hear what we said; lest the priest, 
when I was gone, should report any thing of me which I did not say. 
We went together, the priest asking me many things concerning the 
‘ight, and concerning the soul; all which ] answered him fully. When 
re had done questioning, we parted ; and he went his way; and meeting 
with Philip Scafe, he br: ate his cane against the ground in madness, and 
said, If ever he met with me again, he would have my life, or I should 
have his; adding, that he would give his head, if I was not knocked 
down within a month. By this, friends suspected his intent was, in de- 
siring me to walk with him alone, either to have thrust me down from 
the cliff, or to have done me some other mischief; and being frustrated, 
it made him rage. But I neither regarded his prophecies, nor his threats; 
for I feared God Almighty. After some years, this very Scotch priest 
and his wife came to be convinced of the truth; and about twelve years 
after I was at their house. 

Another priest came to a meeting where I was; one in repute above 
all the priests in the country. As I was declaring, that the gospel was 
the power of God, and how it brought life-and immortality to light in 
men, and was turning people from-darkness to light; this high-flown 
priest said, The gospel was mortal. I told him, The true minister said, 
The gospel -was-the power of God; and would he make the power of 
God mortal? Upon that, the other priest Philip Scafe, that was con- 
vinced, and had felt the immortal power of God in himself, took him up 
and reproved him; so a great dispute arose between them: the con- 


vinced priest holding that the gospel was immortal, and the other hold- 


ing it was mortal. But the Lord’s power was too hard for this opposer, 

and stopped his*mouth; and many were convinced, seeing the darkness 

of the opposing priest, and the light that was in the convinced priest. 
Another priest sent to have a dispute with me, and friends went with 


.~ me to the house where he was; but when he understood we were come, 


he slipt out of the house, and hid himself under an hedge. The people 
went and found him, but could not get him to come to us. Then | went 
to a steeple-house hard by, where the priest and people were in a great 
rage: this priest had threatened friends what he would do: but when | 


~ came, he fled: for the Lord’s power came over him and them. Yea, 


the Lord’s everlasting power was over the world, and reached to the 
nearts of people, and made both priests and professors tremble. It shook 
the earthly and airy spirit, in which they held their profession of religion 
and worship; so that it was a dreadful thing to them, when it was told 
them, “ The man in leathern breeches is come.” At the hearing thereof 
the priests in many places got out of the way; they were so struck 
with the dread of the eternal power of God; and fear surprised the 
ty pocrites. 

We passed to Whitby and Scarborough, where we had some service 


104 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1165. 


for the Lord: large meetings are settled there sce. From thence 1 
passed over the Woulds to Malton, where we had great meetings, as we 
had also at the towns thereabouts. At one town a priest sent me a chal- 
lenge to dispute with me; but when I came he would not come forth. I 
had a good opportunity with the people, and the Lord’s power laid hold 
upon them. One, who had been a wild drunken man, was so reached, 
that he came to me as lowly as a lamb; though he and his companions 
had before sent for drink to make the people rude, on purpose that they 
might abuse us. When I found the priest would not come forth, I was 
moved to go to the steeple-house, and he was confounded; the Lord’s 
power coming over all. 

On first-day following, came one of the highest-independent profes- 
sors, a woman, who had let in such a prejudice against me, that she 
said, before she came, She could willingly have gone to see me hanged. 
But coming, shé was convinced, and remains a friend. 

I turned to Malton again, and very great meetings there were; to 
which several more would have come, but durst not for fear of their re- 
lations; for it was thought a strange thing then to preach in houses, and 
not go to the church, as they called it; I was therefore much desired to 
go and speak in the steeple-houses. One of the priests wrote to me, and ~ 
invited me to preach in his steeple-house, calling me his brother: another 
priest, a noted man, kept a lecture there. ‘The Lord shewed me, while 
1 was in Derby prison, that I should speak in steeple-houses, to gather 
people from thence; and a concern sometimes came upon my mind 
about the pulpits that the priests lolled in. For the steeple-houses and 
pulpits were offensive to my mind, because both priests and people called 
them the house of God, and idolized them; reckoning that God dwelt in 
the outward house. Whereas they should have looked for God and 
Christ to dwell in their hearts, and their bodies to be nade the temples 
of God; for the apostle said, “ God dwelleth not in temples made with 
“hands:” but by reason of the people’s idolizing those places, it was 
counted an heinous thing to declare against them. When I came into 
the steeple-house, there were not above eleven hearers, and the priest 
was preaching to them. But after it was known in the town that I was 
there, it was soon filled with people. When the priest had done, he sent 
the other priest who had invited me thither, to bring me into the pulpit ; 
but I sent him word, that I needed not go into the pulpit. He sent to 
me again, desiring me to go up into it; for, he said, it was a better 
place, and there I might be seen of the people. I sent him word again 
I could be seen and heard well enough where I was; and that I came 
not there to hold up such places, nor their maintenance and trade. Upon 
this they began to be angry, and said, “ These false prophets were to 
“come in the last times.” Their saying so grieved many of the people, 
and some began to murmur at it. Whereupon I desired all to be quiet ; 
and, stepping upon an high seat, declared to them the marks of the false 
prophets, shewing that they were already come; and set the true proph- 
ets, Christ, and his apostles over them; and manifested these to be out 
of the steps of the true prophets, of Christ and his apostles. I directed 
the people to their meee teacher, Christ Jesus, who would turn them 
from darkness to light. (And having opened divers scriptures to them, I 
directed them to the Spirit of God in themselves, by which they might 
come to him, and by which they might also come to know who the 


1651] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 105 


false prophets were. . So having had a large opportuaity among u:em, 
I departed in peace. 

After some time, I‘came to Pickering, where in the steeple-house the 
justices held their sessions, justice Robinson being chairman. I had a 
meeting in the school-house at the same time; and abundance of priests 
and professors came to it, asking questions, which were answered ‘to 
their satisfaction. It being sessions-time, four chief constables and many 
other people were convinced that day; and word was carried to justi ¢é 
Robinson that his priest was overthrown and convinced; whom he had 
a love to, more than to all the priests besides. After the meeting, we 
went to aninn. Justice Robinson’s priest was very lowly and loving, and 
would have paid for my dinner; but I would by no means sufler it. 
Then he offered me his steeple-house to preach in; but I refused it, and 
told him and the people, that I came to bring them off from such things 
to Christ) 

The next morning I went with the four chief constables and some 
others, to visit justice Robinson, who met me at his chamber-door. | 
told him, I could not honour him with man’s honour. He said he did not 
look for it. So I went into his chamber, and opened to him the state of 
the false prophets, and of the true prophets; and set the true prophets, 
Christ, and the apostles, over the other; and directed his mind to Christ 


his teacher. I opened to him the parables, and how election and repro- 


bation stood; as that reprobation stood in the first_birth, and election in 
the second birth. I shewed also what the promise of God was to, and 
what the judgment of God was against. He confessed to it all, and was 
so opened with the truth, that when another justice made sonie little op- 
position, he informed him. At our parting, he said, It was very well that 
I did exercise that gift which God had given me. He took the chief 
constables aside, and would have given them some money for me, say- 
ing, He would not have me be at any charge in their country; but they 
told him, they themselves could not get me to take any money; and so 
accepting his kindness, [ refused his money. : 
From thence I passed into the country, and the priest that called me 
brother (in whose school-house I had the meeting at Pickering) went 
along with me. When we came into a town to bait, the bells rang. I 
asked what they rang for? They said, For me to preach in the steeple- 
house. After some time I felt drawings that way: and as I walked to 
the steeple-house, I saw the people gathered together in the yard. The 
old priest would have had me gone into the steeple-house. I said, It was 
no matter. But it was something strange to the people, that I would not 
go into-that which they called the house of God. I stood up in the 
steeple-house yard, and declared to the people, That I came not to hold 
up their idol-temples, nor their priests, nor their tythes, nor their aug- 
mentations, nor their priests’-wages, nor their Jewish and heathenish 
ceremonies and traditions (for I denied all these) and told them, that 
piece of ground was no more holy than another piece of ground. | 
shewed them, that the apostles going into the Jews’ synagogues and tem- 
ples, which God had commanded, was to bring people off from that temple 
and those synagogues, and from the offerings, tythes, and covetous priests 
of that time; that such as came to be convinced of the truth, converted 
to it, and believed in Jesus Christ, whom the apostles preached, met to- 
gether in dwelling-houses; and that all who preach Christ, the Word of 
life, ought to preach freely, as the apostles did, and as he commanded. 


—_—= 


106 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1654 


So 1 was sent of the Lord God of heaven and earth to preach freely, 
and to bring people off from these outward temples made with hands, 
which God dwelleth not in; that they might know their bodies to become 
the temples of God and of Christ; and to draw people off from all their 
superstitious ceremonies, Jewish and heathenish customs, traditions, and 
aoctrines of men; and from all the world’s hireling teachers, that take 
tythes and great wages, preaching for hire, and divining for money 
whom God and Christ never sent, as themselves confess, when they say, 
They never heard God’s nor Christ’s voice. I exhorted the people to 
come off from all these things, directing them to the Spirit and grace of 
God in themselves, and to the light of Jesus in their own hearts; that 
they might come to know Christ, their free teacher, to bring them salva- 
tion, and to open the scriptures to them. Thus the Lord gave me a good 
opportunity to open things largely unto them. All was quiet, and many 
were convinced: blessed be the Lord. 

I passed to another town, where was another great meeting, the old 
priest being with me; and there came professors of several sorts to it. 
I sate on a hay-stack, and spoke nothing for some hours; for | was to 
famish them from words. The professors would ever and anon be speak- 
ing to the old priest, and asking him when I would begin, and when I 
would speak? He bade them wait; and told them, that the people waited 
upon Christ a long while before he spoke. At last 1 was moved of the 
Lord to speak; and they were struck by the Lord’s power. The word 
of life reached to them, and there was a general convincement amongst 
them. 

From hence I passed on, the old priest being still with me, and several 
others. As we went along, some people called to him and said, “ Mr. 
“ Boyes, we owe you some money for tythes, pray come and take it.” 
But he threw up his hands, and said, “ He had enough, he would have 
“none of it; they might keep it:” and, “he praised the Lord he had 
enough.” 

At length we came to his steeple-house in the Moors, and he went be- 
fore me, and held open the pulpit door; but I told him I would not go 
into it. This steeple-house was very much painted. I told him and the 
people, the painted beast had a painted house. I opened to them the rise 
of those houses; and their superstitious ways; shewing them, that as 


the end of the apostles going into the temple and synagogues, which God — 
had commanded, was not to hold them up, but to bring them to Christ — 
the substance; so the end of my coming there was not to hold up these 
temples, priests, and tythes, which God had never commanded, but to 


bring them from all these things to Christ the substance. I shewed them 


the true worship which Christ had set up, and distinguished Christ the — 


true way from all the false ways, opening the parables to them, and 
turning them from darkness to the true light, that by it they migh see 
themselves, their sins, and Christ their Saviour; that believing in him 
they might be saved from their sins. 

After this we went to one Birdet’s, where I had a great meeting; and 
this old priest accompanied me still, leaving his steeple-house. He had 
been looked upon as a famous priest, above common-prayermen, pres- 
byters, and independents too. Before he was convinced he went some- 
times into their steeple-houses, and preached; for he had been a zealous 
man in his way: and when they complained of him to justice Hotham, 
he bid them distrain his horse for travelling on the Lord’s day, as he 


. 
; 
; 
i 


dees 


/ 


1651] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAT. 107 


called it; but Hotham did that to put them off, for he x..ew the priest 
used no horse, but travelled on foot. 
Now I came towards Crantsick to captain Pursloe’s and justice Ho- 
tham’s, who received me kindly, being glad the Lord’s power had sc 
appeared, that truth was spread and so many had received it, and that 
justice Robinson was so civil.. Justice Hotham said, If God had not 
raised up this principle of light and life, which I preached, the nation 
had been over-run with Ranterism, and all the justices in the nation 
could not have stopped it with all their laws; because, said he, they 
would have said as we said, and done as we commanded, and yet have 
kept their own principle still. But this principle of truth overthrows their 
principle in the root and ground thereof; therefore he was glad the Lord 


had raised up this principle of life and truth. 


From thence I travelled into Holderness, and came to a justice’s house, 
whose name was Pearson, where was a very tender woman, that be- 
lieved in the truth, and was.so.affected therewith, that she said, “ She 
could have left all and “ have followed me.” 

Thence I went to Oram, to George Hartise’s; where many of that 
town were convinced. On the first-day I was moved to go into the 
steeple-house, where the priest had got another to help him: and many 
professors and contenders were got together. But the Lord’s power 
was over all; the priests fled away, and a great deal of good service I 
had for the Lord amongst the people. Some of those great professors 
were convinced, and became honest faithful friends; being men of ac- 
count in that place. 

The next day, friends and friendly people having left me, I travelled 
alone, declaring the day of the Lord amongst people in the towns where 
I came, and warning them to repent. 1 came towards night into a town 
called Patrington. As I walked along the town, I warned both priests 
and people (for the priest was in the street) to repent and turn to the 
Lord. It grew dark before I came to the end of the town, and a multi- 
tude of people gathered about me, to whom I declared the word of life. 

When I had cleared myself I went to an inn, and desired them to let 
me have a lodging; but they would not. J desired a little meat or milk, 
and I would pay for it; but they refused. So I walked out of the town, 
and a company of fellows followed, and asked me, What news?! I bid 
them repent, and fear the Lord. After I was gone a preity way, I came 
to another house, and desired the people to let me have a little meat, 
drink, and lodging for my money; but they denied me. I — to an- 
other house, and desire the same; but they refused me also. (By this 
time it was grown so dark that I could not see the highway; but I dis- 
cerned a ditch, and got a little-;water-and refreshed myself. Then I got 
over the ditch; and, being weary-with travelling, I sate down amongst 
the furze bushes till itwas-day. About break of day I got up, and passed 
on the fields. A man came after me with a great pikestaff, and went 
along with me to a town; and he raised the town upon me, with the 
constable and chief constable, before the sun was up. I declared God’s 
everlasting truth amongst them, warning them of the day of the Lord, 
that was coming upon all sin and wickedness; and exhorted them to 
repent. But they seized me, and had me back to Patrington, about three 
miles, guarding me with watch-bills, pikes, staves, and halberds. When 
I was come to Patrington, all the town was in an uproar, and the priest 
an? constables were consulting together; so I had another opportu 


108 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1651 


nity to declare the word of life amongst them, and warn them to repent. 
At last a professor, a tender man, called me into his house, and there I 
took a little milk and bread, having not eaten for some days before. Then 
they guarded me about nine miles to a justice. When | was come near 
his house, a man came riding after us, and asked me, whether I was the 
man that was apprehended? I askea aim, wherefore he asked! He 
said, for no hurt. I told him, I was: so he rode away to the justice be- 
fore us. The men that guarded me said, It was well if the justice was 
not drunk before we got to him; for he used to get drunk early. When 
I was brought in before him, because I did not put off my hat, and said 
Thou to him, he asked the man that rode thither before me, whether I 
was not mazed or fond! The man told him, no; it was my principle. 
I warned him to repent, and come to the light, which Christ had enlight- 
ened him withal; that by it he might see all his evil words and actions, 
and turn to Christ Jesus whilst he had time; and that whilst he had time 
he should prize it. Ay, ay, said he, the light that is spoken of in the 
third of John. I desired he would mind it, and obey it. As I admon- 
ished him, I laid my hand upon him, and he was brought down by the 
power of the Lord: and all the watchmen stood amazed. Then he took 
me into a little parlour with the other man, and desired to see what I 
had in my pockets of letters or intelligence. I plucked out my linen, 
and shewed him I had no letters. He said, he is not a vagrant by his 
linen:.then he set me at liberty. I went back to Patrington, with the 
man that had rode before me to the justice: for he lived at Patrington. 
When I came there, he would have had me had a meeting at the Cross; 
but I said, it was no matter, his house would serve. He desired me to 
go to bed, or lie down upon a bed; which he did, that they might say 
they had seen me in or upon a bed, for they had got a report that |] 
would not lie on any bed, because I laid many times without doors. 
When first-day was come I went to the steeple-house, and declared the 
truth to the priest and people; and the people did not molest me, for the 
power of God was come over them. Presently after I] had a great 
meeting at the man’s house where I lay, and many were convinced of 
the Lord’s everlasting truth, who stand faithful witnesses of it to this 
day; and they were exceedingly grieved that.they did not receive me, 
nor give me lodging, when | was there before. 

From hence I travelled through the country to the furthest part there- 
of, warning people in towns and villages to repent, and directing them 
to Christ Jesus, their teacher. os 

On first-day I came to colonel Overton’s, ané@had a great meeting of 
the prime of the people of that country, where many things were opened 
cut of the scriptures, which they had never heard before. Many were 
convinced, and received the word of life, and were settled in the truth 
of God. 

I returned to Patrington again, and visited those friends that were 
convinced there; by whom I understood, that a taylor and some wild 
blades in that town had occasioned my being carried before the justice. 
The taylor came to ask me forgiveness, fearing I would complain of 
him. The constables also were afraid, lest I should trouble them. But 
I forgave them all, and warned them to turn to the Lord, and to amend 
dieir lives. That which made them the more afraid was this: when I 
was in the steeple-house at Oram not long before, a professor gave me 
a push on the breast in the steeple-house, and bid me get out of the 


- 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. - 109 


church. Alas! poor man! said I, dost thou call the steeple-house the 
church? ‘The church is the people whom God hath purchased with his 
blood, and not the house I happened that justice Hotham came to hear 
of this man’s abuse, sent his warrant for him, and bound him over to the 
sessions; so affected was he with the truth, and so zealous to keep the 

eace: and indeed this justice had asked me before} whether any had 
meddled with me or abused me? ut I was not to tell him any thing 


. of that kind; but was to forgive all. 


From Patrington I went to several great men’s houses, warning them 
to repent. Some received me lovingly, and some slighted me. At night 
{ came to another town, where I desired lodging and meat, and I would 
pay for it; but they would not lodge me, except I would go to the con- 
stable, which was the custom (they said) of all lodgers at inns, if stran- 
gers. I told them, I would not go; for that custom was for suspicious 
persons, I was an innocent man. After I had warned them to repent, 
declared to them the day of their visitation, and directed them to the 
light of Christ and the spirit of God, that they might come to know sal- 
vation, | passed away; and the people were somewhat tendered and 
troubled afterwards. \When it grew dark, I spied a hay-stack, and went 
and sate under it_till morning. is 

The next day I passed into Hull, admonishing and warning people, 
as I went,|to turn to Christ Jesus, that they might receive salvation. 
ai night I got a lodging; but was very sore with travelling on foot so 
ar. 

Afterwards I came to Balby, visited friends up and down in those 
parts, and then passed into the edge of Nottinghamshire, visiting friends 
there: and so into Lincolnshire, and visited friends there. (On first-day 
I went to a steeple-house on this side of Trent, and in the afternoon to 
another on the other side of Trent, declaring the word of life to the peo- 
ple, and directing them to their teacher Christ Jesus, who died for them, 
that they might hear him and receive salvation by him. \ Then I went 
further into the country, and had several meetings. To one meeting 
came a great man, a priest, and many professors; but the Lord’s power 
came over them all, and they went their way peaceably. | There came 
a man to that meeting, who had been at one before, and raised a fa‘se 
accusation against me, and made a noise up and down the country, re- 
porting, that I said I was Christ; which was utterly false.) When I came 
to Gainsborough, where a friend had been declaring truth in the market, 
the town and market-people were all in an uproar. I went into a friend- 
ly man’s house, and the people rushed in after me; so that the house 
was filled with professors, disputers, and rude people. This false accuser 
came in, and charged me openly before the people, “ That I said I was 
“Christ, and he had got witnesses to prove it.” {Which put the people 

/ into such a rage, that they had much to do to keép their hands off me. 
»)I was moved of the Lord to stand up upon the table, in the eternal power 
( of God, and tell the people, “ That Christ.was in them, except they 
“ were reprobates ; and-that it was Christ, the eternal power of God, 
“that spoke in me at that _time-unto them; nor that I was Curist.” 
_ And the people were greatly satisfied, except himself, a professor, and 
his own false witnesses. I called the accuser Judas, and was moved to 
tell him that Judas’s end should be his; that was the word of the Lord 
and of Christ through me to him. The Lord’s power came over au, and 
jiieted the minds of the people, and they departed in peace. But tnis 


110 GEORGE FOX’S Juouwna s [1bds 


Judas shor‘ly afer hanged himself, and a stake was driven into his giave. 
Afterwards the wicked priests raised a scandal upon us, and reported 
that a Quaker had hanged himself in Lincolnshire, and had a stake 
driven through him. This falsehood they printed to the nation, adding 
sin to sin; which the truth and we were clear of: for he was no more 
a Quaker than the priest that printed it, but one of their own people. 
Notwithstanding this wicked slander by which the adversary designed 
to defame us, and turn people’s minds against the truth we held forth, 
many in Lincolnshire received the gospel, being convinced of the 
Lord’s everlasting truth, and sate down therein under his heavenly 
teaching. 

I passed in the Lord’s power into Yorkshire, came to Warnsworth, 
and went to the steeple-house in the forenoon: but they shut the door 
against me: but after awhile they let in Thomas Aldam, and then shut 
it again; and the priest fell upon him, asking him questions. At last they 
opened the door, and ] went in. As soon as I was come in the priest’s 
sight he left preaching, though I said nothing to him; and asked me, 
“What have you to say?” and presently cried out, “ Come, come. | 

will prove them false prophets in Matthew.” But he was so confound- 
ed, he could not find the chapter. Then he fell on me, asking me 
many questions; and I stood still all this while, not saying any thing 
amongst them. At last I said, “Seeing here are so many questions 
“asked, I may answer them.” But as soon as I began to speak, the 
people violently rushed upon me, thrust me out of the steeple-house 
again, and locked the door against me. As soon as they had done their 
service, and were come forth, the people ran upon me, knocked me 
sorely with their staves, threw clods and stones at me, and abused me 
much: the priest also, being in a great rage, laid violent hands on me 
himself. I warned them and him of the terrible day of the Lord, and 
exhorted them to repent and turn to Christ. ‘Being filled with the Lord’s 
refreshing power, [ was not sensible of muth hurt I had received by 
their blows. In the afternoon I went to another steeple-house, but the 
priest had done before I got thither: so I preached repentance to the 
people that were left, and directed them to their inward teacher, Jesus 
Christ.\ 

From hence I went to Balby, and Doncaster, where I had formerly 
preached repentance.on the market-day; which had made a noise and 
alarm in the country. On first-day I went to the steeple-house, and af- 
ter the priest had done, I spoke to him and the people what the Lord 
commanded me; and they were in a great rage, hurried me out, threw 
me down, and haled me before the magistrates. A long examination | 
they made of me, and much work I had with them. They threatened 
ny life, if ever I came there again; and that they would leave me to 
he mercy of the people. Nevertheless I declared truth amongst them, 
and directed them to the light of Christ in them; testifying unto thern, 
“That God was come to teach his people himself, whether they would 
“hear or forbear.” After awhile they put us out (for some friends 
were with me) among the rude multitude, and they stoned us down the 
streets. An innkeeper, a bailiff, came and took us into his house; and 
they broke his head, so that the blood ran down his face, with the stones 
that they threw at us. We staid awhile in his house, and shewed the 
more soter people the priest’s fruits. Then we went away to Balby 


#52] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. Ale 


about a mile off. The rude people laid wait for us, and stoned us down 
the lane; but, blessed be the Lord, we did not receive much hurt. 

(ite next first-day I went to Tickhill, whither the friends of that sid. 
gathered together, and a mighty brokenness by the power of God there 
was amongst the people. JI went out of the meeting, being moved of 
God to go to the steeple-house. When I came there, I found the 
priest and most of the chief of the parish together in the chancel. 1 
went up to them, and began to speak; but they immediately fell upon 
me; the clerk up with his bible, as I was speaking, and “struck me cn 
“the face with it, so that my face gushed out with blood; and I bled 
“exceedingly in the?steeple-house.” ‘The people cried, “ Let us have 
“him out of the church.” When they had got me out, they beat me 
exceedingly, threw me down, and turned me over a hedge. They 
afterwards dragged me through a house into the street, stoning and 
beating me as they dragged me along; so that I was all over besmeared 
with blood and dirt. They got my hat from me, which I never had 
again. Yet when I was got upon my legs, | declared the word of life, 
shewed them the fruits of their teacher, and how they dishonoured chris- 
tianity. After awhile I got into the meeting again amongst friends, and 
the priest and people coming by the house, I went with friends into the 
yard, and there spoke to the priest and people. The priest scoffed at us, 
and called us Quakers. But the Lord’s power was so over them, and 
the word of life was declared in such authority and dread to them, that 
the priest fell a trembling himself; and one of the people said, “ Look 
“how the priest trembles and shakes, he is turned a Quaker also.” 


When the meeting was over, friends departed ; and I went without my 


hat to Balby about seven or eight miles. Friends were much abused 


that day by the priest and his people: insomuch that some moderate 
justices hearing of it, two or three of them came and sate at the town 
to examine the business. He that had shed my blood was afraid of 
having his hand cut off, for striking me in the church, as they called it; 
but I forgave him, and would not appear against him. ) 

In the beginning of this~year 1652, great rage got up in priests and 
people, and in some of the magistrates, in the west riding of Yorkshire, 
against the truth and friends, insomuch, that the priest of Warnsworth 
procured a warrant from the justices against me and Thomas Aldam, 
to be executed in any part of the west riding of Yorkshire. At the 
same time I had a vision of a bear and two great mastiff dogs; that I 
should pass by them, and they should do me no hurt: and it proved so. 
For the constable took Thomas Aldam, and carried him to York. I 
went with Thomas twenty miles towards York, and the constable had a 
warrant for me also, and said, “ He saw me, but he was loth to trouble 
“strangers;” but Thomas Aldam was his neighbour. So the Lord’s 
power restrained him, that he had not power to meddle with me. We 
went to lieutenant Roper’s, where we had a great meeting of many 
considerable men. The truth was powerfully declared amongst them 
the scriptures wonderfully opened, the parables and sayings of Chris 
expounded, the state of the church in the apostles’ days plainly set forth, 
and the apostacy since from that state discovered. The truth had great 
dominion that day: so that those great men present did generally con- 


fess to it, saying, “ They believed this principle must go over the whole 


“world.” There were at this meeting James Nayler, Thomas Good- 
year. and William Dewsburv who had been convinced the year hefore 


112 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL [1652 


and Richard Farnsworth also. The constable staid with Thomas Aldara 
till the meeting was over, and then went towards York prison; but did 
not meddle with me. 

From hence I went to Wakefield, and the first-day after to a 
steeple-house, where James Nayler had been a member of an independ- 
ent church; but, upon his receiving truth, he was excommunicated. 
When I came in, and the priest had done, the people called me to come 
to the priest; which I did: but when I began to declare the word of 
life to them, and to lay open the deceit of the priest, they rushed upon 
me on a sudden, thrust me out at the other door, punching and beating 
me, and cried, “ Let us have him to the stocks.” But the Lord’s power 
was over them, and so restrained them, that they were not able to put 
me in. So I passed away to the meeting, where were a great many 
professors and friendly people gathered, and a great convincement there 
was; for the people were mightily satisfied, that they were directed to 
the Lord’s teaching in themselves. \ Here we got lodging; for four of 
us had lain abroad under a hedge the night before, there being then few 
friends in that place. ) 

The same day Richard Farnsworth went to another great steeple- 
nouse belonging to a high priest, and declared the word of truth unto 
the people; and great service he had amongst them: for the Lord’s 
dread and power was mightily over all. 

The priest of that church, which James Nayler had been a member 
of, whose name was Marshal, raised many wicked slanders upon me, as, 
“That I carried bottles about with me, and made people drink of my 
“ bottles, which made them follow me.” And, “That I md upon a great 
‘black horse, and was seen in one country upon my black horse in one 
“ hour, and in the same hour in another country threescore miles off;” 
and, “ That I should give a fellow money to follow me when I was on 
“my black horse.” With these hellish lies he fed his people, to make 
them think evil of the truth which I had declared amongst them. But 
by these lies he preached many of his hearers away from him; foi 1 
travelled on foot, and had no horse at that time; and that the peope 
‘generally knew. The Lord soon after met with this envious priest, and 
cut him off in his wickedness. 

After this I came to High-Town where dwelt a woman who had been 
convinced a little before. We went to her house, and had a meeting 
The town’s people gathered together; we declared the truth to them, 
had some service for the Lord amongst them; and they passed away 
again peaceably. But there was a widow woman in the town, whose 
name was Green, who, heing filled with envy, went to one called a gen- 
tleman in the town, who was reported to have killed two men and one 
woman, and informed him against us, though he was no officer. The 
next morning we drew up some queries, to be sent to the priest. When 
we had done, and were just going away, some of the friendly ~ eople of 
the town came running, and told us, That this murdering man had 
sharpened a pike to stab us, and was coming with his sword by his side. 
Being just passing away, we missed him. But he came to the house 
where we had been; and the people generally concluded, if we had 
not been gone, he would have murdered some of us. That night we 
lay in a wood, and were very wet, for it rained exceedingly. In the 
morning I was moved to return to that town, when we had a full rela 
ion of this wicked man. 


642] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 113 


From hence we passed to an house at Bradford, where we met with 
Richard Farnsworth, from whom we had parted a Jittle before. When 
we came in they set meat before us; but as I was going to eat, the word 
of the Lord came to me, saying, “Eat not the bread of such as have an 
“evil eye.” Immediately I arose from the table, and ate nothing. After 
I had exhorted the family to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. and hearken 
to lis teachings in their own hearts, we departed thence. 

As we travelled through the country, preaching repentance to the 
people, we came into a market-town, where a lecture was held that day. 
I went into the steeple-house, where many priests, professors and people 
were. ‘The priest that preached, took for his text those words of Jere- 
miah, chap. 5. ver. 31. “My people love to have it so:” leaving out the 
foregomg words, viz. “'The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests 
“bear rule by their means.” I shewed the people his deceit; and 
directed them to Christ, the true teacher within; declaring, that God 
was come to teach his people himself, and to bring them off from all the 
world’s teachers and hirelings; that they might come to receive freely 
from him. Then warning them of the day of the Lord that was coming 
upon all flesh, I passed from thence without much opposition. 

At night we came to a country place, where there was no publick 
house near. The people desired us to stay all night; which we did, and 
had good service for the Lord, declaring his truth amongst them. 

The Lord had said unto me, “If but one man or woman were raised 
“by his power, to stand and live in the same Spirit that the prophets and 
“apostles were in who gave forth the scriptures, that man or woman 
“should shake all the country in their profession for ten miles round.” 
For people had the scriptures, but were not in the same light, power, 
and Spirit, which those were in who gave forth the scriptures; so they 
neither knew God, Christ, nor the scriptures aright; nor had they unity 
one with another, being out of the power and Spirit of God. Therefore 
we warned all, where-ever we met them, of the day of the Lord tnat 
was coming upon them. 

As we travelled, we came near a very great high hill, called Pendle- 
hill, and I was moved of the Lord to go up to the top of it; which I did 
with much ado, it was so very steep and high. When I was come to 
the top, I saw the sea bordering upon Lancashire. From the top of this 
hill the Lord let me see in what places he had a great people to be 
gathered. As I went down, I found a spring of water in the side of the 
hill, with which I refreshed myself; having eaten or drunk but little 
several days before. 

At night we came to an inn, and declared truth to the man of the 
house, and wrote a paper to the priests and professors, declaring ‘ the 
‘day of the Lord, and that Christ was come to teach people himself, by 
‘his power and Spirit in their hearts, and to bring people off from all the 
* world’s ways and teachers, to his own free teaching who had bought 
‘them, and was the Saviour of all them that believed in him.’ The man 
of the house spread the paper abroad, and was himself mightily affected 
with the truth. Here the Lord opened unto me, and let me see a great 
- people in white raiment by a river-side, coming to the Lord. The place 
that I saw them in was about Wentzerdale and Sedbergh. 

The next day we travelled on, and at night got a little fern to put un- 
der us, and lay upon a common. Next morning we reached a town, 
where Richard Farnsworth parted from me; and then I'travelled alone 


114 GEORCE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1652 


again. I came up Wentzerdale, and at the market-town in that dale 
there was a lecture,on the market-day. I went into the steeple-house : 
and, after the priest had done, ‘proclaimed the day of the Lord to the 
‘priest and people; warning them to turn from the darkness to the light. 
‘and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might come to know 

God and Christ aright, and to receive his teeching, who teacheth free y. 
Large.y and freely did I declare the word cx life unto them, and had not 
much persecution there. Afterwards I passed up the dales, warning 
people to fear God; and preaching the everlasting gospel. In my way 
I came to a great house, where was a schoolmaster; and they got me 
into the house. I asked them questions about their religion and worship; 
and afterwards declared the truth to them. They had me into a parlour, 
and locked me in, pretending I was mad, and had got away from my 
relations; and they would keep me till they could send to them. But J 
soon convinced them of their mistake; and they let me forth, and woula 
have had me to stay, but I was not to stay there. Having exhortea 
them to repentance, and directed them to the light of Christ Jesus, that 
thro’ it they might come unto him, and be saved, I passed from them, 
and came in the night to a little alehouse on a common, where a com- 
pany of rude fellows were drinking. Because I would not drink with 
them, they struck me with their clubs. But I reproved them, and brought 
them to be somewhat cooler; and then walked out of the house upon 
the common in the night. After some time one of these drunken fellows 
came out, and would have come close up to me, pretending to whisper 
to me; but perceiving he had a knife, I kept off him, and bid him repent, 
and fear God. So the Lord by his power preserved me from this wickea 
man; and he went into the house again. Next morning I went through 
other dales, warning and exhorting people every where, as I passed, to 
repent and turn to the Lord; and several were convinced. At one 
house, the man of the house whom I afterwards found to be a kinsman 
of John Blakelin’s, would have given me money, but I would not re- 
celve it. 

As I travelled through the dales, I came to another man’s house, 
whose name was Tennant. I was moved to speak to the family, and 
declare God’s everlasting truth to them; and as I was turning away from 
them, I was moved to turn again, and speak to the man himself; who 
was convinced, with his family, and lived and died in the truth. Thence 
I came to major Bousfield’s, who received me, as did several others. 
Some that were then convinced have stood faithful ever since. I went 
also through Grysedale, and several other of those dales ; in which some 
were convinced. In Dent many were convinced also. From major 
Bousfield’s I came to Richard Robinson’s, and declared the everlasting 
truth to him. 

The next day I went to a meeting at justice Benson’s, where met a 
people that were separated from the publick worship. This was the 
place that I had seen, where a people came forth in white raiment. A 
large meeting it was; the people were generally convinced, and continue 
a large meeting still of friends near Sedbergh; which was then first 
gathered through my ministry in the name of Jesus. 

The same week there was a great fair, at which servants used to be 
hired. I went and declared the day of the Lord through the fair. After 
1 had done so, I went into the steeple-house yard; and many of the peo- 
ple of the far came to me, with abundance of priests and professors 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 115 


‘ There I declared the everlasting truth of the Lord, and he word of 
‘life for several hours; shewing, that the Lord was come to teach his 


* people himself, and to bring them off from all the world’s ways and 
: teachers fo Christ the true teacher, and the true way to God. I laid 
‘ open their teachers, shewing, that they were like those that were of old 

condemned by the prophets, by Christ, and by the apostles. I exhorted 
‘the people to come off from the temples made with hands; and wait to 
* receive the Spirit of the Lord, that they might know themselves to be 
‘the temples of God.’ Not one of the priests had power to open his 
mouth against what I declared. At last a captain said, ‘ Why will you 
‘not go into the Church? This is not a fit place to preach in.’ I told 
him, I denied their church. Then stood up Francis Howgill, who was 
preacher to a congregation. He had not seen me before; yet he under- 
took to answer that captain; and soon put him to silence. Then said 
Francis Howgill of me, ‘ This man speaks with authority, and not as the 
‘scribes.’ After this, I opened to the people, that that ground and house 
was no holier than another-place;-and that the house is not the church, 
but the people, whom Christ is the head of. After awhile the priests came 
up to me, and I warned them to repent. One of them said, I was mad; 
so they turned away. But many were convinced there that day, who 
were glad to hear the truth declared, and received it with joy. Amongst 
these was captain Ward, who received the truth in the love of it, and 
lived and died in it. 

The next first-day I came to Firbank Chapel in Westmoreland, where 
Francis Howgill and John Audland had been preaching in the morning. 
The chapel was full of people, so that many could not get in. Francis 
said, He thought I looked into the chapel, and his spirit was ready to 
fail, the Lord’s power did so surprise him: but I did not look in. They 
made haste, and had quickly done, and they and some of the people 
went to dinner; but abundance staid till they came again. John Blakelin 
and others came to me, and desired me not to reprove them publickly; 
for they were not parish-teachers, but pretty tender men. I could not 
tell them whether I should or no, though [ had not at that time any draw- 
ings to declare publickly against them; but I said, They must leave me 
to the Lord’s movings. While others were gone to dinner, I went to a 
brook, got a little water, and then came and sat down on the top of a 
rock hard by the chapel. In the afternoon the people gathered about me, 
with several of their preachers. It was judged there were above a 
thousand people; to whom I declared God’s everlasting truth and word 
of life freely and largely for about the space of three hours: directing 
all to the Spirit of God in themselves; that they might be turned from 
darkness to light, and believe in it, that they might become the children 
of it, and might be turned from the power of Satan unto God; and by 
the Spirit of truth might be led into all truth, and sensibly understand the 
words of the prophets, of Christ, and of the apostles; and might all 
come to know Christ to be their teacher to instruct them, their coun- 
sellor to direct them, their shepherd to feed them, their bishop to oversee 
them, and their prophet to open divine mysteries to them; and might 
know their bodies to be prgpared, sanctified, and made fit temples for 
God and Christ to dwell inf In the openings of heavenly life, I explained 
unto them the prophets, and the figures and shadows, and directed them 
to Christ. the substance.)- Then I opened the parables and sayings of 
Christ, and things that had been long hid; shewing the intent and scope 


116 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ; (1652 


of the apostles’ writings, and that their epistles were written to the elect 
When | had opened that state, | shewed also the state of the apostacy 
since the apostles’ days; that the priests have got the scriptures, but are 
not in the Spirit which gave them forth; and have put them into chapter 
and verse, to make a trade of the holy men’s words; that the teachers 
and priests now are found in the steps of the false prophets, chief priests 
scribes and pharisees of old, and are such as the true prophets, Christ 
and his apostles, cried against, and so are judged and condemned by the 
Spirit of the true prophets, of Christ, and of his apostles; and that none 
in that Spirit could own them. Many old people went into the chapel, 
and looked out at the windows; thinking it a strange thing to see a man 
preach on an hill or mountain, and not in their church, as they called it; 
whereupon I was moved to inform the people, ‘ That the steeple-house 
‘and the ground whereon it stood, were no more holy than that moun- 
‘tain; and that those temples, which they called the dreadful houses of 
‘God, were not set up by the command of God and of Christ ; nor theii 
‘ priests called, as Aaron’s priesthood was; nor their tythes appointed 
‘by God, as those amongst the Jews were; but that Christ was come, 
‘who ended both the temple and its worship, and the priests and their 
‘tythes ; and all now should hearken to him: for he said, “ Learn ot 
“me:” and God said of him, “ This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 
“ well pleased; hear ye him.” I declared that the Lord God had sent 
‘me to preach the everlasting gospel and word of life amongst ,them ; 
‘and to bring them off from all these temples, tythes, priests, and rudi- 
**ments of the world, which had got up since the apostles’ days, and had 
‘been set up by such as had erred from the Spirit and power that the 
‘aposiles were in.’ Very largely was I opened at this meeting; the 
Lord’s convincing power accompanied my ministry, and reached home 
to the hearts of the people; whereby many were convinced, and all the 
teachers of that congregation (who were many) were convinced of 
God’s everlasting truth. 

After the meeting, I went to John Audland’s, and from thence to Pres- 
ton Patrick Chapel, where a great meeting was appointed; to which I 
went, and had a large opportunity to preach the everlasting gospel; ac- 
quainting the people that the end of my coming into that place was not 
to hold it up; no more than the apostles going into the Jewish syna- 
gogues and temple was to uphold those ; but to bring them off from all 
such things (as the apostles brought the saints of old from off the Jewish 
temple and Aaron’s priesthood) that they might come to witness their 
bodies to be the temples of God, and Christ in them to be their teacher. 

From this place I went to Kendal, where a meeting was appointed in 
the town-hall, in which I declared the word of life amongst the people, 
shewing them, ‘ How they might come to the saving knowledge of 
‘Christ, and to have a right understanding of the holy scriptures; open- 
‘ing to them what it was that would lead them into the way of reconci- 
‘liation with God; and what would be their condemnation.’ After the 
meeting I staid awhile in the town; several were convinced there, and 
many appeared loving. One Cock met me in the street, and would 
have given me a roll of tobacco. I accepted his love, but did not re- 
ceive the tobacco. ‘ 

From thence I went to Under-barrow, to Miles Bateman’s ; and seve- 
ral going along with me, great reasonings I had with them, especially 
with Edward Burrough. At night the priest and many professors came 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 11 


to the house; and a great dea! of disputing I had wth them. Supper 
being provided for the priest and the rest of the company, I had not 
freedom to eat with them; but told them, If they would appoint a meet- 
ing for the next day at the steeple-house, and acquaint the people with 
it, I might meet them. They had a.great deal of reasoning about it; 
some being for, and some against it.. In the morning, after I had spoken 
to them again concerning the meeting, as I walked upon a bank by the 
house, there came several poor travellers, asking relief, who I saw were 
ir necessity; and they gave them nothing, but said théy were cheats, 
It grieved me to see such hard-heartedness amongst professors; where- 
upon, when they were gone in to their breakfast, I ran after the poor 
people about a quarter of a mile, and gave them some money. Mean 
while some that were in the house, coming out, and seeing me a quarter 
of a mile off, said, I could not have gone so far in such an instant, if I 
had not had wings. Hereupon the meeting was like to have been put 
by ; for they were filled with such strange thoughts concerning me, that 
many of them were against having a meeting with me. I told them, I 
ran after those poor people to give them some money ; being grieved at 
their hard-heartedness, who gave them nothing. ‘Then came Miles and 
Stephen Hubbersty; who, being more simple-hearted men, would have 
the meeting held. So to the chapel I went, and the priest came. A 
great meeting there was, and the way of life and salvation was opened ; 
and after awhile the priest fled away. Many of Crook and Under-bar- 
row were convinced that day, received the word of life, and stood fast 
in it under the teaching of Christ Jesus. After I had declared the truth 
to them for some hours, and the meeting was ended, the chief constable 
and some other professors fell to reasoning with me in the chapel yard. 
Whereupon I took a bible and opened the scriptures, and dealt tenderly 
with them, as one would do with a child. They that were in the light 
of Christ and Spirit of God, knew when I spake scripture, though I did 
not mention chapter and verse, after the priest’s form to them. 

From hence I went with an ancient man, whose heart the Lord had 
opened, and he invited me to his house: his name was James Dickin- 
son. He was convinced that day, received the truth, and lived and died 
in it. 

I came the next day to James Taylor’s, of Newton in Cartmel, in 
- Lancashire. On first-day I went to the chapel, where priest Camelford 
used to preach; and after he had done, I began to speak the word of 
life to the people. But he was in such a rage, did so fret, and was so 
peevish, that he had no patience to hear; but stirred up the rude multi- 
tude, who haled me out, struck, and threw me neadlong over a stone 
wall. Yet blessed be the Lord, his power preserved me. He that did 
this violence to me, was John Knipe, a wicked man, whom afterwards 
the Lord cut off. There was a youth in the chapel, writing after the 
priest. I was moved to speak to him, and he came to be convinced, 
and received a part of the ministry of the gospel: his name was John 
Brathwait. 

Then I went to an alehouse, to which many resorted betwixt the time 
of their momning and afternoon preaching ; and had a great deal of rea- 
soning w:th the people, declaring to them, That God was come to teach 
his people himself, and to bring them off from all false teachers, such as 
the prophets, Christ, and the apostles cried against. Many received the 
word of life at that time. and abode in it. 


£8 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1652 


In the afternoon 1 went about two or three miles to a steeple-house o1 
chapel called Lyndal. When the priest had done, I spoke to him and 
the people what the Lord commanded me, and there were great oppo- 
sers; but afterwards they came to be convinced. After this I went to 
captain Sands, who with his wife seemed somewhat affected with truth: 
and if they could have held the world and truth together, they would 
have received it; but they were hypocrites, and he a very chaffy light 
man. Wherefore I reproved him for his lightness and jesting ; telling 
him, It was not seemly in a great professor as he was. Thereupon he 
told me, He had a son, who upon his death-bed had also reproved him 
for it, and warned him of it. But he neither regarded the admonition of 
his dying son, nor the reproofs of God’s Spirit in himself. 

From hence I went to Ulverstone, and to Swarthmore to judge Fells; 
whither came one Lampitt, a priest, who was an high notionist. With 
him I had a great deal of reasoning; for he would talk of high notions 
and perfection, and thereby deceived the people. He would have owned 
me, but I could not own or join with him, he was so full of filth, He 
said, He was above John; and made as though he knew all things. But 
I told him, ‘ Death reigned from Adam to Moses; and that he was un- 
‘der death, and knew not Moses: for Moses saw the paradise of God; 
‘but he knew neither Moses, nor the prophets, nor John.’ For that 
crooked and rough nature stood in him, and the mountain of sin and 
corruption; and the way was not prepared in him for the Lord. He 
confessed he had been under a cross in things; but now he could sing 
psalms, and do any thing. I told him, ‘ Now he could see a thief, and 
‘join hand in hand with him: but he could not preach Moses, nor the 
‘prophets, nor John, nor Christ, except he were in the same Spirit that 
‘they were in.’ Margaret Fell had been abroad in the day-time; and 
at night her children told her, priest Lampitt-and I had disagreed ; which 
somewhat troubled her, because she was in profession with him; but he 
hid his dirty actions from them. At night we had great reasoning ; and 
I declared the truth to her and her family. Next day Lampitt came 
again, and I had a great deal of discourse with him hefore Margaret 
Fell, who then clearly discerned the priest. A convincement of the 
Lord's truth came upon her and her family. Soon after a day was to 
be observed for an humiliation; and Margaret Fell asked-me to go with 
her to the steeple-house at Ulverstone, for she was not wholly come off 
from them: I replied, ““TI-must do as I am ordered by the Lord.” So I 
Jeft her, and walked into the fields; and the word of the Lord came to 
me, saying, “ Go to the steeple-house after them.” When I came, I.am- 
pitt was singing with his people; but his spirit was so foul, and the mat- 
ter they sung so unsuitable to their states, that after they had done sing 
ing, I was moved of the Lord to speak to him and the people. The ~ 
word of the Lord to them was, ‘ He is not a Jew that is one outward 
‘but he is a Jew that is one inward, whose praise is not of man, but of 
‘God.’ Then, as the Lord opened further, I shewed them, ‘ That He 
“was come to teach his people by his Spirit, and to bring them off from 
‘all their old ways, religions, churches, and worships ; for all their reli- 
‘ gions, worships, and ways were but talking of other men’s words; but 
‘they were out of the life and Spirit which those were in who gave 
‘them forth.’ Then cried out one justice Sawrey, “ Take him away ;” 
but judge Fell’s wife said to the officers, “ Let him alone; why may he 
“not speak, as well as any other?” Lampitt also, the priest, in deceit, 


1652, GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 119 


said “ Let him speak.” So at length, when I had declared a pretty while, 
justice Sawrey caused the constable to put me out; and then I spoke to 
the people in the grave-yard. 

The first-day after, 1 was moved to go to Aldenham steeple-nouse. 
and when the priest had done, I spoke to him; but he got away. Then 
I declared the word of life to the people, and warned them to turn to the 
Lord. 

From thence I passed to Ramside, where was a chapel, in which 
Thomas Lawson used to preach, who was an eminent priest. He very 
lovingly acquainted his people in the morning of my coming in the after- 
noon; by which means many were gathered together. When I came, 
I saw there was no place so convenient as the chapel: wherefore I went 
into the chapel, and all was quiet. Thomas Lawson went not up into his 
pulpit, but lefi all the time to me. The everlasting day of the eternal God 
was proclaimed that day, and the everlasting truth was largely declared ; 
which reached and entered into the hearts of the people, and many re- 
ceived the truth in the love of it. This priest came to be convinced, left 
his chapel, threw_off his preaching for hire, and came to preach the 
Lord Jesus and his kingdom freely. After that some rude people cast 
scandals upon him, and thought to have done him an injury: but he was 
carried over all, grew in the wisdom of God mightily, and preved very 
serviceable in his place. 

I returned to Swarthmore again, and the next first-day went to Dalton 
steeple-house ; where, after the priest had done, I declared the word of 
life to the people, that they might be turned from darkness to light, from 
the power of Satan to God; and might come off from their superstitious 
ways, and from their teachers made by man, to Christ the true and 
living way, to be taught of him. 

From thence I went into the island of Walnah; and after the priest 
had done, I spoke to him, but he got away. Then I declared the truth 
to the people, but they were something rude. I went to speak with the 
priest at his house, but he would not be seen. The people said, he went 
to hide himself in the hay-mow, and they looked for him there, but 
could not find him. Then they said, he was gone to hide himself in the 
standing corn, but they could not find him there neither. I went to 
James Lancaster’s, who was convinced in the island, and from thence ° 
returned to Swarthmore, where the Lord’s power seized upon Margaret 
Fell, her daughter Sarah, and several others. 

Then I went to Becliff, where Leonard Fell was convinced, and be- 
came a minister of the everlasting gospel. Several others were con- 
vinced there, and came into obedience to the truth. Here the people 
said, they could not dispute; and would fain have put some other to 
hold talk with me; but I bid them, “ Fear the Lord; and not in a light 

“ way hold a talk of the Lord’s words, but put the things in practice." 
_ I directed them to the Divine Light of Christ and his Spirit in their 
hearts, which would let them see all the evil thoughts, words, and _ac- 
tions, that they had thought, spoken, and acted; by which light they 
might see their sin, and also their Saviour Christ Jesus to save them 
from their sins. This I told them was their first step to peace, even to 
stand still in the light that shewed them their sins and transgressions: 
by which they might come to see they were in the fall of old Adam, in 
darkness and death, strangers to the covenant of promise, and without 
God in the world: and by the same light they might see Christ that 


120 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 


died fer them to be their Redeemer and Saviour, and their way to 
God.’ 

After this I went to a chapel beyond Gleaston: which was built, but 
never a priest had preached in it. Thither the country people came 
and a quiet, peaceable meeting it was, in which the word of life was de 
clared, and many were convinced of the truth about Gleaston. 

From thence I returned_to Swarthmore again. After I had staid a 
few days, and most_of the family were convinced, | went into West. 
moreland, where priest Lampitt had been amongst the professors on 
Kendal side, and had mightily incensed them against me; telling them ] 
held many strange things. I met with those that he had so incensed, sate 
up all night with them at James Dickinson’s, and answered all their ob- 
jections. They were both thoroughly satisfied with the truth I had de- 
clared, and dissatisfied with him and his lies, so that he clearly lost the 
best of his hearers and followers, who hereby came to see his deceit, 
and forsook -him. 

I passed to John Audland’s and Gervase Benson’s, and had great 
meetings amongst those that had been convinced before. I passed to 
John Blakelin’s and Richard Robinson’s, where I had mighty meetings, 
and then towards Grisedale. 

Soon after, judge Fell being come home, Margaret his wife sent to 
me, desiring me to return thither; and I, feeling freedom from the Lord 
so to do, went back to Swarthmore. I found the priests and professors 
and justice Sawrey, had much incensed judge Fell and captain Sands 
against the truth by their lies; but when I came to speak with him, | 
answered all his objections, and so thoroughly satisfied him by the scrip- 
tures, that he was convinced in his judgment. He asked me, “If I 
“ was that George Fox whom justice Robinson spoke so much in com- 
“mendation of amongst many of the parliament men?” I told him, | 
had been with justice Robinson, and justice Hotham, in Yorkshire, wno 
were very civil and loving to me; and that they were convinced in their 
judgment by the Spirit of God, that the principle which I bore testimony 
to was the truth, and they saw beyond the priests of the nation; so that 
they and many others were now come to be wiser than their teachers. 
After we had discoursed a pretty while together, judge Fell himself was 
‘satisfied also, and came to see, by the openings of the Spirit of God in 
his heart, over all the priests and teachers of the world; and did not go 
to hear them for some years before he died; for he knew it was the 
truth that I declared, and that Christ was the teacher of his peuple, and 
their Saviour. He sometimes wished that I was awhile with judge 
Bradshaw to discourse with him. There came to judge Fell’s captain 
Sands before-mentioned, endeavouring to incense the judge against me; 
for he was an evil-minded man, and full of envy.against me; yet he 
could speak high things, use the scripture words, and say, “ Behold,4 
“make all things new.” But J told him, Then he must have a new 
God: for his God was his belly. Besides him came also that envious 
‘ustice John Sawrey. I told him, “ His heart was rotten, and he was 
‘ full of hypocrisy to the brim.” Several others also came, whose states 
the Lord gave me a discerning of; and I spoke to tneir cozditions. 
While I was in those parts, Richard Farnsworth and James Nayler 
came to see me and the family ; and judge Fell, being satisfied that it 
was the way of truth, notwithstanding all their opposition, suffered the 
meeting to be kept at his house; and a great meeting was settled there ir 


1652) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 12) 


the Lord’s power, which hath continued near forty years, until the ;ear 
1690, that a new meeting-house was erected near it. 

After I had staid awhile, and the meeting there was well settled, ] de- 
parted to Under-barrow, where I had a great meeting. From thence J 
went to Kellet, and had a great meeting at Robert Withers’s, to which 
several came from Lancaster, and some from York; and many were 
convinced. On the market-day I went to Lancaster, and spoke through 
the market in the dreadful power of God; declaring the day of the Lord 
to the peeple, and crying out against all their deceitful merchandize. [ 
preached righteousness and truth unto them, which all should follow 
after, walk and live in; directing them how and where they might find 
and receive the Spirit of God to guide them thereinto. After I had 
cleared myself in the market, I went to my lodging, whither several 
people came; and many were convinced, who stood faithful to the 
truth. 

The first-day following, in the forenoon, I had a great meeting in the 
street at Lancaster, amongst the soldiers and people, to whom I declared 
the word of life, and the everlasting truth.. I opened unto them, That 
all the traditions they had lived in, all their worships and religions, and 
the profession they made of the scriptures, were good for nothing, while 
they lived out of the life and power which those were in who gave forth 
the scriptures. I directed them to the light of Christ, the heavenly man, 
and to the Spirit of God in their own hearts, that they might come to be 
acquainted with God and Christ, receive him for their teacher, and know 
his kingdom set up in them. . 

In the afternoon I went to the steeple-house at Lancaster, and declared 
the truth to the priest and people; laying open before them the deceit 
they lived in, and directing them to the power and Spirit of God which 
they wanted. But they haled me out, and stoned me along the street till 
I came to John Lawson’s house. 

Another first-day I went to a steeple-house by the water-side, where 
one Whitehead was priest; to whom and to the people I declared the 
truth in the dreadful power of God. There came a doctor, so full of 
envy, that he said, “ He could find in his heart to run me through with 
“his rapier, though he was hanged for it the next day ;” yet this man 
came afterwards to be convinced of the truth, so far as to be loving to 
friends. Some were convinced thereabouts, who willingly sate down 
under the ministry of Christ, their teacher; and a meeting was settled 
there in the power of God, which has continued to this day. 

After this I returned into Westmoreland, and spoke through Kendal 
on a market-day. So dreadful was the power of God upon me, that 
people flew like chaff before me into their houses. I warned them of 
the mighty day of the Lord, and exhorted them to hearken to the voice 
of God in their own hearts, who was now come to teach his people him- 
self. When some opposed, many others took my part. At last some 
fell to fighting about me: but I went and spoke to them, and they parted 
again. Several were convinced. 

The first-day after I had a very large meeting in Under-barrow at 
Miles Bateman’s, where I was moved to declare, ‘ That all people in the 
‘fall were gone from the image of God, righteousness, and holiness, and 
‘were become as wells without the water of life, as clouds without the 
‘heavenly rain, as trees without the heavenly fruit; and were degener- 

ated into the nature of beasts, of serpents, of tal cedars, of oaks, of 


122 GEORGE r0X’S JOURNAL [1652 


‘bulls, and of heifers; so that they might read the natures of these 
‘creatures within, as the prophets described them to the people of 
‘old, that were out of truth. I opened to them, how so ae were in the 
‘nature of dogs and swine, biting and rending ; some in the nature of — 
‘briers, thistles, and thorns; some like the owls and dragons in the 
‘night; some like the wild asses and horses, snuffing up the wind; and 
‘some like the mountains and rocks, and crooked and rough ways. 
‘Wherefore I exhorted them to read these things within in their own 
‘natures, as well as without: and that, when they read without of the 
‘ wandering stars, they should look within, and see how they have wan- 
‘dered from the bright and morning star. And they should consider, 
‘that as the fallow ground in their fields must be plowed up before it 
‘would bear seed to them, so must the fallow ground of their hearts be 
‘plowed up before they could bear seed to God. All these names and 
‘things I shewed were spoken of and to man and woman, since they 
‘ fell from the image of God; but as they come to be renewed again into 
‘the image of God, they come out of the natures of these things, and so 
‘out of the names thereof’ Many more such things were declared to 
them, and they were turned to the light of Christ, by which they might 
come to know and receive him, and might witness him to be their sub- 
stance, their way, their salvation and true teacher. Many were con- 
vinced at that time. 

After I had travelled up and down in those countries, having great 
meetings, I came to Swarthmore again; and when I had visited friends 
awhile in those parts, I heard of a great meeting the priests were to 
have at Ulverstone on a lecture-day. I went to it, and into the steeple- 
house in the dread and power of the Lord. When the priest had done, 
I spoke among them the word of the Lord, which was as an hammer, 
and as a fire amongst them. And though Lampitt, the priest of the 
place, had been at variance with most of the priests before, yet against 
the truth they all joined together. But the mighty power of the Lord 
was over all; and so wonderful was the appearance thereof, that priest 
Bennet said, “ The church shook;” insomuch that he was afraid and 
trembled. And after he had spoken a few confused words, he hastened 
out for fear the steeple-house would fall on his head. There were many 
priests got together, but they had no power as yet to persecute. 

When I had cleared my conscience amongst them, I went to Swarth- 
more again. Thither came four or five of the priests. In discourse, I. 
asked them, “ Whether anyone of them could say, he ever had the 
“word of the Lord-to-go and speak to such or such a people?” None 
of them durst- say he had; but one of them burst into a passion, and 
said, “ He could speak-his.experiences as well as I.” I told him expe- 
rience was one thing; but to receive and go with a message, and to 
have a word from the Lord as the prophets and apostles had, and as 
I had had to them, was another thing. And therefore I put it to them 
again; “Could any one of them say, he ever had a command or woid 
“from the Lord immediately at any time?” But none of them could 
say so. Then I told them, The false prophets, false apostles, and anti- 
christs, could use the words of the true prophets, true apostles, and of 
Christ, and would speak of other men’s experiences, though themselves 
never knew nor heard the voice of God and Christ: and such as they 
might get the good words and experiences of others. This puzzl2d them 
much, and laid them open. For at another time, when I was discours 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 123 


ing with several priests at judge Fell’s house, and he was by, I asked 
them the same question, “ Whether any of them ever heard the voice of 
* God or Christ, to bid him to go to such or such a people, to declare 
“his word or message unto them?” for any one, I told them, that could 
but read, might declare the experiences of the prophets and apostles, 
which were recorded in the scriptures. Hereupon Thomas Taylor, an 
ancient priest, did ingenuously confess before Judge Fell, “ That he sad 
“never heard the voice of God, nor of Christ, to send him to any peo- 
“ple; but he spoke his experiences, and the experiences of the saints in 
“former ages, and that he preached.” This very much confirmed judge 
Fell in the persuasion, “ That the priests were wrong ;” for he had 
thought formerly, as the generality of people then did, “ ‘That they were 
“sent from God.” 

Thomas Taylor was convinced at this time, and travelled with me 
into Westmoreland. Coming to Crosland steeple-house, we found the 
people gathered: and the Lord opened Themas Taylor’s mouth (though 
he was convinced but the day before) so that he declared amongst them, 
“ How he had been before he was convinced,” and, like the good scribe 
converted to the kingdom, he brought forth things new and old to the 
people, and shewed them, “how the priests were out of the way :” 
which fretted the priest. Some little discourse I had with them, but they 
fled away ; and a precious meeting there was, wherein the Lord’s power 
was over all, and the people were directed to the Spirit of God, by which 
they might come to know God and Christ, and to understand the Scrip- 
tures aright. After this I passed on, visiting friends, and had very large 
meetings in Westmoreland. 

Now began the priests to rage more and more, and as much as they 
could to stir up persecution. James Nayler and Francis Howgill were 
cast into prison in Appleby gaol, at the instigation of the malicious 
priests ; some of whom prophesied, “ That within a month we should 
“be all scattered again, and come to nothing.” But blessed for ever be 
the worthy name of the. Lord, his work went on and prospered; for 
about this time John Audland, Francis Howgill, John Camm, Edward 
Burrough, Richard Hubberthorn, Miles Hubbersty, and Miles Halhead, 
with several others, being endued with power from on high, came forth 
in the work of the ministry, and approved themselves faithful labourers 
therein; travelling up and down, and preaching the gospel freely ; by 
means whereof multitudes were convinced, and many effectually turned 
to the Lord. Amongst these, Christopher Taylor was one, brother to 
Thomas Taylor before-mentioned, who had been preacher to a people 
as well as his brother; but after they had received the knowledge of the 
truth, they soon came into obedience thereunto, and left their preaching 
for hire or rewards; and having received a part of the ministry of the 
gospel, they preached Christ freely, being often sent by ‘he Lord to de- 
clare his word in steeple-houses and markets, and great sufferers they 
were. 

After I had visited friends in Westmoreland, I returned into Lanca- 
shire, and went to Ulverstone, where Lampitt was priest; who though 
he had preached of a people that should own the teachings of God, and 
had said, “ That men and women should come and declare the gospel ;” 
yet when it came to be fulfilled, he persecuted both it and them. To this 

_priest’s house I went, where abundance of priests and professors were 
got togei‘er after their lecture, with whom I had great disputings con 


124 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1654 


cerning Christ and the scriptures; for they were loth to let their t. ade 
go down, which they made of preaching Christ’s, the apos‘les’, and 
prophets’ words. But the Lord’s power went over the heads of them 
all, and his word of life was held forth amongst them; though many of 
them were exceeding envious and devilish. Yet after this, many priests 
and professors came to me from far and near. ‘Those that were inno- 
cent and simple-minded were satisfied, and went away refreshed ; but 
the fat and full were fed with judgment and sent away empty ; for that 
was the word of the Lord to be divided to them. 

When meetings were set up, and we met in private houses, Lampitt 
began to rage. He said, “ We forsook the temple, and went to Jero- 
“ boam’s calves’ houses.” So many professors began to see how he was 
declined from that which he had formerly held and preached. Here- 
upon the case of Jeroboam’s calves was opened to the professors, 
priests, and people. It was manifested unto them, ‘ That their houses 
‘(called churches) were more like Jeroboam’s calves’ houses, even the 
‘old mass-houses, which were set up in the darkness of popery, which 
‘they who called themselves protestants, and professed to be more en- 
‘lightened than the papists, did still hold up, altho’ God had never com- 
‘manded them; whereas that temple, which God had commanded at 
‘ Jerusalem, Christ came to end the service of; and those that received 
‘and believed in him, their bodies came to be the temples of God, of 
‘Christ, and of the Holy Ghost, to dwell in them, and to walk in them. 
‘And such were gathered into the name of Jesus, whose Name is 
‘above every name, and there is no salvation by any other name under 
‘the whole heaven but by the name of Jesus. And they that were thus 
‘gathered met together in several dwelling-housés, which were not 
‘called the temple nor the church; but their bodies were the temples of 
» ‘God, and the believérs*were the church which Christ was the head of. 
‘So that Christ was not called the head of an old house, which was 
‘made by men’s hands, neither did he come to purchase, sanctify, and 
‘redeem with his blood an old house, which they called their church; 
‘but the people, which he is the head of? Much work I had in those 
days with priests and people, concerning their old mass-houses called 
churches ; for the priests had persuaded the people, that they were the 
houses of God; whereas the apostle says, “ Whose house we are,” &c. 
Heb. iii. 6. The people in whom he dwells are God’s house. The 
apostle saith, “ Christ purchased his church with his own blood ;” and 
Christ calls his church his spouse, his bride, the lamb’s wife: so that this 
title church and spouse was not given to an old house, but to his people 
the true believers. 

On a lecture-day I was moved to go to the steeple-house at Ulver- 
stone, where were abundance of professors, priests, and people. I went 
near to priest Lampitt, who was blustering on in his preaching. After 
the Lora had opened my mouth to speak, John Sawrey the justice came 
to me, and said, “If I would speak according to the scriptures, I should 
“speak.” I admired at him for speaking so to me, and told him, “1 
“would speak according to the scriptures, and bring the scriptures to 
“ prove what I had to say ; for I had something to speak to Lampitt and 
“to them.” Then he said, I should not speak; contradicting himself, 
who had said just before, “I should speak, if I would speak according 
“to the scriptures.” The people were quiet, and heard me gladly, till 
this justice Sawrey (who was the first stirrer up of cruel persecution 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 125 


in the north) incensed them against me, and set them on to hale, beat, 
and bruise me. But now on a sudden the people were in a rage, and 
fell upon me in the steeple-house before his face, knock’d me down, 

_ kick’d me, and trampled upon me. So great was the uproar, that some 
tumbled over their seats for fear. At last he came and took me from 
the people, led me out of the steeple-house, and put me into the hands 
of the constables and other officers; bidding them whip me, and put me 
yout of the town.” They led me about a quarter of a mile, some taking 
hold by my~collar, some by my arms and shoulders, who shook and 
dragged me along. Many friendly people being come to the market, 
and some to the steeple-house to hear me, divers of these they knock’d 
down also, and broke their heads, so that the blood ran down from seve- 
ral; and judge Fell’s son running afier to see what they would do 
with me, they threw him into a ditch of water; some of them crying, 
“ Knock the teeth out of his head.” When they had haled me to the 
common moss side, a multitude following, the constables and other of- 
ficers gave me some blows over my back with their willow rods, and 
thrust me among the rude multitude; who, having furnished themselves 
with staves, hedge-stakes, holm or holly bushes, fell upon me, and beat 
me on my head, arms, and shoulders, till they had deprived me of 
sense; so that I fell down upon the wet common. When I recovered 
again, and saw myself lying in a watery common, and the people 
standing about me, I lay still a little while, and the power of the 
Lord sprang through me, and the eternal refreshings revived me; so 
that I stood up again in the strengthening power of the eternal God, 
and stretching out my arms amongst them, I said, with a loud voice. 
‘Strike again; here are my arms, my head, and my cheeks.” There 
was in the company a mason, a professor, but a rude fellow, who with. 
his walking rule-staff gave me a blow with all his might just over the 
back of my hand, as it was stretched out; with which blow my hand 
was so bruised, and my arm so benumbed, that I could not draw it to 
me again; so that some of the people cried, “ He hath spoiled his hand 
“for ever having the use of it any more.” But I looked at it in the 
love of God (for I was in the love of God to all that persecuted me) 
and after awhile the Lord’s power sprang through me again, and 
through my hand and arm, so that in a moment I recovered strength in 
my hand and arm in the sight of them all. Then they began to fall out 
among themselves: some of them came to me, and said, If I would 
give them money, they would secure me from the rest. But I was 
moved of the Lord to declare the word of life, and shewed them their 
false christianity, and the fruits of their priest’s ministry; telling them, 
They were more like heathens and Jews, than true christians. Then 
was I moved of the Lord to come up again through the midst of the 
people, and go into Ulverstone market. As I went, there met me a sol- 
dier, with his sword by his side; “Sir,” said he to me, “ I see you are a 
“man, and I am ashamed and grieved that you should be thus abused ;” 
and offered to assist me in what he could. I told him, The Lord’s power 
was over all, and I walked through the people in the market, none of 
whom had power to touch me then. But some of the market people 
abusing some friends in the market, I turned about, and saw this soldier 
among them with his naked rapier; whereupon I ran, and, catching 
hold of the hand his rapier _was-in, bid him put up his sword again, if 
he would go along with me: for I was willing to draw him out frorn ‘he 


126 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 11652 


company lest some mischief should be done. A few day + after, seven 
men fell upon this soldier, and beat him cruelly, because he had taken 
part with friends and me. It was the manner of the persecutors of that 
country for twenty or forty people to run upon one man. ‘They fell so 
upon friends in many places, that they could hardly pass the highways. 
stoning, beating, and breaking their heads. When I came to Swarth- 
more, [ found the friends there dressing the heads and hands of friends 
and friendly people, which had been broken or hurt that day by the pro- 
fessors and hearers of Lampitt. My body and arms were yellow, black 
and blue, with the bruises I received amongst them. Now began the 
priests to prophesy again, That within half a year we should be all put 
down and gone. 

About two weeks after this, I went into Walney island, and James 
Nayler with me. We staid one night at.a little town on this side, called 
Cockan, and had a meeting there, where one was convinced. After 
awhile came a man with a pistol; whereupon the people ran out of 
doors. He called for me; and when I came to him, he snapped his pis- 
tol at me; butit_would not go-oft. This caused the people to make a 
great bustle about him; and some of them took hold of him, to prevent 
his doing mischief. But 1 was moved in the Lord’s power to speak to 
him; and he was so struck by divine power, that he trembled for fear, 
and went and hid himself. Thus the Lord’s power came over them all, 
though there was a great rage in the country. 

Next morning I went in a boat to James Lancaster’s. As soon as I 
came to land, there rushed out about forty men, with staves, clubs, and 
fishing-poles ; who fell upon me, beating, punching me, and endeavour- 
ing to thrust me backward into the sea. When they had thrust me al- 
most into the sea, and I saw they would have knocked me down in it, 
I went up into the middle of them; but they laid at me again, knocked 
me down, and stunned me. When I came to myseif, I looked up and 
saw James Lancaster’s wife throwing stones at my face, and her hus- 
band lying over me, to keep the blows and stones from me. For the 
people had persuaded James’s wife that I had bewitched her husband ; 
and had promised her, That if she would let them know when I came 
thither, they would be my death; and having got knowledge of my 
coming, many of the town rose up in this manner with clubs and staves 
to kill me; but the Lord’s power preserved me, that they could not take 
away my life. At length I got upon my feet, but they beat me down 
again into the boat; which James Lancaster observing, he presently 
came into the boat to me, and set me over the water from them; but 
while we were on the water, within their reach, they struck at us with 
.ong poles, and threw stones after us. By that time we were come to 
the other side, we saw them beating James Nayler: for whilst they 
had been beating me, he walked into a field, and they never minded him 
till I was gone; then they fell upon him, and all their ery was, “ Kill 
“ him, kill him.” 

When I was come over to the town again, on the other side of the 
water, the townsmen rose up with pitchforks, flails, and staves, to keep 
me out of the town, crying, “ Kill him, knock him on the head; bring 
“the cart, and carry him away to the church-yard.” So after they had 
abused me, they drove me a pretty way out of the town, and there left 
me. Then went James Lancaster again, to look after James Nayler ; 
and I being now left alone, went to a ditch; and having washed myself, 


oe 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 127 


walked about three miles to Thomas Hutton’s, where lodged Thomas 
Lawson, the priest that was convinced. When I came in, I could hardly 
speak to them, I was so bruised; only I told them where I left James 
Nayler. Whereupon they took each of them a horse, and went and 
brought him thither that night. The next day Margaret Fell hearing of 
it, sent an horse for me; but so sore I was with bruises, that I was not 
able to bear the shaking of the horse without much pain. When I was 
come to Swarthmore, justice Sawrey and justice Thompson of Lancas- 


‘ter granted a warrant against me; but judge Fell coming home, it was 


not served upon me: for he was out of the country all this time that | 
was thus cruelly abused. When he came home, he sent warrants into 
the isle of Walney, to apprehend all those riotous persons; whereupon 
some of them fled the country. James Lancaster’s wife was afterwards 
convinced of the truth, and repented of the evil she had done me; and 
so did some others of those bitter persecutors also; but the judgments 
of God fell upon some, and destruction is come upon many of them 
since. Judge Fell desired me to give him a relation of my persecution ; 
but I told him, They could do no otherwise in the spirit wherein they 
were ; and that they manifested the fruits of their priest’s ministry, and 
their profession and religion to be wrong. So he told his wife I made 
nothing of it; and that I spake of it as a man that had not been con- 
cerned: for indeed the Lord’s power healed me again. 

After I was recovered, I went to Yelland, where was a great meet- 
ing. In the evening came a priest to the house, with a pistol in his 
hand, under pretence to light a pipe of tobacco. The maid of the house 
seeing the pistol, told her master: who thereupon, clapping his hands on 
peth the door-posts, told him, He should not come in there. While he 
stood there, keeping the door way, he looked up, and spied over the 
wall a company of men coming, some armed with staves, and one with 


yamusket. But the Lord prevented their bloody design; so that seeing 
t themselves discovered, they went their way, and did no harm. 


The time for the sessions at Lancaster being come, I went thither 
with judge Fell; who on the way told me, He never had such a matter 
brought before him, and could not well tell what to do in the business. | 
answered, when Paul was brought before the rulers, and the Jews and 
pests came down to accuse him, and laid many false things to his 
cLarge, Paul stood still all that while. When they had done, Festus the 
gevernor and King Agrippa beckoned to him to speak for himself ; 
which Paul dia, and cleared himself of all those accusations: so he might 
do by me. Being come to Lancaster, and justice Sawrey and justice 
Thompson having granted a warrant to apprehend me, though I was 
not apprehended by it, yet hearing of it, | appeared at the sessions ; 
where there appeared against me about forty priests. These had chosen 
one Marshal, a priest of Lancaster, to be their orator; and had provided 
one young priest and two priests’ sons to bear witness against me, who 
had sworn beforehand that I had spoken blasphemy. When the justices 
were set, they heard all that the priests and their witnesses could say 
and charge against me; their orator Marshal sitting by, and explaining 
their sayings for them; but the witnesses were so confounded, that they 
discovered themselves to be false witnesses. For when the court had 
examined one of them upon oath, and then began to examine another of 
them, he was at such a loss, he could not answer directly; but said. 
The other could say it. Which made the justices say to him, “ Have 


128 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1652 


‘you sworn it, and given it in already upon oath, and now say, that he 
“can say it? It seems, you did not hear those words spoken yourself, 
“ though you have sworn it!” 

There were then in court several who had been at that meeting, 
wherein the witnesses swore I spoke those blasphemous words which 
the priests accused me of; and these, being men of integrity and repu- 
tation in the country, did declare and affirm in court, That the oath, 
which the witnesses had taken against me, was altogether false: and 
that no such words as they had sworn against me were spoken by me 
at that meeting. Indeed, most of the serious men of that side of the 
country, then at the sessions, had been at that meeting, and had heard 
me both at that and other meetings also. ‘This was taken notice of by 
colonel West, who being a justice of the peace, was then upon the bench ; 
and having long been weak in body, blessed the Lord, and said, The 
Lord had healed him that day; adding, That he never saw so many 
sober people and good faces together in all his life. Then turning him- 
self to me, he said in the open sessions, “ George, if thou hast any thing 
“to say to the people, thou mayest freely declare it.” I was moved of 
the Lord to speak: and as soon as I began, priest Marshal, the orator 
for the rest of the priests, went his way. ‘That which I was moved to 
declare, was this: “ That the holy scriptures were given forth by the 
“ Spirit of God; and all people must first come to the Spirit of God in 
“ themselves, by which they might know God and Christ, of whom the 
“prophets and apostles learnt: and by the same Spirit know the holy 
“scriptures; for as the Spirit of God was in them that gave forth the 
“scriptures, so the same Spirit must be in all them that come to under- 
“stand the scriptures. By which Spirit they might have fellowship with 
“the Father, with the Son, with the scriptures, and with one another: 
“and without this Spirit they can know neither God, Christ, nor the 
“ scriptures, nor have a right fellowship one with another.” I had no 
sooner spoken these words, but about half a dozen priests, that stood 
behind me, burst into a passion. One of them, whose name was Jackus, | 
amongst other things that he spake against the truth, said, That the 
Spirit and the letter were inseparable. I replied, “ Then every one that 
“hath the letter, hath the Spirit; and they might buy the Spirit with the” 
“etter of the scriptures.” This plain discovery of darkness in the priest 
moved judge Fell and colonel West to reprove them openly, and tell — 
them, That according to that position, they might carry the Spirit in~ 
their pockets as they did the scriptures. Upon this, the priests, being 
confounded and put to silence, rushed out in a rage against the justices, — 
because they could not have their bloody ends upon me. The justices, 
seeing the witnesses did not agree, and perceiving they were brought to 
answer the priests’ envy, and finding that all their evidences were not 
sufficient in Jaw to make good their charge against me, discharged me. 
And after judge Fell had spoken to Justice Sawrey and justice Thomp- 
son concerning the warrant they had given forth against me, and shew- 
ing them the errors thereof, he and colonel West granted a supersedeas 
to stop the execution of it. Thus I was cleared in open sessions of those 
lying accusations which the malicious priests had laid to my charge: 
and multitudes of people praised God that day, for it was a joyful day to 
many. Justice Benson of Westmoreland was convinced; and major 
Ripan, mayor of the town of Lancaster, also. It was a day of everlast- 
ing salvation to hundreds of people: for the Lord Jesus Christ. the wav 


3652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 129 


to the Father, the free Teacher, was exalted and set up; his everlasting 
gospel was preached, and the word of eternal life was declared over tiie 
heads of the priests, and all such lucrative preachers. For the Lord 
opened many mouths that day to speak his word to the priests, and sev 
eral friendly people and professors reproved them in their inns, and ir. 
the streets, so that they fell, like an old rotten house: and the cry was 
among the people, That the Quakers had got the day. and the priests 
were fallen. Many were convinced that day, amongst whom Thomas 
Briggs was one, who before had been so averse to friends and truth, that 
discoursing with John Lawson, a friend, concerning perfection, Thomas 
said to him, “ Dost thou hold perfection?” and lift up his hand, to have 
given the friend a box on the ear. But Thomas, being convinced of the 
truth that day, declared against his own priest Jackus; and afterwards 
became a faithful minister of the gospel, and stood so to the end of his 
days. 

When the sessions were over, James Nayler, who was present, gave 
a brief account of the proceedings thereof in a letter, which soon after 
he wrote to friends, and is here added for the reader’s further satisfac 
tion : 


‘Dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ, my dear love 
‘unto you all, desiring you may be kept steadfast in the Lord Jesus 
‘Christ, and in the power of his love, boldly to witness forth the truth, as 
‘it is revealed in you by the mighty working of the Father: to him alone 
‘be everlasting praise and honour for evermore! Dear friends, the 
‘Lord doth much manifest his love and power in these parts. The 
‘second day of the last week my brother George and I were at Lancas- 
‘ter. There were abundance of friends from all parts; and a great 
‘many who sided with the priests, giving out, They now hoped to see 
‘a stop put to that great work which had gone on so fast, and with such 
‘power, that their kingdom is much shaken. We were called before 
‘judge Fell, colonel West, justice Sawrey, &c. to answer what was 
‘charged against George. There were three witnesses to eight particu- 
‘lars, but they were much confused in themselves; which gave much 
‘light to the truth: whereby the justices did plainly see that it was envy ; 
‘and they divers times told them so. One of the witnesses was a young 
‘ priest, who confessed, He had not meddled, had not another priest sent 
‘for him, and set him on work. The other witnesses were two priests’ 
‘sons. It was proved there by many, that heard one of them say, If he 
‘had power, he would make George deny his profession, and that he 
‘would take away his life. This was a single witness to one of the 
‘greatest untruths charged against George. The justices told him, 
‘They saw, because he could not take away his life, he went about 
‘to take away his liberty. There was one priest chosen out of the 
‘whole number, as an orator, -o plead against us; who spared no 
‘pains to shew his envy against the truth. and when he could not 
‘prevail, he went down in a rage; and there came a number of them 
‘into the room, among whom was one Jackus. George was then 
‘speaking in the room (one of the judges having wished, if he had 
‘any thing to say, that he would speak:) at which priest Jackus was in 


such a rage, that he brake forth into many high expressions against the 


‘truth spoken by my dear brother George; amongst which this was one, 
That the letter and the Spirit were inseparable. Hereupon the justices 
. v 


130 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1655 


‘stood up, and bid him prove that, before he went any further. Then 
‘he seeing himself caught, would have denied it; and when he could not 
‘ get off so, the rest of the priests would have helped him to a meaning 
‘for his words: but the justices would admit no othe: meaning than the 
‘plain sense of the words, and told him, He had laia down a position 
‘and it was fit he should prove it; pressing the matter close upon him. 
‘Whereupon the priests, being put to silence, went down in a greater 
rage than before; and some of them, after they were gone down, be- 
*ing asked what they had done, lied, and said, They could not get 
‘into the room; thereby to hide their shame, and keep the people in 
‘blindness. The justices, judge Fell, and colonel West, were much con- 
vinced of the truth, and did set up justice and equity; and have much 
‘silenced the rage of the people. Many bitter spirits were at Lancaster, 
‘to see the event; but went home, and cried, The priests had lost the 
‘day. Everlasting praises be to him who fought the battle for us, who 


‘is our King for ever! There were others called, who the witnesses — 


‘confessed were in the room when the things charged on George were 
‘said to have been spoken; but they all, as one man, denied that any 
‘such words were spoken: which gave much light to the justices, and 
‘they durst rely on what they witnessed; for they said, they knew many 


‘of them to be honest men. There was a warrant granted against us 
‘at Appleby; but justice Benson told them it was not according to law; — 


‘and so it ceased. I hear he is a faithful man to the truth. The priests 
‘began to preach against the justices, and said, They were not to med- 
‘dle in these things, but to end controversy betwixt neighbour and neigh 
‘bour. They are not pleased with the law, because it is not in the stat- 
‘ute to imprison us, as the priest that pleaded against us said. The jus- 
‘tices bid him go put it into the statute, if he could; he said, It should 
‘want no will of his. They are much afraid that they shall lose all. 
‘They are much discontented in these parts; and some of them cry, 
« All is gone.” Dear friends, dwell in patience, and wait upon the Lord, 


‘who will do his own work. Look not at man, in the work; nor at man, — 


‘who opposeth the work: but rest in the will of the Lord, that so ye — 


‘may be furnished with patience both to do and to suffer what ye shall 
“be called unto; that your end in all things may be his praise. Take up 


‘his cross freely, which keeps low the fleshly man; that Christ may be — 


‘set up and honoured in all things, the light advanced in you, and the 
‘judgment set up, which must give sentence against all that opposeth the 
‘truth; that the captivity may be led captive, and the prisoner set free 
‘to seek the Lord; that righteousness may rule in-you, and peace and 
‘joy may dwell in you, wherein consisteth the kingdom of the Father ; 
‘to whom be all praise for ever! Dear friends, meet often together ; 
‘take heed of what exalteth itself above its brother ; keep low, and serve 
‘one another in love for the Lord’s sake. Let all friends know how it 
‘is with us, that God may have the praise of all.’ 
* Written from Kellet, the 30th day J. N. 
‘of the 8th month, 1652.’ 


At this time I was in a fast, and was not to eat until this work of God, 
which then lay weighty upon me, was accomplished. But the Lord’s 
power was wonderfully exalted, and he gave truth and friends dominion 
therein over all. His glory was freely preached that day, over the heads 
of about forty hireling priests. I staid two or three days afterwards in 


: 
. 


: 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 13) 


Lancaster, and had some meetings there. The rude and baser sort of 
people plotted together to have drawn me out of the house, and to have 
‘thrown me over Lancaster bridge, but the Lord prevented them. Then 
they invented another mischief, which was this: After a meeting at Lan- 
caster, they brought down a distracted man, and another with him, 
having bundles of birchen rods, bound together like besoms, with which 
they should have whipped me; but I was moved to speak to them in the 
Lord’s mighty power, which chained down the distracted man, and the 
other also; and made them calm and quiet. Then I bid him throw his 
rods into the fire, and burn them: which he did. Thus the Lord’s power 
being over them, they departed quietly. 

The priests, fretting to see themselves overthrown at the sessions at 
Lancaster, got some of the envious justices to join with them; and at 
the following assize at Lancaster informed judge Windham against me. 
Whereupon ihe judge made a speech against me in open court: and 
commanded colonel West, who was clerk of the assize, to issue a war- 
rant for the apprehending of me; but colonel West told the judge of my 
innocence, and spoke boldly in my defence.. Yet the judge commanded 
him again, either to write a warrant, or go from his seat. Then he told 
the judge plainly, that he would not doit;-but that he would offer up all 
his estate, and his body also for me. Thus he stopped the judge, and the 
Lord’s power came over all; so that the priests and justices could not 
get their envy executed. The same night I came into Lancaster, it 
being the assize-time: and hearing of a warrant to be given out against 
me, I judged it better to shew myself openly, than for my adversaries to 
seek me. So I went to judge Fell’s and colonel West’s chambers. As 
soon as | came in, they smiled on me: and colonel West said, “ What! 
“are you come into the dragon’s mouth?” I staid till the judge went out 
of town; and | walked up and down the town, but no one meddled with 
me, nor questioned me. Thus the Lord’s blessed power, which is over 
all, carried me through and over this exercise, gave dominion over his 
enemies, and enabled me to go on in his glorious work and service for 
his great name’s sake. For though the beast maketh war against the 
saints, yet the Lamb hath got and will get the victory. 

From Lancaster | returned to Robert Withers’s. From thence I went 
to Thomas Leper’s, and a very blessed meeting we had there; after 
which, I walked in the evening to Robert Withers’s again. No sooner 
was I gone. but there came a company of disguised men to Thomas 

'Leper’s, with swords and pistols; who suddenly entering the house, put 
out the candles, and swung their swords about amongst the people of the 
house, so that they were fain to hold up the chairs before them, to save 
themselves from being cut and wounded. At length they drove all the 
people out, and then searched the house for me, who it seems was the 
only person they looked for. They had laid wait before in the highway, 
by whica I sl ould have gone if I had rid to Robert Withers’s, and not 
meeting with me on the way, they thought to have found me in the house, 
but the Lord prevented them. Soon after | came to Robert Withers’s, 
some friends from the town where Thomas Leper lived gave us a rela- 
tion of this wicked attempt; and were afraid lest they should come and 
search Robert Withers’s house also fur me, and do me a mischief: but 
the Lord restrained them, that they came not. These men were in dis- 
guise, yet friends perceived some of them were Frenchmen, and sup- 
p sed them to be servants belonging to one called Sir Robert Bindlas 


132 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 11652 


for some of them had said, in their nation they used to tie the pretestants 
to trees, and whip and destroy them. His servants often abused friends, 
both in, and going to and from their meetings. They once took Richard 
Hubberthorn and several others out of the meeting, carried them a long 
way into the fields, bound them, and left them in the winter season. 
Another time one of his servants came to Francis Fleming’s, and thrust 
his naked rapier in at the door and windows; but a kinsman of Francis 
Fleming’s, not a friend, came with a cudgel, and bid the servant man 
put up his rapier; which when he would not, but vapoured at him with 
it, and was rude, he knocked him down, took his rapier from him, and, 
had it not been for friends, would have run him through with it. So 
friends preserved his life, that would have destroyed theirs. 

From Robert Withers’s I went to visit justice West, Richard Hubber- 
thorn accompanying me. Not knowing the way, nor the danger of the 
sands, we rode where, we were afterwards told, no man ever rode he- 
fore, swimming our horses over a very dangerous place. When we 
were come in, justice West asked us, If we did not see two men riding 
over the sands? “I shall have their clothes anon,” said he, “for they 
“cannot escape drowning; and I am the coroner.” But when we told 
him we were the men, he was astonished, and wondered how we escaped 
drowning. Upon this_the.envious priests and professors raised a slan- 
derous report, That neither water could drown me, nor could they draw 
blood of me; and therefore J was a witch: indeed, sometimes when 
they beat me with great staves, they did not iano draw my blood, 
though they bruised my body very sorely. But all these slanders were 
nothing to me with respect to myself; though I was concerned on the 
truth’s behalf, which I saw they endeavoured by these means to preju- 
dice people against; for I considered that their forefathers, the apostate 
Jews, called the master of the house Beelzebub; and these apostate 
christians from the life and power of God could do no less to his seed. 
But the Lord’s power carried me over their slanderous tongues, and 
their bloody murderous spirits; who had the ground of witchcraft in 
themselves, which kept them from coming to God and to Christ. 

Having visited justice West, I went to Swarthmore, visiting friends, 
and the Lord’s power was over all the persecutors there. I was moved 
to write letters to the magistra‘es, priests, and professors thereabouts. 
who had raised persecuu .. -vre. That to justice Sawrey was after 
this manner: 

‘Friend, 

‘Txou wast the first beginner of all the persecution in the north. 
‘Thou wast the beginner and maker of the people tumultuous. ‘Thou 
“wast the first stirrer of them up against the righteous seed, and against 
‘the truth of God; the first strengthener of the hands of evil-doers 

against the innocent and harmless: and thou shalt not prosper. Thou 
‘ wast the first stirrer up of strikers, stoners, persecutors, stockers, 
‘mockers, and imprisoners in the north, and of revilers, slanderers, 
‘railers, and false accusers. This was thy work; this thou stirredst up. 
‘S» thy fruits declare thy spirit. Instead of stirring up the pure mind in 


Se ee eee eee eee 


people, thou hast stirred up the wicked, malicious, and envious; and | 


taken hand with the wicked. Thou hast made the people’s minds envi- 


ous up and down the country: this was thy work. But God hath short- — 


ened thy days, limited and set thy bounds, broken thy jaws, discovered 
thy rel'zion to the simple and babes, and brought thy deeds to light. 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 133 


How is thy habitation fallen, and become the habitation of devils! How 
is thy beauty lost, and thy glory withered! How hast thou shewed thy 
evil, that thou hast served God but with thy lips, and thy heart far from 
*him, and thou in the hypocrisy! How hath the form of thy teaching 
‘ discovered itself to be the mark of the false prophets, whose fruit de- 
‘clares itself! for by their fruits they are known. How are the wise 
‘men turned backward! View thy ways! take notice with whom thou 
‘hast taken part. ‘That of God in thy conscience will tell thee. The 
* Ancient of days will reprove thee. How hath thy zeal appeared to be 
‘the blind zeal of a persecutor which Christ and his apostles forbad 
‘Christians to follow! How hast thou strengthened the hands of evil- 
‘ doers, and been a praise to them, and not to those that do well! How 
‘like a madman and a blind man didst thou turn thy sword backward 
‘against the saints, against whom there is no law! How wilt thou be 
‘gnawed and burned one day, when thou shalt feel the flame, and have 
‘the plagues of God poured upon thee, and thou begin to gnaw thy 
‘tongue for pain, because of the plagues! Thou shalt have thy reward 
‘according to thy works. Thou canst not escape; the Lord’s righteous 
judgment will find thee out, and the witness of God in thy conscience 
shall answer it. How hast thou caused the heathen to blaspheme, gone 
with the multitude to do evil, and joined hand in hand with the wicked! 
How is thy latter end worse than thy beginning, who art come with 
the dog to bite, and art turned as a wolf to devour the Lambs! How 
nast thou discovered thyself to be a man more fit to be kept in a place 
to be nurtured, than to be a set in a place to nurture! How wast thou 
exalted and puffed up with pride! And now art thou fallen down with 
shame, that thou comest to be covered with that which thou stirredst 
up and broughtest forth. Let not John Sawrey take the words of God 
‘ nto his mouth till he be reformed: let him not take his name into his 
mouth, till he depart from iniquity. Let not him and his teacher make 
‘a profession of the saints’ words, except they intend to proclaim them- 
selves hypocrites, whose lives are so contrary to the lives of the saints; 
whose church hath made itself manifest to be a cage of unclean birds. 
* You having a form of godliness, but not the power, have made them 
that are in the power your derision, your by-word, and your talk at 
your feasts. Thy ill savour, John Sawrey, the country about have 
smelled, and of thy unchristian carriage all that fear God have been 
ashame:!; and to them thou hast been a grief: in the day of account 
‘thou shalt know“it, even in the day of thy condemnation. Thou wast 
‘mounted up and hadst set thy nest on high, but never got higher than 
*the fowls of the air. Now thou art run among the beasts of prey, and 
‘art fallen into the earth; so that earthliness and covetousness have 
‘swallowed thee up. Thy conceitedness would not carry thee through, 
‘in whom was found the selfish principle which hath blinded thine eye. 
‘Thy back must be bowed down always; for thy table is already be- 


come thy snare. G. FY 
This justice Sawrey, who was the first persecutor in that country, 
was afterwards drowned. . 


J wrote also to William Lampitt, the priest of Ulverstone, thus: 
‘Tue word of the Lord to thee,O Lampitt! A deceiver, surfeited and 
drunk with the earthly spirit, rambling up and down in the scriptures, 
‘and olending thy spirit amongst the saints’ conditions; who hadst a 


Ey ~ GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (lesa 


prophecy, as thy father Balaam had, but art erred fri m it, as thy father 
‘did. One whose fruit hath withered (of which I am a witness) and 
‘many who have known thy fruit have seen the end of it, that it is with- 
ered; and do see where thou art, in the blind world, a blind leader of 
the blind; as a beast wallowing and tumbling in the earth, and in the 
‘lust; one that is erred from the Spirit of the Lord, of old ordained to 


‘condemnation. Thou art in the seat of the Pharisees, art called of men — 


master, standest praying in the synagogues, and hast the chief seat in 
the assemblies; a right hypocrite in the steps of the Pharisees, and in 
‘the way of thy fathers, the hypocrites, which our Lord Jesus Christ 
cried wo against. Such with the light thou art seen to be, and by the 


‘light art comprehended ; which is thy condemnation who hatest it, and — 


‘ will be so eternally except thou repent. To thee this is the word of 
‘God; for in Christ’s way thou art not, but in that of the Pharisees, as 
‘thou mayest read, Matt. xxiii. All that own Christ’s words may see 
‘thee there. Christ, who died at Jerusalem, cried wo against such as 

thou art; and Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. The 


‘wo remains upon thee, and from under it thou canst never come, but — 
‘through judgment, condemnation, and true repentance. To thee this is — 
‘the word of God. To that of God in thy conscience I speak, which ~ 


‘ will witness the truth of what I write, and will condemn thee. When 
‘thou art in thy torment (though now thou swellest in thy vanity, and 
‘livest in wickedness) remember thou wast warned in thy life-time. 
‘When the eternal condemnation is stretched over thee, thou shalt wit- 


‘ness this to be the word of the Lord God unto thee, and if ever thine — 
eye should see repentance, thou wilt witness me to have been a friend 


‘of thy soul. G. FY 


_ Having thus cleared my conscience to the justice and the priest of 
Ulverstone, it was upon me to send this warning in writing to the people 
of Ulverstone in general. : 


‘ ConsipEr, O people! who are within the parish of Ulverstone, I was 
‘moved of the Lord to come into your publick places to speak among 
‘you, being sent of God to direct your minds to him, that you might 
‘know where to find your teacher; that your minds might be stayed 
‘alone upon God, and you might not gad abroad without you for a 
‘teacher; for the Lord alone will teach his people; he is coming to 
‘teach them, and to gather his people from idols’ temples, and from the 
‘customary worships which all the world is trained up in. God hath 
‘ given to every one of you a measure of his Spirit according to your 
‘ capacity ; liars, drunkards, whoremongers, and thieves, and who follow 


“filthy pleasures, you all have this-measure in you. This is the measure © 


of the Spirit of God that shews you sin, evil, and deceit; which lets 
‘you see lying is sin; theft, drunkenness, and uncleanness, to be the 
‘works of darkness. Therefore mind your measure (for nothing that is 
‘unclean shall enter into the kingdom of God) and prize your time while 
you have it, lest the time come that you will say, with sorrow, we had 
‘time, but it is past. Oh! why will ye die! Why will ye choose your 
‘own ways! Why will ye follow the course of the world! Why will ye 
‘ follow envy, malice, drunkenness, and foolish pleasures! Know ye not 
in vour consciences, that all these are evil and sin? and that such as 
act these things shall never enter into the kingdom of God? Oh! that 


ve would consider and see how you have spent your time, and mind 


ae Se ee 


1652) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 135 


‘how ye spend your time, and observe whom ye serve; for the wages 
‘of sin is death. Do not ye know, that whatsoever is more than yea 
and nay cometh of evil? Oh! ye drunkards, who live in drunkenness, 
‘do ye think re,-the-judgment of God? Though ye swell 
‘in venom, and live in lust for awhile, yet God will find you out, and 
‘bring you to judgment. Therefore love the light which Christ hath 
‘enlightened you withal, who saith, I am the light of the world, and who 
‘enlightens every one-that cometh into the world. One loves the light, 
‘and brings his'works to the light, and there is no occasion at all of 

‘ stumbling : the other hates the light, because his deeds are evil, and the 
‘light will reprove him. Thou that hatest this light, thou hast it. Thou 

‘ knowest, lying is evil, drunkenness is evil, swearing is evil, whoredom, 

‘ theft, all ungodliness, and unrighteousness, are evil. Christ Jesus hath 

‘ given thee light enough to let thee see these are evil. This light, if thou 
lovest it, will teach thee holiness and righteousness, without which none 
shall see God; but if thou hatest this light, it is thy condemnation. 
Thus are Christ’s words found to be true, and fulfilled among you. You 
that hate this light set up hirelings and idols’ temples, and such priests 
‘as bear rule by their means; such shepherds as hold up such things, 
‘such as are called of men masters and have the chiefest place in the 
‘assemblies, whom Christ cried wo against, Matt. xxiii. such as go in the 
‘way of Cain, in envy, and after the error of Balaam for wages, gifts, 
‘and rewards, these have been vour teachers, and these you have held 
‘up. But those who love the light are taught of God, and the Lord is 

*‘ coming to teach his people himself, and to gather his from the hirelings, 
‘from such as seek for their gain from their quarter, and from such as 
‘bear rule by their means. The Lord is opening the eyes of people, 
‘that they shall see such as bear rule over them. But all, whose eyes 
‘are shut, are such as the prophet spoke of “ That have eyes, and see 
“not; but are fuolish, upholding such things.” Therefore, poor people, 
‘as ye love your own souls, consider the love of God to your souls while 

‘ ye have time, and do not turn the grace of God into wantonness. That 
‘which shews you ungodliness and worldly lusts should and would be 

* your teacher, if you would hearken to it; for the saints of old witnessed 
‘the grace of God to be their teacher, which taught them to live soberly 
‘and godly in this present world. You that are not sober, this grace of 
‘God hath appeared unto you; but you turn it into wantonness, and set 
‘up teachers without you, who are not sober, not holy, not godly. Here 
‘you are left without excuse, when the righteous judgment of God shall 

‘ be revealed upon all who live ungodlily. Therefore to the light in you 
‘I speak; and when the book of conscience shall come to be opened, 

_ * then shall you witness what I say to be true, and you all shall be judged 
_ ‘out of it. God Almighty direct your minds (such of you especially as 
_ ‘love honesty and sincerity) that you may receive mercy in the time of 
_ need. Your teacher is within you; look not forth: it will teach you 
_ ‘both lying in bed, and going abroad, to shun all occasion of sin and evil. 


Git? 


As the foregoing was directed to all the inhabitants of Ulverstone in 
general, so it was upon me to write to those more particularly that most 
constantly followed W. Lampitt. To these I wrote after this manner: 


‘ Tue word of the Lord God to all the people that follow priest Lam 
‘ pitt, who is a blind guide. Ye are such as are turned from the light of 


136 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1552 


Christ within, which he hath enlightened you withal: ye are such as 
follow that which Christ cried wo against, that go not in Christ’s way. 
but in the Pharisees’ way, as ye may read, Matt. xxiii. which our Lord 
‘cried wo against. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; bu* 
‘him yz own not while ye follow such as he cried wo against, thongh ye 
‘make a profession, and Lampitt, your priest, makes a trade of Christ’s 
‘and the saints’ words, as his fathers, the Pharisees, made a profession 
‘of the prophets’ and of Moses’s words. Wo was unto them who had 
not the life, so wo is unto you who have not the life that gave forth the 
‘scriptures, as your fruits have made manifest. For when the Lerd 
‘moved some to come amongst you, to preach the truth freely, you 
‘knock’d them down, beat, punched, and haled them out of your assem- 
‘blies. Such a people serves thee, O Lampitt, to make a prey upon, and 
‘these are thy fruits. Oh! let shame, shame strike thee and you all in 
‘the faces, who make a profession of Christ’s words, yet are stoners, 
‘strikers, mockers, and scoffers. Let all see, if this be not a cage of un- 
‘clean birds, which they who had the life of the scriptures spoke of. 
‘Such a company of people thou deceivest, feedest them with thy fan- 
‘cies, makest a trade of the scriptures, and takest them for thy cloak. 
‘ But thou art manifest to all the children of light, for that cloak will not 
‘cover thee, thy skirts are seen and thy nakedness appears. The Lord 
‘made one to go naked among you, a figure of thy nakedness, and of 
‘your nakedness, and as a sign amongst you, before your destruction 
‘cometh; that you might see you were naked and not covered with the 
‘truth. To the light in all your consciences I speak, which Christ Jesus 
‘doth enlighten you withal. It will shew you the time you have spent, 
‘and all the evil you have done in that time, who follow such a teacher, 
‘that acts contrary to this light, and leads you into the ditch. When 
‘you are in the ditch together, both teacher and people, remember ye 
‘were warned in your life-time. If ever your eye come to see repent- 
‘ance, and you obey the light of Jesus Christ in you, you will witness 
‘me to have been a friend of your souls, and that I have sought your 
‘eternal good, and written this in dear love to you. Then will you own 
*‘ your condemnation; which you must all own before you can come into 
‘that blessed life, of which there is no end. But ye, who hate the light, 
‘because your deeds are evil, this light is your condemnation. Oh! that 
‘ye would love this light and hearken to it! It would teach you, as you 
‘walk up and down about your occasions, and as you lie upon your 
‘beds, and would never let you speak a vain word. In loving it, you 
‘love Christ; in hating it, you bring the condemnation thereof upon 
‘yourselves. To you this is the word of God, from under which you 
‘can never pass, nor ever escape the terror of the Lord in the state you 
‘are in, who hate the light. GARE 


Amongst the chief hearers and followers of priest Lampitt, was Adam 
Sands, a very wicked, false man, who would have destroyed the truth 
and its followers, if he could. To him I was moved to write on this 
wise: 

‘ Adam Sands, 

‘To the light in thy conscience I appeal, thou child of the devil, thou 

‘enemy of righteousness; the Lord will strike thee down, though now 
for awhile in thy wickedness thou may’st reign. The plagues of God 
are due to thee, who hardenest thyself in wickedness aga nst the pure 


1652] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 13° 


‘truth of GoJ. With the pure truth of God, which thu hast resistec 
‘and persecuted, thou art to be threshed down, which is eternal, anc 
‘doth comprehend thee. With the light which thou despisest thou art 
‘seen, and it is thy condemnation. Thou as one brutish, thy wife as an 
‘hypocrite, and both as murderers of the just, in that which is eternal 
‘are seen and comprehended ; and your hearts searched, tried, and con- 
‘demned by the light. The light in thy conscience will witness the truth 
‘of what I write to thee, and will let thee see that thou art not born of 
‘God, but art out of the truth, in the beastly nature. If ever thy eye see re- 
* pentance, thou wilt witness me a friend of thy soul, and a seeker of thy 
‘eternal good. .G. FY 


This Adam Sands afterwards died miserably. 
I was moved also to write to priest Tatham. 


‘Tue word of the Lord to thee, priest Tatham, who art found out of 
‘the doctrine of Christ; having the chiefest place in the assembly, being 
‘called of men master, and standing praying in the synagogue in the 
‘steps of the Pharisees, which our Lord Jesus Christ cried wo against. 
‘In his way thou art not, but in the way of the Scribes and Pharisees; 
‘as thou mayest read, Matth. xxii. There Christ’s words judge thee, 
‘and the scriptures of iruth condemn thee. For thou art such a one as 
‘sues men at law for tythes, yet professest thyself to be a minister of 
‘Christ; which Christ never empowered his to do: neither did any of 
‘ his apostles or ministers ever do so. Here I charge thee in the presence 
‘of the Living God as one out of their doctrine, and that thou art one 
‘of those evil beasts the scripture speaks of, that mindest earthly things 
‘which the life of the scriptures is against. Thou art for destruction in 
‘the state wherein thou standest ; and it will be thy portion eternally, if 
‘thou dost not repent. To that of God in thy conscience I speak, which 
‘ will witness the truth of what I say. Thou art one that goest in Cain’s 
‘ way, in envy, an enemy to God, and from the command of God. Thou 
‘art one that goest in Balaam’s way, from the Spirit of God, for gifts 
‘and rewards, the wages of unrighteousness. Thou son of Balaam, 
‘thou art worse than thy father: for though he loved the wages of un- 
‘righteousness, yet he durst not take it; but.thou not only takest it, but 
‘suest men at law if they will not give it thee: which no true minister 
‘of Jesus Christ ever did. Therefore stop thy mouth for ever, and make 

no mention of them, nor profess thyself one of them. With the light 
‘thou art seen and comprehended ; who art light and vain, and speakest 
‘a divination of thy own brain, and deceivest the people. That in thy 
‘conscience will witness what I say, and will condemn thee, who art one 
‘of those that bear rule by their means, which the Lord sent Jeremiah 
‘to cry against, Jer. v. and so thou holdest up the “horrible and filthy 
“thing, that is committed in the land.” They that do not tremble at the 
‘word of the Lord are the foolish people that hold thee up, they are 
‘sottish children without understanding. They are wise to’do evil, but 
‘not to do good, who are deceived by thee. Thou art one of those that 
‘seek their gain from their quarter; a greedy dumb dog that never hath 
‘enough, as thy practice makes manifest; such the Lord sent Isaiah to 
‘ery against, Isa. vi. 11, 12. -Thou art such a one as the Lord sent 
‘Ezekiel to cry against, who feedest of the fat, and clothest with the 


‘wool, and makest a prey of the people. But the Lord is gathering his 


| 


sheep f-»m thy mouth, that to thee they shall be a prey no longer 
Ss 


138 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. . [1652 


‘hou enemy of God, here this prophecy is fulfilled upon thee, Ezek. 
xxxiv. and thou art one of them. I charge it upon thee in the presence 
‘of the Living God. A hireling thou art, and those that put not into 
‘thy mouth, thou preparest war against. Thou hatest the good, and 
‘lovest the evil; which the Lord sent Micah to cry against, Mic. i. 
‘Cover thy lips, and stop thy mouth for ever, thou child of darkness ; 
‘for with the light thou art comprehended, and seen to be among them 
‘which the holy men of God cried wo against; and by the Spirit of the 
Living God thou art judged. In the light, which is thy condemnation, 
‘thou art comprehended. Thy race is seen, and thy compass known, 
‘who art out of the commands of Christ, and out of the doctrine and 
‘life of the apostles. Thou art proved and tried. To thee this is the 
‘word of the Lord; to thee it shall be as an hammer, a fire, and a 
‘sword; and from under it thou shalt never come, unless thou repent; 
‘who art with the light to be condemned, in that state wherein thou — 
‘standest. If ever thine eye see repentance, this thy condemmation thou — 
‘must own. Gs Be 


I wrote also to Burton, priest of Sedberg, to the same purpose ~ 
he being in the same evil ground, nature, and practice. Many other 
epistles also and papers I wrote about that time, as the Lord moved me : 
thereunto, which I sent among the priests, professors, and people of all : 
sorts, for the laying their evil ways open before them, that they might 
see and forsake them; and opening the way of truth unte them, that 
they might come to walk therein; which are too many and large to be 
inserted in this place. 

After I had cleared my conscience to the priest and people near 
Swarthmore, I went again into Westmoreland. A company of men 
with pikes and staves laid wait for me at a bridge in the way; and they — 
met with some friends, but missed me. Afterwards they came to the 
meeting with their pikes and staves; but justice Benson being there, and ~ 
many considerable people besides, they were prevented from doing that 
mischief they intended. So they went away in a great rage, without 
hurting any body. 

I went from the meeting to Grayrigg, and held a meeting at Alexan- 
der Dickson’s; to which the priest, who was a baptist and a chapel- 
priest, came to oppose; but the Lord confounded him by his power. 
Some of the people tumbled down some milk-pails which stood upon the 
side of the house (which was much crowded) whereupon the priest, after 
he and his company were gone, raised a slander, “ That the devil frighted 
“him, and took away a side of the house, while he was in the meeting.” 
And though this was a known falsehood, yet it served the priest and pro- 
fessors to feed on for awhile; and so shame'ess they were, that they 
printed and published it. 

Another time this priest came to a meeting, aad fell to jangling. First 
he said, “ The scriptures were the word of God.” I told him, they were 
the words of God, but not Christ, the Word; and bid him prove by 
scripture what he said. Then he said, it was not the scripture that was 
the word; and setting his foot upon the bible, said, it was but copies 
bound up together. Many unsavory words came from him, but after he 
was gone we had a blessed meeting; the Lord’s power and presence 
was preciously manifested and felt among us. Soon after he sent me a 
challenge to meet him at Kendal. I sent him word he need not go so’ 


653) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 139 


far as Kendal, for I would meet him in his own parish. The hom 
being fixed, we met, and abundance of rude people gathered together 
(besides the baptized people who were his own meinbers) with intent te 
do mischief, but God prevented them. I declared the day of the Lord 
to them, and directed them to Christ Jesus. Then the priest out with his 
bible, and said, It was the word of God. I told him it was the words of 
God, but not God the Word. His answer was, He would prove the 
scriptures to be the word before all the people. I let him go on, having 
a man there that could take down in writing both what he and I said. 
When he could not prove it (for I kept him to scripture-proof, chapte. 
and verse for it) the people gnashed their teeth for anger, and said, H 

would have me anon: but in going about to prove that one error, he ran 
into many. And when at length he saw he could not prove it, he said, 
he would prove it a God: so he toiled himself afresh, till he sweat again; 
but could not prove what he had affirmed. And he and his company 
were full of wrath: for I kept his assertions on the head of him and 
them all; and told them, I owned what the scriptures said of themselves, 
namely, that they were the words of God, but Christ was the Word. So 
the Lord’s power came over all, and they being confounded went away. 
The Lord disappointed their mischievous intentions against me; friends 
were established in Christ, and many of the priest’s followers saw the 
folly of their teacher. 

After this, priest Bennet, of Cartmel, sent a challenge to dispute with 
me. I came to his steeple-house on a first-day, and found him preaching. 
When he had done, I spoke to him and his people; yet the priest would 
not stand the trial, but went his way. After he was gone, I had a great 
deal of discourse with the people: and when I was come into the steeple- 
house yard, discoursing further with the professors and declaring truth 
unto them, one of them set his foot behind me, and two of them ran 

against my breast, and threw me down backwards against a grave-stone, 

wickedly and maliciously seeking to have hurt me: but I got up again, 

-and was moved of the Lord to speak to them. Then I went to the 
___priest’s house, and desired him to come forth that I might discourse with 
| him, seeing he had challenged me; but he would not be seen. So the 
Lord’s power came over them all, which was greatly manifest at that 
time. There was amongst the priest’s hearers one Richard Roper, one 
| of the bitterest professors the priest had, who was very fierce and hot in 
contention; but afterwards he came to be convinced of God’s eternal 
truth, became a minister thereof, and continued faithful to his death. 

About the beginning of the year 1653 I returned to Swarthmore, and 
going to a meeting at Gleaston, a professor challenged a dispute with 
me. I went to the house where he was, and called him to come forth; 
but the Lord’s power was over him, so that he durst not meddle. I de- 
parted thence, visited the meetings of friends in Lancashire, and came 
back to Swarthmore. Great openings I had from the Lord, not only of 
divine and spiritual matters, but also of outward things relating to the 
civil government. Being one day in Swarthmore-hall, when judge Fell 
and justice Benson were talking of the news, and of the parliament then 
sitting (called the long parliament) I was moved to tell them. Before that 
day two weeks the parliament should be broken up, and the speaker 
plucked out of his-chair; and that day two weeks justice Benson told 
judge Fell, that now he saw George was a true prophet; for Oliver haa 
broken up the parliament. 


el 
on 


140 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1653 


About this time I was in a fast for about ten days, my spirit being 
greatly exercised on truth’s behalf: for James Milner and Richard Myer 
went out into imaginations, and a company followed them. This James 
Milner and some of his company had true openings at the first; but 
getting up into pride and exaltation of spirit, they ran out from truth. I 
was sent for to them, and was moved of the Lord to go and shew them 
their out-goings: and they were brought to see their folly, and con- 
demned it, and came into the way of truth again. After some time | 
went to a meeting at Arnside, where Richard Myer was, who had been 
long iame of one of his arms. I was moved of the Lord to say unto 
him amongst all the people, “ Stand up upon thy legs,” for he was sitting 
down; and he stood up, and stretched out his arm that had been lame a 
long time, and said, “ Be it known unto you, all people, that this day I 
‘am healed.” Yet his parents could hardly believe it; but after the 
meeting was done, had him aside, took off his doublet, and then saw it 
was true. He came soon after to Swarthmore meeting, and there de- 
clared how the Lord had healed him. Yet after this the Lord com- 
manded him to go to York with a message from him; which he diso- 
beyed, and the Lord struck him again, so that he died about three quar- 
ters of a year after. 

Now were great threatenings given forth in Cumberland, That if ever 
I came there, they would take away my life. When I heard it, I was 
drawn to go into Cumberland; and went to Miles Wennington’s, in the 
same parish from which those threatenings came: but they had not power 
to touch me. 

About this time Anthony Pearson was convinced, who had been an 
opposer of friends. He came to Swarthmore; and I being then at 
colonel West’s, they sent for me. Colonel West said, “Go, George, for 
“it may be of great service to the man.” So I went, and the Lord’s 
power reached him. 

About this time also the Lord opened several mouths to declare the 
truth to priests and people, and divers were cast into prison. I went 
again into Cumberland; and Anthony Pearson and his wife, and several 
friends, went along with me to Bootle, where Anthony left me, and went 
to Carlisle sessions: for he was a justice of the peace in three counties 
Upon the first-day I went into the steeple-house at Bootle; and when the 
priest had done, I began to speak. The people were exceeding rude, 
and beat me in the steeple-house yard. One gave me a very great blow 
over my wrist, so that the people thought he had broken my hand to 
pieces. The constable was very willing to have kept the peace, and 
would have set some of those by the heels that struck me, if I would 
have given way to it. After my service amongst them was over, I went 
to Joseph Nicholson’s, and the constable accompanied us, to keep off the 
rude multitude. In the afternoon I went up again; and then the priest 
had got another priest to help him, that came from London, who was 
highly accounted of Before I went into the steeple-house, I sat a ‘ittle 
upon tne cross, and friends with me; but they were moved to go into 
the steeple-house, and I went in after them. The London priest was 
preaching, who gathered up all the scriptures he could think of, that 
spake of false prophets, antichrists, and deceivers, and threw them upon 
us. When he had done, I recollected all those scriptures, and brought 
them vack upon himself. Then the people fell upon me in a rude man- 
ner: but the constable charged them to keep the peace, and made them 


ee 


653] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 14, 


yuiet again. Then the priest began to rage; and said, ] must not speak 
there. I told him, He had his hour-glass, by which he had preached; 
and he having done, the time was free for me, as well as for him: for 
he was but a stranger there himself. So I opened the scriptures to them, 
and let them see, ‘That those scriptures, which spake of the false 
‘ prophets, antichrists, and deceivers, described them and their genera- 
‘tion, and belonged to them who were found walking in their steps, and 
‘bringing forth their fruits; and not unto us, who were not guilty of 
‘such things.’ I manifested to them, that they were out of the steps of 
the true prophets and apostles; and shewed them clearly, by the fruits 
and marks, that they, and not we, were such as those scriptures spoke 
of. And I declared the truth and the word of life to the people, and 
directed them to Christ their teacher. All was quiet while I was speak- 
ing; but when I had done, and was come forth, the priests were in such 
a fret and rage, that they foamed at the mouth for anger against me. 
The priest of the place made an oration to the people in the steeple- 
house yard, saying, ‘ This man hath gotten all the honest men and 
‘women in Lancashire to him, and now he comes here to do the same.’ 
Then said I to him, ‘ What wilt thou have left? And what have the 
‘priests left them, but such as themselves? For if they be the honest 
‘that receive the truth and are turned to Christ, then they must be the 
‘dishonest that follow thee, and such as thou art.’ Some also of the 
priest’s people began to plead for their priest, and for tythes. I told 
them, It were better for them to plead for Christ, who had ended the 
tything priesthood with the tythes, and had sent forth his ministers to 
give freely, as they had received freely. So the Lord’s power came 
over, put to silence, and restrained the rude people, that they could not 
do the mischief they intended. When I came down again to Joseph 
Nicholson’s house, I saw a great hole in my coat, which was cut with a 
knife, but it was not cut through my waistcoat, for the Lord had pre- 
vented their mischief. The next day there was a rude wicked man 
would have done violence to a friend, but the Lord’s power stopped him. 
_ Now was I moved to send James Lancaster to appoint a meeting at 
John Wilkinson’s steeple-house near Cockermouth; a preacher in great 
repute, who had three parishes under him; wherefore | staid at Milholm 
in Bootle till he came back again. In the mean time some of the gentry 
of the country had formed a plot against me, and had given a little boy 
a rapier to do me a mischief with. They came with the boy to Joseph 
Nicholson’s to seek me; but the Lord had so ordered it, I was gone into 
the fields. They met with James Lancaster, but did not much abuse 
him; and not finding me in the house, went away again. So I walked 
up and down in the fields that night, and did not go to bed as very often 
lused todo. We came the next day to the steeple-house, where James 
Lancaster had appointed the meeting. There were at this meeting 
twelve soldiers and their wives, from Carlisle; and the country people 
came in, like as it had been to a fair. I lay at an house somewhat short 
_ of the place, so that many friends were got thither before me. When | 
came, I found James Lancaster speaking under a yew-tree; which was 
so full of people, I feared they would break it down. [I looked about for 
a place to stand upon, to speak unto the people: for they lay all up and 
down, like people at a leaguer. After I was discovered, a professor 
asked, If I would not go into the church? I seeing no place abroad 
nonveni2nt to speak to the people from, told him Yes: whereupon the 


142 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1655 


people rushed in; so that when I came, the house and pulpit was so full, 
| had much ado to get in. Those that could not get in, steod abroad 
about the walls. When the people were settled, | stood up on a seat. 
‘ And the Lord opened my mouth to declare his everlasting truth and his 
‘everlasting day; and to lay open their teachers, with the rudiments, tra- 
‘ditions, and inventions they had been under in the night of apostacy 
‘since the apostles’ days. 1 turned them to Christ the true teacher, 1nd 
‘to the true spiritual worship; directing them where to find the Spirit 
‘and truth, that they might worship God therein. I explained Christ’s 
* parables unto them, and directed them to the Spirit of God in them- 
‘selves, that would open the scriptures unto them. I shewed them, how 
‘all might come to know their Saviour, sit under his teaching, come to 
‘ be heirs of the kingdom of God, and know God’s and Christ’s voice, by 
‘ which they might discover all the false shepherds and teachers they had 
been under, and be gathered to the true Shepherd, Priest, Bishop, and 
Prophet Christ Jesus, whom God commanded all to hear.’ 

When I had largely declared the word of life unto them for about the 
space of three hours, I walked from amongst the people, who passed 
away well satisfied. Among the rest a professor followed me, praising 
and commending me; but his words were like a thistle to me. At last I 
turned about, and bid him ‘ Fear the Lord ;’ whereupon priest Larkham 
of Cockermouth (for several priests were got together on the way, who 
came after the meeting was done) said to me, ‘ Sir, why do you judge 
‘so! you must not judge.’ I turned to him, and said, ‘ Friend, dost thou 
‘not discern an exhortation from a judgment? I admonished him to 
‘fear God; and dost thou say I judge him! So this priest and I falling 
into discourse, I manifested him to be amongst the false prophets and 
covetous hirelings; and several being moved to speak to them, he and 
two other of the priests soon got away. When they were gone, John 
Wilkinson, preacher of that parish, and of two other parishes in Cum- 
berland, began to dispute against his own conscience for several hours, 
till the people generally turned against him: for he thought to have tired 
me out; but the Lord’s power tired him out, and the Lord’s truth came 
over him and them all. Many hundreds were convinced that day, who 
received the Lord Jesus Christ and his free teaching with gladness; of 
whom some have died in the truth, and many stand faithful witnesses 
thereof. The soldiers also were convinced and their wives, and con- 
tinued with me till first-day. , 

On first-day I went to the steeple-house at Cockermouth, where priest 
Larkham lived. When he had done, I began to speak, and the people 
began to be rude; but the soldiers told them, we had broken no law, and 
they became quiet. Then | turned to the priest, and Jaid him open among 
the false prophets and hirelings; at which word he went his way, say- 
ing, ‘He calls me hireling;’ which was true; all the people knew it. 
Some great men of the town said, ‘ Sir, we have no learned men to dis- 
pute with you.’ I told them, I came not to dispute, but to shew the way 
of salvation to them, the way of everlasting life. I declared largely the 
way of life and truth to them, and directed them to Chris. their teacher, 
who died for them, and bought them with his blood. 

When I had done, I went about two miles to another great steepie- 
house of John Wilkinson’s, called Brigham; where the people, having 
been at the other meeting, were mightily affected, and would have put 
my nurse into the steeple-house yard: but I said, ‘ No: the priest cleims 


af 


1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 143 


‘that; have him to aninn.’ When I came into the steeple-house yard, 1 
saw the people coming in great companies, as to a fair; and abundance 
were already gathered in the lanes and about the steeple-house. I was 
very thirsty, and walked about a quarter of a mile to a brook, where J 
got some water, and refreshed myself. As I came up again, I met Wil 
kinson ; who, as I passed by him, said, ‘ Sir, will you preach to-day? If 
‘you will,’ said he, ‘! will not oppose you in word or thought.’ I re- 
plied, ‘ Oppose, if thou wilt; I have something to speak to the people. 
‘ And,’ said I, ‘ thou carriedst thyself foolishly the other day, and spakest 
against thy conscience and reason, insomuch that thy hearers cried out 
‘against thee.’ So I left him, and went on; for he saw it was in vain to 
oppose, the people were so affected with the Lord’s truth. When I 
came into the steeple-house yard, a professor asked, If I would not go 
into the church? And I seeing no convenient place abroad, went in: 
and stood up on a seat, after the people were settled. The priest came 
in also, but did not go up to his pulpit. ‘The Lord opened my mouth, 
‘and I declared his everlasting truth and word of life to the people; di- 
‘recting them to the Spirit of God in themselves, by which they might 
‘know God, Christ, and the scriptures, and come to have heavenly fel- 
‘lowship in the Spirit. I declared to them, that every one that cometh 
‘into the world was enlightened by Christ the life; by which light they 
‘might see their sins, and Christ, who was come to save them from their 
‘sins, and died for them. And if they came to walk in this light, they 
‘might therein see Christ to be the author of their faith, and the finisher 
‘thereof; their Shepherd to feed them, their Priest to teach them, their 
‘oreat Prophet to open divine mysteries unto them, and to be always 
‘present with them. I explained also to them, in the openings of the 
‘Lord, the first covenant, shewing them the figures, and the substance of 
‘those figures; bringing them on to Christ, the new covenant. I also 
‘manifested to them, that there had been a night of apostacy since the 
‘ apostles’ days; but that now the everlasting gospel was preached again, 
‘which brought life and immortality to light; and the day of the Lord 
‘was come, and Christ was come to teach his people himself by his 
‘light, grace, power, and spirit.’ A fine opportunity the Lord gave me 
to preach truth that day for about three hours, and all was quiet. Many 
hundreds were convinced; and some of them praised God, and said, 
‘Now we know the first step to peace.’ The preacher also said privately 
to some of his hearers, that I had broken them, and overthrown them 
_ After this I went to a village, and many people accompanied me. As 
] was sitting in an house full of people, declaring the word of life unto 
them, I cast mine eye upon a woman, and discerned an unclean spirit in 
her. I was moved of the Lord to speak sharply to her; and told her, 
she was under the influence of an unclean spirit. Whereupon the woman 
went out of the room. J being a stranger there, and knowing nothing 


of the woman outwardly, the people wondered, and told me afterwards, 


I had discovered a great thing: for all the country looked upon her to. 
be a wicked person. The Lord had given me a Spirit of discerning, by 
which I many times saw the states and conditions of people, and could 
try their spirits. Not long before, as | was going to a meeting, I saw 
some women in a field, and discerned an evil spirit in them; and I was 
moved to go out of my way into the field to them, and declare unto them 


their conditions. Another time there came one into Swarthmore hall in 


the meeting-time, and I was moved to speak sharply to her, and tuld her 


—w 


144 GEORGE FOXS JOURNAL [1653 


she was under the power of an evil spirit; and the people said after- 
wards, she was generally accounted so to be. There came also another 
-ime a woman, and stood at a distance from me. I cast mine eye upon 
her, and said, ‘ Thou hast been an harlot:’ for I perfectly saw the cen. 
dition and life of the woman. She answered many could tell her of her 
outward sins, but none could tell her of her inward. I told her, Her 
heart was not right before the Lord; and that from the inward came 
the outward. This woman was afterwards convinced of God’s truth, 
and became a friend. 

From the aforesaid village we came to Thomas Bewley’s, near Cold- 
beck; and from thence, having had some service for the Lord there, I 
passed to a market-town, where I had a meeting at the cross; and all 
was pretty quiet. When J had declared the truth unto them, and directed 
them to Christ their teacher, some received the truth. We had another 


meeting upon the borders, in a steeple-house yard, to which many pro- © 


fessors and contenders came; but the Lord’s power was over all; and 
when the word of life had been declared amongst them, some received 
the truth there also. 


From thence we travelled to Carlisle, and the pastor of the baptists, : 


with most of his hearers, came to the abbey, where I had a meeting, 
and declared the word of life amongst them. Many of the baptists and 
of the soldiers were convinced. After the meeting, the pastor of the 


baptists, an high notionist, and a flashy man, asked me, ‘What must be 
‘damned?’ I was moved immediately to tell him, ‘ That which spoke i in 


‘him was to be damned.’ This stopped his mouth; and the witness of 
God was raised up in him. I opened to him the states of election and 
reprobation; so that he said, He never heard the like in his life. He 
came afterwards to be convinced. 


Then I went to the castle among the soldiers; who beat a drum, and - 


called the garrison together. I preached the truth amongst them, ‘di- 
recting them to the Lord Jesus Christ to be their teacher, and to the 
‘measure of his Spirit in themselves, by which they might be turned from 
‘darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. I warned 
‘them all, that ‘they should do no violence to any man, but should shew 


— = 


forth a christian life: telling them, that he who was to be their teacher, © 
‘would be their condemner, if they were disobedient to him.’ So I left — 


them, having no opposition from any of them, except the serjeants, who 
afterwards came to be convinced. 

On the market-day I went to the cross. The magistrates had both 
threatened, and sent their serjeants; and the magistrates’ wives had said, 
If I came there, they would pluck the hair off my head; and the ser- 
jeants should take me up. Nevertheless I obeyed the Lord God, went 
upon the cross, and declared unto them, ‘ That the day of the Lord was 
‘coming upon all their deceitful ways and doings, and deceitful merchan- 


‘dize; that they should put away all cozening and cheating, and keep to ~ 


‘Yea and Nay, and speak the truth one to another: so the truth and the 
‘power of God was set over them.’ After I had declared the word of 
life to the people, the throng being so great that the serjeants could not 
reach me, nor the magistrates’ wives come at me, I passed away quietly. 
Many people and soldiers came to me, and some baptists, that were 


bitter contenders: amongst whom one of their deacons, an envious man, 


finding the Lord’s power was over them, cried out for very anger. 
Ww hereupon I set my eyes upon him, and spoke sharply to him in “the 


1643] wre GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 45 


power of the Lord: and he cried, ‘Do not pierce me so with thy eyes, 
‘keep thy eyes off me.’ [Se 
The first-day following I went into the steeple-house: and after the 
‘priest had done, I preached the truth to the people, and declared the 
word of life amongst them. ‘The priest got away; and the magistrates 
desired me to go out of the steeple-house. But I still declared the way 
of the Lord unio them, and told them, | came to speak the word of lite 
and salvaiion from the Lord amongst them. The power of the Lord 
was dreadful amongst them, so that the people trembled and shook ; and 
they thought the steeple house shook; some of them feared it would 
have fallen dewn on their heads. The magistrates’ wives were in a rage, 
and strove mightily to have been at me: but the soldiers and friendly 
people stood thick about me. At length the rude people of the city rose, 
and came with staves and stones into the steeple-house, crying, ‘Down 
‘ with these round-headed rogues:’ and they threw siones. Whereupon 
the governor sent a file or two of musqueteers into the steeple-house to 
appease the tumult; and commanded all the other soldiers out. So 
those soldiers took me by the hand in a friendly manner, and said, they 
would have me along with them. When we came into the street, the 
city was in an uproar; the governor came down; and some of those 
soldiers were put in prison for standing by me against the town’s-people. 
A lieutenant, who had been convinced, came and brought me to his 
house, where there was a baptist meeting, and thither came friends also. 
We had a very quiet meeting; they heard ihe word of life gladly, and 
many received it. The next day, the justices and magistrates of the 
town being gathered together in the town-hall, they granted a warrant 
against me; and sent for me before them. I was then gone to a baptist’s ; 
but hearing of it, I went up to the hall, where many rude people were: 
some of whom had sworn strange false things against me. I had a 
great deal of discourse with the magistrates, wherein I laid open the 
fruits of their priests’ preaching; shewed them how they were void of 
Christianity ; and that, though they were such great professors (for they 
were independents and presbyterians) they were without the possession 
of that which they professed. After a large examination, they com- 
mitted me to pr’son as a blasphemer, an heretick, and a seducer; though 
they could not justly charge any such thing against me. The gaol at 
Carlisle had two gaolers, an upper and an under, who looked like two 
bear-wards. When I was brought in, the upper gaoler had me up into 
a great chamber, and told me, I should have what I would in that room. 
But I told him, he should not expect any money from me, for I would 
neither lie in any of his beds, nor eat any of his victuals. Then he put 
me into another room; where after awhile I got something to lie upon. 
There I lay till the assizes came; and then all the talk was, that I was to 
be hanged. The high sheriff, Wilfred Lawson, stirred them much up to 
take away my life; and said, He would guard me to my execution him- 
self. They were in a rage, and set three musqueteers for guard upon 
me; one at my chamber-door, another at the stairs-foot, and a third at 
the street-door; and they would let none come at me, except one some- 
limes, to bring me some necessary things. At night they would bring up 
priests to me. sometimes as late as the tenth hour; who were exceeding 
rude and devilish. There were a company of bitter Scotch priests, 
presby terians, made up of envy and malice, who were not fit to speak 
of the things of God, they were so foul-mouthed; but the Lord by his 
: T 


146 ' "GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 165: 
power gave me dominion over them all, and I let them see both their 


\ fruits and their spirits. Great ladies also (as they were called) came to 


\ see the man that they said was to die. While the judge, justices, and 
sheriff were contriving together how they might put me to death, the 
Lord disappointed their designs by an unexpected way. For the judge’s 
clerk, as | was informed, started a question among them, which con- 
founded all their counsels; after which, they had not power t2 call me 
-before the judge. 

Anthony Pearson being then in Carlisle, and perceiving they did not 
<a to bring me upon my trial, wrote a letter to the judges, as fol- 
oweth : 


‘To the judges of assize and gaol-delivery for the northern parts, sitting 
‘at Carlisle. 


‘ You are raised up to do righteousness and justice, and sent forth to — 


‘punish him that doth evil, and to encourage him that doth well, and to 
‘set the oppressed free. I am therefore moved to lay before you the 
‘ condition of Gzorcr Fox, whom the magistrates of this city have cast 


‘into prison for words that he is accused to have spoken, which they call 


‘blasphemy. He was sent to the gaol, till he should be delivered by due 


‘course of law; and it was expected he should have been proceeded — 
‘against in the common law-course at this assizes. The informations — 
‘against him were delivered into court, and the act allows and appoints © 


‘that way of trial. How hardly and unchristianly he hath been hitherto 


dealt with, I shall not now mention; but you may consider, that no-. 


thing he is accused of is nice and difficult. And, to my knowledge, he — 
utterly abhors and detests every particular which by the act against ~ 
blasphemous opinions is appointed to be punished, and differs as much — 


from those people against whom the law was made, as light from dark- 
ness. Though he be committed, judgment is not given him, nor have 
‘his accusers been face to face, to affirm before him what they have in- 
formed against him; nor was he heard as to the particulars of their 
accusation, nor doth it appear that any word they charge against him 
‘is within the act. But indeed I could not yet so much as see the in- 


‘formation, no not in court, though I desired it both of the clerk of the — 
‘assizes and of the magistrate’s clerk; nor hath he had a copy of them. — 


‘ This is very hard; and that he should be so close restrained, that his 
‘friends may not speak with him, I know no law nor reason for. I do 
‘ therefore claim for him a due and lawful hearing, and that he may have 
‘a copy of his charge, and freedom to answer for himself; and that 
‘rather before you, than to be left to the rulers of this town, who are 
‘not competent judges of blasphemy, as by their mittimus appears; who 
‘have committed him upon an act of parliament, and mention words as 
spoken by him at his examination which are not within the act, and 
‘which he utterly denies. The words mentioned in the mittimus he 
‘denies to have spoken, and hath neither professed nor avowed them. 
‘ Anthony Pearson.’ 


Notwithstanding this letter, the judges were resolved not to suffer me 
to be brought before them; but reviling and scoffing at me behind my 
back, left me to the magistrates of the town: giving them what encour- 
agement they could to exercise their cruelty upon me. Whereupon 
(though 1 had been kept so close in the gaoler’s house that friends were 


ot 
: 
1653) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ‘ i497 
; 


“not suffered to come at me, and colonel Benson and justice Pearson were 
denied to see ine, yet) the next day, after the judges were gone out of 
town, an order was sent to the gaoler to put me down into the prison 

amongst the moss-troopers, thieves, and murderers; which accordingly 
he did. A filthy, nasty place it was, where men and women were put 
together in a very uncivil manner, and never a house of office to it; 
and the prisoners so lousy, that cne woman was almost eaten to death 
with lice. Yet as bad as the place was, the prisoners were all made 
very loving and subject to me, and some of them were convinced of the 
truth, as the publicans and harlots were of old; so that they-were able 
to confound any priest that might come to the grates to dispute. But the 
gaoler was cruel, and the under-gaoler very abusive both to me and to 
friends that came to see me; for he would beat friends with a great cudgel, 
who did but come to the window to look in upon me. I could get up to 
the grate, where sometimes I took in my meat; at which the gaoler was 
often offended. Once he came in a great rage, and beat me with his 
cudgel, though I was not at the grate at that time; and as he beat me, 
he cried, Come out of the window, though I was then far from it. While 
he struck me, | was moved to sing in the Lord’s power, which made 
him rage the more. Then he fetched a fiddler, and set him to play, 
thinking to vex me; but while he played, I was moved in the everlast- 
ing power of the Lord God to sing; and my voice drowned the noise 
of the fiddle, struck and confounded them, and made them give over 
fiddling and go their way. 

Justice Benson’s wife was moved of the Lord to come to visit me, and 
to eat no meat but what she eat with me at the bars of the prison window. 
She was afterwards herself imprisoned at York, when she was great 
with child, for speaking to a priest; and was kept in prison, and not suf- 
fered to go out when the time of her travail was come: so she was de- 
livered of her child in the prison. She was an honest, tender woman, 
and continued faithful to the truth until she died. 

_ Whilst I was in prison at Carlisle, James Parnel, a little lad about six- 

Een years of age, came to see me, and was convinced. ‘The Lord 
quickly made him a powerful minister of the word of life, and many 
were turned to Christ by him, though he lived not long. For travelling 
into Essex in the work of the ministry, in the year 1655, he was com- 
mitted to Colchester castle, where he endured very great hardships and 
sufferings; being put by the cruel gaoler into a hole in the castle wall, 
called the oven, so high from the ground that he went up to it by a 
ladder, which being six feet too short, he was obliged to climb from the’ 
ladder to the hole by a rope that was fastened above. And when friends 
would have given him a cord and a basket to have drawn up his victuals 
in, the inhuman gaoler would not suffer them, but forced him to go down 
and up by that short ladder and rope to fetch his victuals (which for a 
dong time he did) or else he might have famished in the hole. At length 
his limbs being much benumbed with lying in that place, yet being 
obliged to go down to take up some victuals, as he came up the ladder 
again with his victuals in one hand, and catched at the rope with the 
other, he missed the rope and fell down from a very great height upon 
the stones; by which fall he was so wounded in his head, arms, and 
body, that he died in a short time after. When he was dead the wicked 
professors, to cover their cruelty, wrote a book of him, and said, “ He 

“fasted himself to death!” which was an abominable falsehood, and was 
nal, 


148 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1653 


manifested so to be by another book, wrote in answer to that, called, 
“The Lamb’s Defence against Lies.” 
When I saw that I was not like to be brought to a publick hearing 
and trial (although I had before answered in writing the particular mat 
ters charged against me at the time of my first examination and com- 
mitment) I was moved to send the following paper, as a publick challenge 
to all those that belied the truth and me behind my back, to come forth 
and make good their charge. 


‘Ir any in Westmoreland, Cumberland, or elsewhere, that profess 
christianity and pre‘end to love God and Christ, are not satisfied con- 
‘cerning the things of God which I George Fox have spoken and de- 
‘ clared, let them publish their dissatisfaction in writing, and not backbite, 
‘lie, and persecute in secret. This I demand of you all in the presence 
‘of the Living God, as ye will answer it to him. For the exaltation of 
‘the truth, and the confounding of the deceit, is this given forth. To 
‘that of God in your consciences I speak; declare or write your dis 
‘ satisfaction to any of them whom you call Quakers, that truth may b 
‘exalted, and all may come to the light, with which Christ hath enlight- 
‘ened every one that cometh into the world; that nothing may be hid ia 
‘darkness, in prisons, holes, or corners; but that all things may be 
‘brought to the light of Christ, and by it may be tried. This | am 
‘moved of the Lord to write, and publish to be set upon the market- 
‘crosses in Westmoreland and elsewhere. To the light of Christ in yo 
‘] speak, that none of you may speak evil of the things of God, which 
‘you know not; nor act contrary to the light that gave forth the scrip 
‘tures: lest you be found fighters against God, and the hand of the Lor 
‘be turned against you. G. Fe 


While I thus lay in prison, the report raised at the time of the assizes, 
“That I should be put to death,” was gone far and near; insomuch tha 
the parliament then sitting, which I think was called the little parliament 

hearing that a young man at Carlisle was to die for religion, caused a 
letter to be sent to the sheriff and magistrates concerning me. Mue 
about the same time I wrote also to the justices at Carlisle, who ha 
cast me into prison, and persecuted friends at the instigation of the priest 
for tythes; expostulating the matter with them thus: 


‘Friends, Thomas Craston and Cuthbert Studholm, 
‘ Your noise is gone up to London before the sober people. What im 
‘prisoning, what gagging, what havoc and spoiling the goods of peopl 
‘have you made within these few years! Unlike men; as though yo 
‘had never read the scriptures, or had not minded them! Is this the en 
‘ of Carlisle’s religion? Is this the end of your ministry? Is this the end of 
* your church, and of your profession of christianity? You have shamed 
‘it by your folly, madness, and blind zeal. Was it not always the work o 
‘the blind guides, watchmen, leaders, and false prophets, to prepare war 
against them that could not put into their mouths? Have not you been the 
‘ priests’ pack-horses and executioners ? When they spur you up to bear 
‘the sword against the just, do not you run on against those that canno 
‘hold up such as the scr.ptures always testified against? Yet will you lif 
up your unholy hands, and call upon God with your polluted lips, and pre 
tend a fast, who are full of strife and debate. Did your hearts never bur 
within you? Did you never come to question your conditions? Are yo 


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053] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 14¢ 


wholly given up to do the devil’s lusts, to persecute? Where is your 
‘loving enemies ! Where is your entertaining strangers? Where is your 
‘ overcoming evil with good? Where are your teachers, that can stop 
‘the mouths of gain-sayers, convince gain-sayers, and such as oppose 
‘themselves! Have you no ministers of the Spirit, no soldiers with 
‘ spiritual weapons, displaying Christ’s colours? But all the dragon’s, the 
« murderer’s, the peisecutor’s, arm of flesh, Cain’s weapons, chief priests 
‘taking counsel, Judas and the multitude with swords and staves. So 
‘dom’s company raging about Lot’s house, like the priests and princes 
‘ against Jeremiah, like the dragon, beast, and great whore, and the SE 
‘church, which John saw should cast into prison, kill, and persecute ? 
‘ Whose weapons are you bearing? Doth not ihe false church, the whore, 
‘make merchandise of cattle, corn, wine, and oil, even to the very souls 
‘of men? Hath not all this been since the true church went into the 
‘ wilderness? Read Revelations the 12th, with the 18th; do you not read 
‘and see what a spirit you are of, and what a bottomless pit you are in? 
‘ Have not you dishonoured the place of justice and authority?! What! 
‘turned your sword backward, like madmen, who are a praise to the 
‘ evil-doer, and would be a terror to the good, with all force and mig 
*to stop the way of justice! Doth not the Lord, think you, behola your 
‘actions? How many have you wronged? How many have you impris- 
‘oned, persecuted, and put out of your synagogues! Are you they that 
‘must fulfil the prophecy of Christ, Matth. xxiii. John xvi. Read the 
‘ scriptures, see how unlike you are to the prophets, Christ, and his apos- 
‘tiles, and what a visage you have, like unto them that persecuted the 
‘prophets, Christ, and the apostles. You are found in their steps, wrest- 
‘ling with flesh and blood, not with principalities and powers, and spirit- 
‘ual wickedness; your teachers imprisoning and persecuting for out- 
‘ward things, you being their executioners; the like whereof hath not 
‘been in all the nations. The havoc that hath been made, the spoiling 
‘of people’s goods, taking away their oxen and fatted beeves, their sheep, 
‘corn, wool, and household goods, and giving them to the priests that 
‘have done no work for them. More like moss-troopers than ministers 
‘of the gospel, they take them from friends; suing them in your courts, 
‘and fining them because they will not break the command of Christ ; 
‘that is, because they will not swear. Thus you act against them that 
‘ do not lift up a hand against you, and as much as you turn against them 
‘vou turn against Christ. But he is risen that will plead their cause, and 
‘you cannot be hid. Your works are come to light, and the end of your 
‘ministry is seen, what it is for; for means. You have dishonoured the 
‘truth, the gospel; and are of those that make it chargeable. You 
‘have lost your glory. You have dishonoured yourselves. Persecution 
* was ever blind and mad. Read the apostle, what he saith of himself, 
‘when he was in your nature. Exaltation and pride, and your lifting up 
vourselves, hath ‘brought you to this; not being humble, ‘not doing j jus- 
‘tice, not loving mercy. When such as have been beaten and bruised 
‘by your rude company, to whom you are a praise and encouragement, 
‘have come and laid things before you, that you might have done - justice, 
‘preserved and kept peace, you, knowing they could not swear, have 
‘put an oath to them. This hath been your trick and cover, that ye 
might not do justice to the just; but by this means go on still further to 
encourage the evil-doer. But the Lord sees your hearts! If ye were 
not men “past feeling, ye would fear and tremble before the God of the 


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150 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [2653 | 


whole earth; who is risen, and will stain your glory, mar your pride, 
‘deface your beauty, and lay it in the dust. Though for a time you may 
‘swell in your pride, glory in your shame, and make a mock of God’s 
‘messengers, who, for reproving sin in the gate, are become your prey; 
‘you will feel the heavy hand of God and his judgments at the last. 
‘ This is from a lover of the truth, of righteousness, and of your souls, — 
‘but a witness against all such as make a trade of the prophets’, Christ’s, 
‘and the apostles’ words, and are found in the steps of them who perse- 
cuted the prophets’, Christ’s and the apostles’ life ; who persecute those 
‘that will not hold you up, put into your mouths, and give you means. 
* Tythes were before the law, and tythes were in the law; but tythes— 
‘since the days of the apostles have been only since the false church got — 
‘up. Christ, who is come to end the law, and to end war, redeems men | 
‘out of the tenths, anc out of the nines also. The redeemed of the Lord 
_ ‘shall reign upon the earth, and know the election which was before the 
‘world began. Since the days of the apostles, tythes have been set up 
‘by the papists, and by them that went from the apostles into the world; 
‘set up by the false church that made merchandize of the people, since 
‘the true church went into the wilderness. But now is the judgment of 
.*the great whore come; the beast and false prophet (the old dragon) | 
‘ shall be taken and cast into the fire, and the Lamb and his saints shall 
‘have the victory. Now is Christ come who will make war in righte- 
‘ousness, and destroy with the sword of his mouth all these inventors 
‘and inventions that have been set up since the days of the apostles, and 
‘since the true church went into the wilderness. And the everlasting 
‘gospel, which is the power of God, shall be preached again to all 
‘nations, kindreds, and tongues in this the Lamb’s day; before whom 
‘you shall appear to judgment. You have no way to escape. For he’ 
‘hath appeared who is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the 
‘ Ending, the Alpha and the Omega: he that was dead is alive again, 
‘and lives for evermore!’ 


I mentioned before, that Gervase Benson and Anthony Pearson, though 
they had been justices of the peace, were not permitted to come to me 
in the prison; whereupon they jointly wrote a letter to the magistrates, 
priests, and people at Carlisle, concerning my imprisonment: thus, 


‘ He who is called George Fox, who is persecuted by rulers and ma- 

‘ gistrates, by justices, priests, and people, and who sufiers the imprison- 
‘ment of his body at this present time as a blasphemer, an heretick, and 
a seducer, him do we witness (who in measure are made partakers of 
‘the same life which lives in him) to be a minister of the eternal word 
‘of God, by whom the everlasting gospel is preached; by the powerful 
‘preaching whereof the eternal Father of the saints hath opened the 
‘blind eyes, unstopped the deaf ears, let the oppressed go free, and hath 
raised the dead out of the graves. Christ is now preached in and 
among the saints, the same that ever he was; and because his heavenly 
image is borne up in this his faithful servant, therefore doth fallen man 
(iulers, priests, and people) persecute him. Because he lives up out of 
the fall, and testifies against the works of the world, that the deeds 
thereof are evil, he suffers by you magistrates, not as an evil-doer. 
Thus it was ever where the seed of God was kept in prison under the 
cursed nature, that nature sought to imprison them in whom it was 
raised. The Lord will make him to you as a burdensome stone: for 


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4053; ; GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 151 


the sword of the Spirit of the Almighty is put into the hands of the 
‘saints, which shall wound all the wicked; and shall not be put up till it 

» hath cut down all corrupt judges, justices, magistrates, priests and pro 
*fessors; till he hath brought his wonderful thing to pass in the earth, 
‘which is to make new heavens and a new earth, wherein shal dwell 
‘righteousness; which now he is about to do. Therefore fear the Lord 
‘God Almighty, ye judges, justices, commanders, priests, and people; ye 
‘that forget God, suddenly will the Lord come and destroy you with an 
‘utter destruction, and will sweep your names out of the earth, and will 
‘restore his people judges as at the first, and counsellors as at the begin- 
‘ning. And all persecutors shall partake of the plagues of the whore, 
‘who hath made the kings of the earth and the great men drunk with 
‘the wine of her fornications, and hath drunk the blood of the saints; 
«and therefore shall you be partakers of her plagues. We are not suf- 
‘fered to see our friend in prison, whom we witness to be a messenger 

‘of the Living God. Now, all people, mind whether this be according 
‘to law, or fom the wicked, perverse, envious will of the envious rulers 

‘and magistrates, who are of the same generation that persecuted Jesus 
‘Christ; for he said, “ as they have done io me, so will they do to you.” 
« And as he took the love, ithe kindness, and service that was shewed and 
* performed to any of his afflicted ones in their sufferings and distress, as 

-done unto himself; so the injuries and wrongs that were done by any 
-to any of his little ones, he resented as done unto himself also. There- 
‘fore you, who are so far from visiting him yourselves in his suffering 


‘servani that ye will not suffer his brethren to visit him, ye must depart, 


‘ye workers of iniquity, into the lake that burns with fire. The Lord is 
‘coming to thresh the mountains, and will beat them to dust; and all 
‘corrupt rulers, corrupt officers, and corrupt laws, the Lord will take 
‘ vengeance on, by which the tender consciences of his people are op- 
‘pressed. He will give his people his law, and will judge his people 
‘himself, not according to the sight of the eye and hearing of the ear, 
‘but with righteousness and equity. Now are your hearts made mani- 
‘fest to be full of envy against the living truth of God, which is made 
* manifest in his people, who are contemned and despised of the world, 
and scornfully called Quakers. You are worse than the heathens that 
put Paul in prison, for none of his friends or acquaintance were hin- 
- dered to come to him by them: therefore they shall be witnesses against 
~you. Ye are made manifest to the saints to be of the same generation 
that put Christ to death, and that put the apostle in prison, on the same 
pretence as you act under; in calling truth error, and the ministers of 
God blasphemers, as they did. But the day is dreadful and terrible that 
shall come upon you, ye evil magistrates, priests, and people, who pro- 
fess the truth in words outwardly, and yet persecute the power of truth 
and them that stand in and for the truth. While ye have time, prize it, 


and remember what is written, Isa. liv. 17. 
: ‘Gervase Benson, 
‘ Anthony Pearson.’ 


Not lung after this the Lord’s power came over the justices, and they 
were made to set me at liberty. But some time before the governor and 
Anthony Pearson came down into the prison to see the place where I 
was kept, and understand what usage I had. They found the place so 
_ bad, and the savour so ill, that they cried shame of the magistrates for 


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152 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1653 — 


suffering the gaoler to do such things. They called for the gaolers into 
the prison, and required them to find sureties for their good behaviour ; 
and the under-gaoler who had been such a cruel fellow, they put into the 
prison with me amongst the moss-troopers. 

After I was set at liberty I went to Thomas Bewley’s, where came a 
baptist-teacher to oppose me; who was convinced. Robert Widders 


being with me was moved to go to Coldbeck steeple-house, and the. 


baptist-teacher went along with him the same day. The peop’e fell upon 
them, almost killed Robert Widders, and took the baptist’s sword from 
him and beat him sorely. This baptist had the inheritance of an impro- 


priation of tythes, and he went home and gave it up freely. Robert 


Widders was sent to Carlisle gaol, where having lain awhile he was set 
at liberty. William Dewsberry also went to a steeple-house hard by, 
and the people almost killed him, they beat him so; but the Lord’s power 
was over all and healed them again. In that day many friends went to 
the steeple-houses to declare the truth to the priests and people; and 
great sufferings they underwent, but the Lord’s power sustained them. 
Now I went into the country, and had mighty great meetings. ‘The 
everlasting gospel and word of life flourished, thousands were turned to 
the Lord Jesus Christ and to his teaching. Several who had taken tythes 
as impropriators denied the receiving of them any longer, and delivered 
them up freely to the parishioners. Passing into Westmoreland I had 
many great meetings. At Strickland-head I had a large meeting, where 
Henry Draper, a justice of peace out of Bishoprick, came, and many 


contenders were there. The priests and magistrates were in a great. 


rage against me in Westmoreland, and had a warrant to apprehend me; 
which they renewed from time to time. Yet the Lord did not sufler 
them to serve it upon me. I travelled amongst friends, visiting meetings 
till 1 came to Swarthmore, where I heard the baptists and professors in 
Scotland had sent to have a dispute with me. I sent them word I would 


meet them in Cumberland at Thomas Bewley’s, whither accordingly I — 


went, but none of them came. Some dangers at this time I underwent 


in my travels. Going through Wigton on a market-day, the people of — 
the town had set a guard with pitch-forks; and though some of their — 


own neighbours were with us, they kept us out of the town and would 


not let us pass through it, under a pretence of preventing the sickness, — 


which there was no occasion for. However, they fell upon us, and had 
like to have spoiled us and our horses; but the Lord restrained them, 
that they did not much hurt; and we passed away. Another time, as 


we were passing between two friends’ houses, some rude fellows lay in — 


wait in a lane, and exceedingly stoned and abused us; but at last, through 
the Lord’s assistance, we got through them, and had not much hurt. But 
this shewed the fruits of the priests” teaching, which shamed their pro. 
fession of christianity. 

After 1 had visited friends in that county, I went into Bishoprick 
having large meetings by the way. A very large meeting I had at An 
thony Pearson’s, where many were convinced. From thence I passed 
through Northumberland to Derwentwater, where we had great meet- 
ings; and the priests threatened they would come, but none came. The 
everlasting word of life was freely preached, and freely received, hun 
dreds being turned to Christ, their teacher. 

In Northumberland many came to dispute. Some pleaded against per- 


fection; to whom I declared, ‘ That Adam and Eve were perfect before — 


1653] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 153 


they fell: and all that-God-made was perfect; and that th. mperfection 
came by the devil and the fall: but Christ, who came to destroy the 
devil, said, “ Be ye perfect.” One of the professors alledged that Job 
said, ‘Shall mortal man be more pure than his Maker? The heavens are 
‘not clean in his sight. God charged his angels with folly.’ I shewed 
him his mistake, and let him see, ‘it was not Job that said so, but one of 
‘those that contended against him; for Job stood for perfection, and 
‘held his integrity; and they were called miserable comforters.’ These 
professors said, ‘The outward body was the body of death and sin. I 


‘body of sin and death is put off again; when they are renewed up into 
‘the image of God again by Christ Jesus, which they were in before 
* they fell.’ They ceased at that time from opposing, and glorious meet- 
ings we had in the Lord’s power. 

Then passed we to Hexam, where we had a great meeting atop of an 
hill. ‘The priest threatened he would come and oppose us, but he came 
not; so all was quiet: ‘ And the everlasting day and renowned truth of 
‘the everliving God was sounded over those dark countries, and his Son 
‘exalted over all. Ht was proclaimed amongst the people, that the day 
‘was now come, wherein all that made a profession of the Son.of God, 
‘might receive him; and that to as many as would receive him, he 
‘would give power to become the sons of God, as he had done to me.’ 
It was further declared, ‘That he who had the Son of God, had life 
‘eternal; but he that had not the Son of God (though he professed all 
‘the scriptures, from the first of Genesis to the last of the Revelations) 
‘had no life.’ So after all were directed to the light of Christ, by which 
they mizht see him, receive him, and know where their true teacher was, 
and the everlasting truth had been largely declared amongst them, we 
passed through Hexam peaceably, and came into Gilsland, a ceuntry 
noted for thieving. 

Here a friend spying the priest, went to speak to him; whereupon he 
came to our inn, and the town’s-people gathered about us. ‘The priest 
said, He would prove us deceivers out of the bible, but could find no 
scripture for his purpose. Then he went into the inn, and after awhile 
came out again, and brought some broken sentences of scripture, that 
mention the doctrines and commandments of men, &c. and Touch not, 
Taste not, &c. for they perish with the using. All which, poor man! 
was his own condition; whereas we were persecuted because we would 
not taste, nor touch, nor handle their doctrines and traditions which we 
knew perished with using. I asked him, What he called the steeple- 
house ? ‘ Oh,’ said he, ‘ the dreadful house of God, the temple of God.’ I 
shewed him, and the poor, dark people, ‘ That their bodies should be the 
“temples of God, and that Christ never commanded these temples, but 
‘ended that temple at Jerusalem which God had commanded.’ While I 
was speaking, the priest got away: and afterwards the people ma‘le as 
if they feared we would take their purses, or steal their horses; judging 
us like themselves, who are naturally given to thieving. 

The next day we came into Cumberland again, where we had a 
general meeting of thousands of people atop of an hill near Langlands. 
A glorious and heavenly meeting it was; for the glory of the Lord did 
shine over all; and there were as many as one could well speak over, 


154 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1653 


the multitude was so great. Their eyes were turned to Christ their 
teacher; and they came to sit under their own vine; insomuch that 
Francis Howgill, coming afterwards to visit them, found they had no 
need of words; for they were sitting under their teacher Christ Jesus ; 
in the sense whereof he sat down amongst them, without speaking any 
thing. A great convincement there was in Cumberland, Bishoprick, 
Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lancashire, and Vinee and the 
plants of God grew and Sapeened the heavenly rain descending, and 
God’s glory shining upon them: many mouths were opened by the Lord 
to his praise; yea, to babes and sucklings he ordained strength. 

After my release from Carlisle prison, | was moved to go to priest 
Wilkinson’s steeple-house again: and being got in before him, when he 
came, | was declaring the truth to the people, though they were but few; 
for the most and best of his hearers were turned to Christ’s free teach- 
ing; and we had a meeting of friends hard-by, where Thomas Stubbs 
was declaring the word of life amongst them. As soon as the priest 
came in, he opposed me: and there we staid most part of the day: for 
when I began, he opposed me; so if any law was broken, he broke it. © 
When his “people would be haling me out, I manifested his fruits to be — 
such as Christ spake of, when he said, ‘ They shall hale you out of their — 
‘ synagogues:’ and then he would be asheed, and they would let me © 
alone. ‘There did he stand. till it was almost night, jangling, and oppos- 
ing me; and would not go to his dinzer, for he thought to have wearied 
me out. But at last the Lord’s power axa trath came so over him, that 
he packed away with his people. When he was gone, I went to the 
meeting of friends, who were turned to the Lord, and established by his 
power upon Christ, the rock and foundation of the true prophets and 
apostles. 

About this time the priests and professors fell to prophesying against 
us afresh. They had said long before, That we should be destroyed 
within a month; after that, they prolonged the time to half a year: but 
that time being long expired, and we mightily increased in number, they 
now gave out, That we would eat out one another. For after meetings, 
many tender people, having a great way to go, tarried at friends’ houses © 
by the way, and sometimes more than there were beds to lodge in; so 
that some have lain on the hay-mows: hereupon fear possessed the pro- 
fessors and world’s people. For they were afraid, that when we had 
eaten one another out, we would all come to be maintained by the par- 
ishes, and be chargeable to them. But after awhile, when they saw that 
the Lord blessed and increased friends, as he did Abraham, both in the 
field and in the basket, at their goings forth and comings in, at their 
risings up and lyings ‘down, and that all things prospered with them; 
then “they saw the falsehood of all their prophecies against us; and that 
it was in vain to curse where God had blessed. At the first convince-— 
ment, when friends could not put off their hats to people, nor say You 
to a single person, but Thou and Thee, or could not bow, nor use flatter- 
ing words in salutations, nor go into the fashions and customs of the 
world ; ; many friends, that were > tradesmen, lost their customers; for the 
people were shy of them, and would not trade with them; so that for a 
time some vould hardly get money enough to buy bread. But after- 
-wards, when people came to have experience of friends’ honesty and 
faithfulness, and found that their Yea was Yea, and their Nay was Nay; 
_ that they kept to a word in their dea‘ings, and that they would not cozen 


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1653] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 155 
and cheat them; but that if they sent a child to their shops for any 


_ thing, they were as well used as if they had come themselves; the lives 


and conversations of friends did preach, and reached to the witness of 
God in the people. Then things altered so, that all the inquiry was, 
‘ Where was a draper, or shopkeeper, or taylor, or shoemaker, or any 

other tradesman, that was a Quaker? Insomuch that friends had more 
business than many of their neighbours; and if there was any trading, 
they had a great part of it. Then the envious professors altered their 
note, and began to cry out, ‘If we let these Quakers alone, they will 
‘take the trade of the nation out of our hands.’ This hath been the 
Lord’s doings to and for his people! which my desire is, that all who 
profess his holy truth may be truly kept sensible of; and that all may be 
preserved in and by his power and Spirit, faithful to God and man: first 
to God, in obeying him in all things; and then in doing unto all men that 
which is just and righteous, in all things that they have to do or deal 
with them in: that the Lord God may be glorified in their practising 
truth, holiness, godliness, and righteousness amongst people, in their lives 
and conversations. 

Friends being grown very numerous in the northern parts of this 
nation, and divers young convinced ones coming daily in among us, I 
was moved of the Lord to write the following epistle, and send it 
amongst them, for the stirring up the pure mind, and raising an holy 
care and watchfulness in them over themselves, and one another, for the 
honour of truth. 


‘To you all, friends every-where, scattered abroad: 


‘In the measure of the life of God wait for wisdom from God, from 
‘whom it comes. And all ye, who are children of God, wait for the 
‘ living food from the living God, to be -hourished up to eternal life, from 
‘the one fountain from whence life comes; that in order ye may all be 
‘guided and walk: servants in your places, young men and young 
‘women in your places, and rulers of families; that every one, in your 
* respective places, may adorn the truth in the measure of it. With it 
‘let your minds be kepi up to the Lord Jesus, from whence it doth come; 
‘that a sweet savour ye may be to God, and in wisdom ye may all be 
‘ordered and ruled: that a crown and a glory ye may be one to another 
‘in the Lord. And that no strife, bitterness, nor self-will may appear 
‘amongst you; but with the Light in which the unity is, all that may be 
‘condemned. And that every one in particular may see to and take care 
*of the ordering and ruling of their own family; that in righteousness 
“and wisdom it may be governed, the fear and dread of the Lord set in 
* every one’s heart, that the secrets of the Lord every one may come to 
‘receive, that stewards of his grace you may come to be, to dispense it 

to every one as they have need ; and so in savouring and right-discern- 
ing ‘ou may all be kept; that nothing contrary to the pure life of God 
may be brought forth in you, or among you; but all that is contrary to 
‘it, may by it be judged ; that in light, in life and love ye may all live 
and all that is contrary to the light, life, and love, may be brought to 


_ judgment, and by that light be condemned. And that no fruitless trees 


be among you; but all cut down, condemned by the light, and cast into 
_ the fire; that every one may bear and bring forth fruit to God, ana 

grow fruitful in his knowledge and in his wisdom; and that none may 
_ appe*r in words, beyend what they are in the life that gave forth the 


156 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [le3 


words. Here none shall be as the untimely figs; none shall be of those 
trees whose fruit withers: such go in Cain’s way, from the light; and 
‘by it are condernned. Let none of you boast yourselves above your 
measure: if you do, out of God’s kingdom you are excluded; for in 
‘that boasting part gets up the pride and the strife which is contrary to 
‘ the light that leads to the kingdom of God, gives an entrance thereinto, 
‘and an understanding to know the things that belong to the kingdom, 
‘ There the light and life of man every one receives; him who was be- 
‘fore the world was, by whom it was made; who is the righteousness 
‘of God, and his wisdom; to whom all glory, honour, thanks, and praise 
‘ belongs, who is God blessed for ever. Let no image nor likeness be 
‘made; but wait in the light, which wiil bring condemnation on that 
‘part which would make images; for that prisons the just. To the lust 
‘yield not the eye, nor the flesh; for the pride of life stands in that 
‘which keeps out the love of the Father ; and upon which his judgments 
‘and wrath remain, where the love of the world is sought after, and a 
‘crown that is mortal. In this ground the evil enters, which is cursed ; 
‘which brings forth briers and thorns, where death reigns, and tribu- 
lation and anguish are upon every soul, and the Egyptian tongue is 
heard: all which is by the light condemned. There the earth is, which 
must be removed: by the light it is seen, and by the power it is re- 
moved, and out of its place it is shake: to which the thunders utter 
‘ their voices, before the mysteries of Gud be opened, and Jesus revealed. 


‘ Therefore all ye, whose minds are turned to this light, wait upon the — 


‘Lord Jesus for the crown that is immortal, and that fadeth not away. 
“Go 
‘ This is to be sent amongst all friends 
‘in the truth, the flock of God, to be 
‘read at their meetings." 


While friends abode in the northern parts, a priest of Wrexham in 
Wales, named Morgan Floyd. having heard reports concerning us, sent 
two of his congregation into the north to inquire concerning us, to try 
us, and bring him an account of us. When these triers came amongst 
us, the power of the Lord seized on them, and they were both convinced 
of the truth. So they staid some time with us, and then returned to 
Wales; where afterwards one of them departed from his convince- 
ment; but the other named John-ap-John, abode in the truth, and re- 
ceived a part of the ministry, in which he continued faithful. 

Now were the priests greatly disturbed at Newcastle, Kendal, and in 


most of the northern counties. There being one Gilpin, who had some- 


times come amongst us at Kendal, and soon ran out from the truth into 
vain imaginations; they made what evil use they could of him against 
us; but the Lord’s power confounded them all. And the Lord God cut 
off two of those persecuting justices at Carlisle; and the other, after a 
time, was turned out of his place, and left the town. 

About this time the oath or engagement to O. Cromwell was tendered 
_ to the soldiers; many of whom were disbanded, because in obedience to 
Christ, they could not swear: John Stubbs, for one, who was convinced 
when I was in Carlisle prison, became a good soldier in the Lamb’s war, 
and a faithful minister of Christ Jesus; travelling much in the service 
of the Lord in Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Egypt, and America. 
And th Lord’s power preserved him out of the hands of the papists 


ed 


1654] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 157 


though many times he was in great danger of the inquisition. But some 
of the soldiers, who had been convinced in their judgment, but had not 
come into obedience to the truth, took O. Cromwell’s oath; and, going 
afterwards into Scotland, and coming before a garrison there, the gar- 
rison thinking they had been enemies, fired at them, and killed divers of 
them; which was a sad event. 

When the churches were settled in the north, and friends were sat 
down under Christ’s teaching, and the glory of the Lord shined over 
them, I passed from Swarthmore to Lancaster about the beginning of 
the year 1654, visiting friends, till 1 came to Synder-hill-green, where a 
meeting was appointed three weeks before; leaving the north fresh and 
green, under Christ their teacher. We passed through Halifax, a rude 
town of professors, and came to Thomas Taylor’s, who had been a cap- 
tain, where we met with some janglers: but the Lord’s power was over 
all; for I travelled in the motion of God’s power. When I came to 
Synder-hill-green, there was a mighty meeting; some thousands of peo- 
ple, as it was judged, and many persons of note were there, captains, 
and other officers; and there was a general convincement; for the 
Lord’s power and truth was set over all, and there was no opposition. 

About this time did the Lord move upon the spirits of many whom he had 
raised up, and sent forih to labour in his vineyard, to travel southwards, 
and spread themselves in the service of the gospel to the eastern, south- 
ern, and wesiern parts of the nation: Francis Howgill and Edward Bur- 
rough to London; John Camm and John Audland to Bristol; Richard 
Hubberthorn and George Whitehead towards Norwich; Thomas 
Holmes into Wales, and many othersdiflerent ways: for above sixty 
ministers had the Lord raised up, and did now send abroad out of the 
north country. The sense of their service being very weighty upon me, 
I was moved to give forth the following paper : 


‘ To friends in the ministry : 


‘ Aux friends every-where, Know the Seed of God, which bruiseth the 
‘seed of the serpent, and is atop of the seed of the serpent; which Seed 
‘sins not, but bruiseth the serpent’s head that doth sin, and tempts to sin: 
‘which Seed God’s promise and blessing is to; and which is one in the 
‘male and in the female. Where it is head, and hath bruised the head 
‘of the other, to the beginning you are come; and the younger is known, 
‘and he that is servant to the younger; and the promise of God, which 
‘is to the Seed, is fulfilled and fulfilling; and the scriptures come to be 
‘opened and owned; and the flesh of Christ known, who took upon him 
‘the seed of Abraham according to the flesh; the everlasting priesthood 
‘known, and everlasting covenant. Christ takes upon him the seed of 
‘ Abraham, and is a priest after the order of Melchisedeck; without father, 
‘without mother, without beginning of days or end of life: this is the 
‘priest that ever lives; the covenant of life, ligh:, and peace. The ever- 

lasting offering here is known once for all, which offering overthrows 
‘that nature which offered; out of which the priesthood arose. that 
could not continue by reason of death. And here is the other otlering 
known, the everlasting offering; which perfects for ever them that are 
sanctified: which offering blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances, 
triumphs over them, and ascends above all principalities and powers. 
He that hath the Spirit of Jesus, sees this; and here is the love of God 
received, that doth not rejoice in iniquity, but leads to repent of it. 


158 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1654 


This is the word of the Lord God to you all, friends eveny-where scat- 
‘tered abroad, Know the power of God ‘a one another, and in that re- 
‘joice; for then you rejoite in the cross of Christ, who is not of the 
‘world; which cross is the power of God to all them that are saved. 
‘ You, that know and feel the power, you feel the cross of Christ, you 

feel the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one 

that believeth. He that believes in the light, believes in the everlasting 
covenant, in the one offering, comes to the life of the prophets and 

Moses, comes to see Christ the hope, the mystery, which hope perisheth 

not; lets you see the hope that perisheth, which is not that mystery: 

and the expectation in that perishing hope fades. Where this never- 

failing hope is witnessed, the Lord comes to be sanctified in the heart, 

and you come to the beginning, to Christ the-hope, which perisheth not; 

but the other hope, the other expectation perisheth. So all of you, 

know the perishing of the other, and the failing of the expectation 

therein ; and know that which perisheth not: that you may be ready to 

give a reason of this hope with meckness and fear, to every man that 
‘asketh you. Christ the hope, the mystery, perisheth not; the end of 
‘all perishing things, the end of all changeable things, the end of the de- 
‘caying covenant, the end of that which waxeth old; the end of the 
‘first covenant, of Moses, and of the prophets; the righteousness of 
‘God, Christ Jesus the Son; his throne ye will know, heirs with him ye 
‘ will be; who makes his children kings and priests to him, and brings 
‘ them to know his throne, and his power. There is no justification out 
‘of the light, out of Christ; justification is in the light, in Christ. Here 
‘is the doer of the will of God; here is the entering into the kingdom. 
‘He that believes in the light, becomes a child of light; and here the 
‘ wisdom is received, that is justified of her children. Here believing in 
‘the light, you shall not abide in darkness; but shall have the light of 
‘life ; and come every one to witness the light that shines in your hearts, 
‘which will give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in 
‘the face of Jesus Christ. With this light you will see him reign, who — 
‘is the prince of life and peace; which light turns from him that is out — 
‘of the truth, and abode not in it; where the true peace is not. hae 

‘Friends, Be not hasty: for he that believes in the light, makes not 

‘haste. Here the grace is received, by which you come to be saved; — 
‘the election is known, which obtains the promise; the will is seen, that — 
‘wills; the mind is known, that runs, which obtains not; but stops and 
‘dulls. Now, that with the light being seen, and judged, and stopped, 
‘the patience is here known, which obtains the crown; and the immor- 
‘tality is brought to light. So all who act contrary to the light, and do ~ 
‘not believe in it, do not come to justification. And all friends, if you 
‘ go from the light, from wanting to have the promise of God fulfilled to 
‘the Seed, whereby you may know Christ reign, you thereby bring on 
‘yourselves changeable garments, and come to wear the changeable 
‘ garments, and the strange flesh, which leads to adultery, which the law — 
‘goes upon; which shuts out of the kingdom: and out of this will doth 
‘proceed the work or building that is for the fire; whereby you may 
‘come to suffer loss. Therefore love the light, which doth condemn that; 
‘and receive the power from the Lord, with which you stand over that, 
‘and condemn it; feeling and seeing that which gives you victory over 

the world, and to see out of time, to before time. Again, friends, Know 

Abraham, that must obey the voice of Sarah, that bears seed; which © 


654] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 159 


: casts forth the bond-woman and her son. Do not go forth, there will 
_ ‘the wildness lodge. Know that which bears the wild son, and its 
_ ‘mother, who is not Sarah; for the promise is to the Seed, not of many, 
‘but one; wnich seed is Christ: and this seed now you come to witness 
stands on the top of all, yea, on the head of the serpent. And so all, 
as I said before, who come to feel and witness this, come to the begin- 
ning: and this to all the seed of God, the church, that it you may all come 
to know, where there is no blemish, nor spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such 
thing. This is that which is purchased by the blood of Jesus, and to 
the Father presented out of all that defiles; which is the pillar and 
ground of truth. None attain to this, but such who come to the light 
of Christ, who purchased this church. They who go from the light, 
“are shut out and condemned, though they profess all the scriptures de- 
‘clared from it. Therefore walk in the light, that you may have fellow- 
‘ship with the Son, and with the Father; and come all to witness his 
‘image, his power, and his Jaw, which is his light, that hath converted 
‘your souls, and brought them to submit to the higher power, above that 
‘which is out of the truth: that you may know here the mercy and 
‘truth, and the faith that works by love, which Christ is the author of; 
* who lighteth every one of you: which faith gives the victory. That 
‘which gives the victory, is perfect; and that which the ministers of 
‘God received from God, is that which is perfect; and that which they 
‘are to minister, is for the perfecting of the saints; till they all come in 
‘the unity of the faith unto a perfect man. This is the word of the Lord 
‘to you all: Every one in the measure of life wait, that with it all your 
‘minds may be guided up to the Father of life, the Father of spirits: to 
‘receive power from him, and wisdom, that with it you may be ordered 
‘to his glory: to whom be all glory for ever! All keep in the light and 
‘life, that judgeth down that which is contrary to the light and life. So 
‘the Lord God Almighty be with you all. And keep your meetings 
‘every-where, being guided by that of God; by that you may see the 
* Lord among you, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world; 
‘that men who-are come into the world might believe. He that believ- 
eth not, the light condemns him; he that believeth, cometh out of con- 
demnation. ‘This light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the 

* world, which they that hate it stumble at, is the light of men. 
‘ All friends that speak in publick, see that it be in the life of God; for 
‘that begets to God; the fruits of that shall never wither. This sows to 
_ ‘the Spirit which is in prison, and of the Spirit reaps life; and the other 
“sows to the flesh, and of the flesh reaps corruption. This you may see 
‘all the world over amongst these seeds-men, what may be reaped in the 
_ field, that is the world. Therefore in the Spirit of the Lord wait, which 
cuts down and casts out all this, the root and branches of it. So in 
_ that wait to receive power, and the Lord God Almighty preserve you 
‘in it; whereby you may come to feel the light, that comprehends time 
“and the world, and fathoms it: which, believed in, gives you victory 
“over the world. Here the power of the Lord is received, which sub- 
‘dues all the contrary, and puts off the garments that will stain and pol- 
‘lute. With this light you come to reach the light in every man, which 
‘Christ enlightens every man that.cometh into the world withal; and 
“there the things of Christ come to be known, and the voice of Christ 
_heard. Therefore keep in the light, the covenant of peace; and walk 
in the covenant of life. There is that which maketh merry over the 


460 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [less 


‘witness of God, and there is that which maketh merry in the Lord; 
‘ which rejoiceth over that which hath made merry over it; of that take 
‘ notice, you who be in the light. Such the Lord doth beautify, whose 
‘trust is in his strength; and the Lord doth see such, and them that are 
‘in his light. But such as be from the light, whose eyes are after their 
“ abominations and idols, their eyes are te. he blinded, their beautiful idols 
and their abominations to be destroyed, and by the light condemned, 
which they have made from the life in their own strength: which with 
the light is seen, and overthrown by the power of God. “If you can 
‘change my covenant,” saith the Lord, “ which keeps the day in tts sea- 
“son, and the night in its season (mark, my covenant, the light) if you 
“can change this, then may you change the covenant of God with his 
“seed.” So all friends that are turned to the light which cometh from 
‘him by whom the world was made, who was before it was made, 
‘Christ Jesus, the Saviour of your souls, abide in the light, and you will 
see your salvation to be walls and bulwarks against that which the light 
discovers to be contrary to it. Waiting in the light you will receive 
‘the power of God, which is the gospel of peace, that you may be shod - 
‘ with it. Know that in one another which raiseth up the seed of God, 
sets it over the world and the earth, and crucifies the affections and 
lusts: then the truth comes to reign, which is the guide. | 


4G: (EF 


About this time Rice Jones of Nottingham (who had been a Baptist 
and was turned Ranter) and his company began to prophesy against me, 
ziving out, That I was then at the highest, and after that time I should” 
fall down as fast. He sent a bundle of railing papers from Nottingham 
to Mansfield, Clauson, and the towns thereabouts, judging friends for de- 
claring the truth in the markets and in the steeple-houses ; which fapeam 
I answered. But their prophecies came upon themselves; for soon after 
they fell to pieces, and many of his followers became friends, and cone 
tinued so. And through the Lord's blessed power truth and friends have’ 
increased, and do increase in the increase of God; and I by the same 
power have been and am preserved, and kept in the everlasting seed tha 
uever fel] nor changes. But Rice Jones took the oaths that were put to 
him, and so disobeyed the command of Christ. Many such false’ 
prophets have risen up-against me, but the Lord hath blasted them, an 
will blast all who rise against the blessed seed, and me in that. My con-— 
fidence is in the Lord ; Tor whosoever did, I saw their end, and how the 
Lord would confound them before he sent me forth. : 

I was now at Synder-hill-green, where I had a large meeting in the 
day-time, and another at night in Thomas Stacy’s house; for the people” 
came from far and could not soon depart. The high sheriff of the 
county told captain Bradford he Wietded to come up, with half a dozen 
of his troopers, to the meeting; but the Lord prevented him. When I 
had staid some meetings theres honte. I travelled up and down in York.” 
shire as far as Holderness, and to the Land’s-end that way, visiting” 
friends and the churches of Christ; which were finely settled under his, 
teaching. At length I reached captain Bradford’s house, whither many | 
Ranters came from York to wrangle; but they were confounded. | 
Thither came she called the lady Montague; who was then convinced, 
and lived and died in the truth. 

Then J went to Thomas Taylor’s, within three miles of Halifax, where 


1654} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 16 


was a meeting of about two hundred people; amongst which were 


many rude persons, and divers butchers, who had bound themselves with 
an oath before they came out, that they would kill me (as I was told): 
one of those butchers had been accused for killing a man and a woman. 
They came in a very rude manner, and made a great disturbance in the 
meeting, which being in a close, Thomas Taylor stood up and said ta 
tuem, “If you will be civil, you may stay; but if not, I charge you to 
“be gone from off my ground.” But they grew worse, and said they 
would make it like a common; and they yelled and made a noise as if 
they had been at a bear-baiting. ‘They thrust friends up and down, who 
being peaceable, the Lord’s power came over them. Several times they 
push’d me off from the place I stood on, by the crowding of the people 
together against me; but still I was moved of the Lord to stand up 
again as I was thrust down. At last I was moved of the Lord to say to 
them, ‘If they would discourse of the things of God, let them come up 
‘to me one by one; and if they had any thing to object, I would answer 
‘them all, one after another ;’ but they were all silent, and had nothing 
to say: and then the Lord’s power came so over them all, and answered 
the divine witness in them, that they were bound by the power of God, 
and a glorious powerful meeting we had, and the minds of the people 
were turned by the holy Spirit in them to God, and to Christ their 


teacher. The powerful word of life was largely declared that day, and 


in the life and power of God we broke up our meeting; and that rude 
company went their way to Halifax. The people asked them, “ Why 

they did not kill me, according to the oath they. had sworn!” They 

aliciously answered, “I had so bewitched them, they could not do it.” 
Thus was the devil chained-atthattime. Friends told me, they used to 

ome at other times and be very rude, and sometimes break their seats 
and make frightful work amongst them; but the Lord’s power had now 
bound them. Shortly after, this butcher, that had been accused of kill- 
ing a man and a woman before, and who was one of those that had 
bound himself by an oath to kill me, killed another man, and was there- 
upon sent to York gaol. Another of those rude butchers, who had also 
sworn to kill me, having accustomed himself to thrust his tongue out of 


- his mouth in derision of friends when they passed by him, had his tongue 


so swollen out of his mouth that he could never draw it in again, but 
died so. Several strange and sudden judgments came upon many of 
these conspirators against ne, which would be too large to declare here. 
God’s vengeance from heaven came upon the blood-thirsty, who sought 
after blood; for all such spirits I laid before the Lord, and left him to 
deal with them, who is stronger than all, in whose power I was pre- 
served and carried on to do his work. The Lord hath raised a fine peo- 
ple in those parts, whom he hath drawn to Christ, and gathered in his 
name; who feel Christ amongst them, and sit under his teaching. 

After this I came to Balby ; from whence several friends accompanied 
me into Lincolnshire, of whom some went to the steeple-houses, and 
some to private meetings. There came to the meeting where I was, the 
sheriff of Lincoln, and several with him; who made great contention 
and jangling for a time: but at length the Lord’s power struck him, that 
he was convinced of the truth, and received the word of life,.as did 
several others also who had opposed, and continued amongst friends till 


they died. Great meetings there were, and a large convincement in 


those parts. Many were turned to the Lord Jesus, and came to sit 


“~ 
Be 
.. 


= a ; a 
? 


under his teaching, leaving their priests and their supeistitious ways 
and the day of the Lora flourished over all amongst them that came to 
our meetings in that country. One called Sir Richard Wrey was con- 
vinced ; also his brother and his brother’s wife, who abode in the truth 
and died therein; though he afterwards ran out. 

Having visited those countries, I came into Derbyshire; the sheriff 
of Lincoln, who was lately convinced, being with me. In one meeting 
we had some opposition; but the Lord’s glorious power gave dominion 
over all. At night came a company of bailifis and serving-men, and 
called me out. | went out to them, having some friends with me. They 
were exceeding rude and violent; for they had, it seems, plotted to- 
gether, and intended to have carried me away with them in the dark of 
the evening by force, to have done me a mischief; but the Lord’s power 
chained them, so that they could not effect their design; and at last they 
went away. The next day Thomas Aldam, understanding the serving- 
men belonged to a knight, who lived not far off, went to his house and 
laid before him the bad carriage of his servants. The knight rebuked 
them, and did not allow of their evil behaviour towards us. 

After this we came to Skegby, in Nottinghamshire, where we had a 
great meeting of divers sorts; and the Lord’s power went over them, 
and all was quiet. ‘The people were turned to the Spirit of God, by 
which many came to receive his power, and to sit under the teaching of 
Christ, their Saviour. A great people the Lord hath in those parts. 

I passed towards Kidsley-park, where came many Ranters; but the 
Lord’s power check’d them. From thence I went into the Peak-country 
to Thomas Hammersley’s where came the Ranters of that country, and 
many high professors. The Ranters opposed me, and fell a swearing. - 
When I reproved them for swearing, they would bring scripture for it, 
alledging Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph swore; and the priests, Moses, © 
the prophets, and the angels swore. ‘I confessed all these did so, as the 
‘scripture records; but said I, Christ (who said, Before Abraham was I © 
‘am) commanded, Swear not at all. Christ ends the prophets, the old — 
‘priesthood, the dispensation of Moses, and reigns over the house of — 
‘Jacob and Joseph; and he says, Swear not at all. And God, when he 
‘bringeth the first-begotten into the world, saith, Let all the angels of 
‘God worship him, to wit, Christ Jesus, who saith, Swear not all. As 
‘for the plea that men make for swearing to end their strife, Christ, who 

says, Swear not all, destroys the devil and his works, who is the author 
‘of strife: for that is one of his works. And God said, “ This is my be- 
“loved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” So the Son is 
‘to be heard who forbids swearing. And the apostle James, who did 
‘hear the Son of God, followed him, and preached him, forbids all oaths. — 
‘James v. 12.’ So the Lord’s power went over them: and his Son and 
his doctrine was set over them. The word of life was fully and richly 
preached, and many were convinced that day. This Thomas Ham- | 


— or 


mersley being summoned to serve upon a jury, was admitted to serve 

without an oath; and being foreman of the jury, when he brought in 

the verdict, the judge declared, “ That he had been a judge so many — 
“ years, but never heard a more upright verdict than that Quaker had 
“then brought in.” Much might be written of things of this nature, 
which time would fail to declare. But the Lord’s blessed power and - 
truth was exalted over all, who is worthy of all praise and glory for 
ever ! 


1654] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 163 


Travelling through Derbyshire, | visited fi‘ends till | came to Swan- 
_ ington, in Leicestershire, where was a general meeting, to which many 
Ranters, Baptists, and other professors came; for great contests there 
had been with them, and with the priests in that town. To this meeting 
several friends came from divers parts; John Audland, Francis Howgill, 
Edward Pyot from Bristol, and Edward Burrough from London; and 
several were convinced in those parts. The Ranters made a disturk- 
ance, and were very rude; but at last the Lord’s power came over them, 
and they were confounded. The next day Jacob Bottomly, a great 
Ranter, came from Leicester; but the Lord’s power stopt him, and came 
over them all. There came a priest too; but he also was confounded 
by the mighty power of the Lord. About this time the priests, Baptists, 
Ranters, and other professors were very rude, and stirred up rude peo- 
ple against us. We sent to the Ranters to come forth, and try their god. 
Abundance of them came, who sung, whistled, and danced; but the 
Lord’s power so prevailed over them that many of them were con- 
vinced. 

After this I went to Twycross, whither came some Ranters, who sung 
and danced before me; but I was moved in the dread of the Lord to re- 
prove them: and the Lord’s power came over them, so that some of them 
were convinced, and received the Spirit of God; who are become a 
pretty people, living and walking soberly in the truth of Christ. I went 
to Anthony Brickley’s, in Warwickshire, where there was a great meet- 
ing; several Baptists and others came and jangled: but the Lord’s power 
came over them. 

Then I went to Drayton, in Leicestershire, to visit my relations. As 
soon as I was come in, Nathaniel Stevens, the priest, having got another 
priest, and given notice to the country, sent to me to come to them; for 
they could not do any thing till came. I, having been three years away 
from my relations, knew nothing of their design. But at last I went into 
the steeple-house yard, where the two priests were; and they had gath- 
_ ered abundance of people. They would have had me gone into the 

steeple-house. I asked them, what I should do there? They said, Mr. 

Stephens could not bear the cold. I told them, he might bear it as well 

as]. At last we went into a great hall, Richard Farnsworth being with 

me; and a great dispute we had with these priests concerning their prac- 
tice, how contrary they were to Christ and his apostles. The priests 
, would know where tithes were forbidden or ended. I shewed them out 
of the seventh chapter to the Hebrews, ‘ That -not.only tithes, but the 

‘priesthood that took-tithes, was ended; and the law was ended and dis- 

‘annulled by which.the priesthood was made, and tithes were command- 

‘ed to be paid.” Then they stirred up the people to some lightness and 
_ rudeness. I had known Stephens from a child, therefore I laid open his 

condition and the manner of his preaching: ‘and how he, like the rest 

‘of the priests, did apply the promises to the first birth which must die. 
_ ‘But I shewed that the promises were to the seed, not to many seeds, but 

*to the one seed, Christ; who was one in male and female: for all were 
‘to be born again, before they could enter into the kingdom of God.’ 
Then he said, I must not judge so. I told him, ‘He that was spiritual 
‘judged all things.’ Then he confessed, That was a full scripture; But, 
neighbours, said he, this is the business ; Gzorce Fox is come to the light 
‘of the sun, and now he thinks to put out my star-light. I told him, ‘1 
{ world not quench the least measure of God in any, much less put out 


ed 


164 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1654 


‘his star-light, if it were true light from the morning-star. But I told 
him, if he had any thing from Christ, he ought to speak it freely, and not 
take tithes from the people for preaching ; seeing Christ commanded his 

‘ministers to give freely, as they had received freely.’ So I charged him 

to preach no more for tithes or any hire. But he said, he would not 

yield to that. After awhile the people began to be vain and rude, where- 
upon we broke up; yet some were made loving to the truth that day. 

Before we parted, I told them, ‘If the Lord would, I intended to be at 
tae town again that day seven-night.’ In the interim J went into the 

country, had meetings, and came again that day seven-night. Against 

that time this priest had got seven priests to help him; for he had given 
notice at a lecture on a market-day at Adderston, that such a day there 
would be a meeting and a dispute with me. I knew nothing of it; but 
only had said I] should be in town that day seven-night again. These 
eight priests had gathered several hundreds of people, even most of the 
country thereabouts, and would have had me into the steeple-house. I 
refused to go in, and got ona hill, and there spoke to them and the peo- 
ple. Thomas Taylor, James Parnel, and several other friends were with 
me. ‘The priests thought that day to have trampled down truth; but the 
truth came over them. Then they grew light and the people rude. The 
priests would not stand trial with me; but would be contending here and 
there a little with one friend or other. At last one of the priests brought 


his son to dispute with me; but his mouth was soon stopt. When he 


could not tell how to answer, he would ask his father, and his father was 
confounded also when he came to answer for his son. So after they had 
toiled themselves, they went in a rage to priest Stephens’s house to drink. 
As they went away I said, ‘I never came to a place where so many 


eo | 


‘priests together would not stand the trial with me” Whereupon they — 


and some of their wives came about me, laid hold of me, and fawningly 
said, ‘ What might I have been, if it had not been for the Quakers” Then 


they fell a pushing of friends to and fro, to thrust them from me, and to — 


pluck me to themselves. After awhile several lusty fellows came, took 


me up in their arms, and carried me into the steeple-house porch, intend-— 
ing to have carried me into the steeple-house by force; but the door be- 


ing locked, they fell down on an heap, having me under them. As soon 
as I could I got from them to my hill again: then they got me from that 


place, took me to the steeple-house wall, and set me ona bass like a stool; 


and all the priests, being come back, stood under with the people. The 
priests cried, Come, to argument, to argument. [I said, ‘I denied all their 


‘ voices, for they were the voices of hirelings and strangers.’ They cried, — 


Prove it, prove it. I directed them to the tenth of John, where they 


might see what Christ said of such; he declared, ‘ He was the true Shep- — 


‘herd that laid down his life for his sheep, and his sheep heard his voice 
‘and followed him; but the hireling would fly when the wolf came, be- 
‘cause he was an hireling.’ J offered to prove that they were such hire- 
lings. Then the priests plucked me off from the bass again, and them- 
selyes got all upon basses under the steeple-house wall. Then I felt the 
mighty power of God arise over all, and told them, ‘If they would give 


‘audience, and hear me quietly, I would shew them by the scriptures why — 


‘I denied those eight priests or teachers that stood before me, and all the 
‘hireling teachers of the world whatsoever, and I would give them scrip 
‘tures for what I said.’ Whereupon both priests and people consented 
Then I shewed them out of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Malachi 


654] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 165 


and other prophets, that they were in the steps of such as God sent his 
true prophets to cry against; for, said I, ‘ You are such as the prophet 
‘Jeremiah cried against, chap. v. when he said, “ The prophets prophesy 
“falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means;” which he called an 
‘horrible filthy thing. You are such as used their tongues, and said, Thus 
«saith the Lord, when the Lord never spoke to them. Such as followed 
‘their own spirits, and saw nothing; but spoke a divination of their own 
‘brain: and by their lies-and-their lightness caused the people te err, 
‘Jer. xiv. You aresuch as they were that sought their gain from their 
quarter ; that were as greedy dumb dogs, that could never have enough, 
‘whom the Lord sent his prophet Isaiah to cry against, Isa. lvi. You 
‘are such as they were who taught for handfuls of barley and pieces of 
‘bread, who sewed pillows under people’s arm-holes, that they might lie 
‘soft in their sins, Ezek. xiii You are such as they that taught for the 
‘fleece and the wool, and made a prey of the people, Ezek. xxxiv. But 
‘the Lord is gathering his sheep from your mouths, and from your bar 
‘ren mountain; and is bringing them to Christ, the one shepherd, whom 
‘he hath set over his flocks; as by his prophet Ezekiel he then declared 
‘he would do. You are such as those that divined for money, and 
‘preached for hire; and if a man did not put into their mouths they pre- 
‘pared war against him, as the prophet Micah complained, chap. iii.’ 
Thus I went through the prophets too largely to be here repeated. Then 
corning to the New Testament, I shewed from thence, that ‘they were 
‘like the chief priests, scribes, and pharisees, whom Christ cried wo 
‘against, Matth. xxiii. And that they were such false apostles as the 
‘true apostles cried against, such as taught for filthy lucre; such anti- 
‘christs and deceivers as they cried against, that minded earthly things, 
‘and served not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies: for they 
‘that served Christ gave freely and preached freely, as he commanded 
‘them. But they that will not preach without hire, tithes, or outward 
“means, serve their own bellies, and not Christ; and through the good 
‘words of the scriptures, and feigned words of their own, they made 
‘merchandize of the people then, as (said ]) ye do now. When I had 
‘largely quoted the scriptures, and shewed them wherein they were like 
‘the pharisees, loving to be called of men masters, to go in long robes, 
‘to stand praying in the synagogues, to have the uppermost rooms at 
‘feasts and the like; and when | had thrown them out in the sight of the 
‘people amongst the false prophets, deceivers, scribes, and pharisees, and 
*shewed at large how such as they were judged and condemned by the 
‘true prophets, Christ, and the apostles, I directed them to the light of 
‘Jesus, who enlightens every man that cometh into the world; that by it 
‘they might see whether these things were not true as had been spoken.’ 
When I appealed to that of God in their consciences, the light of Christ 
Jesus in them, they could not abide to hear it; they were all quiet til] 
then; but then a professor said, George, what! wilt thou never have 
done? IJ told him, I should have done shortly. I went on a little longer, 
and cleared myself of them in the Lord’s power. When I had done, all 
the priests and people stood silent for a time; at last one of the priests 
said, They would read the scriptures that I had quoted. I told them 
with all my heart. They began to read the twenty-third of Jeremiah, 
where they saw the marks of the false prophets that he cried against 
When they had read a verse or two, I said, Take notice, people ; but the 
ariests sa‘d, Hold thy tongue, George. I bid them read the whole cha 


166 GEORGE FOX’'S JOURNAL. [16:4 


ter thro ighout, for it was all against them. Then they stopt, and would 
read no further; but asked me a question. I told them I would answer 
their question, the matter being first granted that I had charged them 
with, viz. that they were false prophets, false teachers, antichrists, and 
deceivers, such as the true prophets, Christ, and the apostles, cried against. 
A professor said Nay to that; but I said, ‘Yea: for you leaving the 
‘matter, and going to another thing, seem to consent to the proof uf the — 
‘former charge.’ Then I answered their question, which was this; 

Seeing those false prophets were adulterated, Whether I did judge 
‘priest Stephens to be an adulterer?? To which I answered, ‘He was 
‘adulterated from God in his practice, like those false prophets and the 
‘Jews.’ They would not stand to vindicate him, but broke up the me¢t- 
ing. Then the priests whispered together; and Stephens came to m& 
and desired that my father, brother, and I might go aside with him, that 
he might speak to me in private, and the rest of the priests should keep 
the people from coming to us. ‘1 was very loth to go aside with him; 
but the people cried, ‘Go, George; do, George, go aside with him.’ Be- 
ing afraid, if I did not go, they would say | was disobedient to my pa- 
rents, | went, and the rest of the priests were to keep the people off; but 
they could not, for the people, being willing to hear, drew close to us. I 
asked the priest, what he had to say? He said, ‘If he was out of the way 
‘I should pray for him, and if I was out of the way he would pray for 
‘me; and he would give me a form of words to pray for him by.’ [I re- 
plied, ‘ It seems thou dost not know whether thou beest in the right way 
‘or no; neither dost thou know whether I am in the right way or no; 
‘but I know that Iam in the everlasting way, Christ Jesus, which thou 
‘art out of. Thou wouldst give me a form of words to pray by, yet 
‘thou deniest the Common Prayer Book to pray by as well as I, and | 
‘deny thy form of words as well as it. If thou wouldst have me pray 
‘for thee by a form of words, is not this to deny the apostle’s doctrine 
‘and practice of praying by the Spirit, as it gave words and utterance !’ 
Here the people fell a laughing; but I was moved to speak more to him. 
And when | had cleared myself to him and them we parted, after I had 
told them, that I should, God willing, be in town that day seven-night 
again. So the priests pack’d away, and many people were convinced - 
that day; for the Lord’s power came over all. Many that were con- 
vinced before, were by that day’s work confirmed in the truth, and abode 
in it: and a great shake it gave to the priests. Yea, my father, though 
a hearer and follower of the priest, was so well satisfied, that he struck 
his cane upon the ground, and said, ‘ Truly I see, he that will but stand 
‘to the truth, it will bear him out.’ I passed about in the country till 
that day seven-night, and then came again; for we had appointed a 
meeting at my relations’ house. Priest Stephens, having notice before- 
hand thereof, had got another priest to him. They had a company of 
troopers with them; and sent for me to come to them. But I sent them— 
word, our meeting was appointed, and they might come to it if they 
would. The priests came not; but the troopers came, and many rude 
people. They had laid their plot, That the troopers should take every 
one’s name, and then command them to go home; and such as would 
not go, they should take, and carry away with them. Accordingly they 
began, and took several names, charging them to go home; but when 
they came to take my name, my relations told them I was at home al 
ready: so they could not take me away that time. Nevertheless they 


——— ee a ee ee eee eee 


1654) GEURGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 167 


and purchased them with his blood. 

After this I went into the country, had several meetings, and came to 
Swanington, where the soldiers came; but the meeting was quiet, the 
Lord’s power was over all, and the soldiers did not meddle. Then I 
went to Leicester; and from Leicester to Whetstone. There came 
about seventeen troopers of colonel Hacker’s regiment, with his marshal, 
and took me up before the meeting, though friends were beginning to 
gather together; for there were several friends from divers parts. I 
told the marshal, ‘He might let all the friends go, I would answer for 
‘them all.’ Whereupon he took me, and let all the friends go; only Al- 
exander Parker went along with me. At night they had me before col- 
onel Hacker, his major, and captains, a great company of them; anda 
great deal of discourse we had about the priests, and about meetings; 
_| for at this time there-was’a noise of a plot against O. Cromwell. Much 

reasoning | had with them about the light of Christ, which enlighteneth 

every man that cometh into the world. Col. Hacker asked, Whether it 
was not this light of Christ that made Judas betray his master, and after 
led him to hang himself? I told him, ‘No: that was the spirit of dark- 
‘ness, which hated Christ and his light”, Then Col. Hacker said, I might 

_ go home, and keep at home; and not go abroad to meetings. I told him, 
*T was an innocent man, free from plots, and denied all such work.’ His 
son Needham said, ‘ Father, this man hath reigned too long; it is time 
to have him cut off’? I asked him, ‘For what? What had I done? or 
whom had I wronged from a child? for I was bred and born in that 
‘country, and who could accuse me of any evil from a child? Col. 
Hacker asked me again, If I would go home, and stay at home? I told 
him, ‘If I should promise him so, it would manifest that I was guilty of 
“something, to make my home a prison: and if I went to meetings, they 
‘would say I broke their order. Therefore I told them, I should go to 
‘meetings, as the Lord should order me; and could not submit to their 
requirings: but I said, we were a peaceable people.’ ‘ Well then,’ said 
colonel Hacker, ‘I will send you to-morrow morning by six o’clock to 
‘my lord protector, by captain Drury, one of his life-guard.’ That night 
[ was kept prisoner at the Marshalsea; and the next morning by the 
sixth hour I was delivered to captain Drury. I desired he would let me 
speak with colonel Hacker before I went; and he had me to his bed-side. 
Colonel Hacker set upon me presently again to go home, and keep no 
more meetings. I told him, ‘I could not submit to that; but must have 
‘my liberty to serve God, and to go to meetings.’ ‘Then,’ said he, ‘ you 
“must go before the protector.’ Whereupon ‘I kneeled on his bed-sice, 
and besought the Lord to forgive him; for he was as Pilate, though he 
@ 
‘gts 


Bi 


168 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1653 


would wash his hands; and when the day of his misery and trial should 
come upon him, I bid him, Then remember what I had said to him, 
But he was stirred up and set on by Stephens, and the other priests and 
professors, wherein their envy and baseness was manifest; who, when 
they could not overcome me by disputes and arguments, nor resist the 
Spirit of the Lord that was in me, they got soldiers to take me up. 

Afterwards, when colonel Hacker was imprisoned in London, a day 
or two before his execution, he was put in mind of what he had done 
against the innocent; and he remembered it, and confessed it to Marga- 
ret Fell; saying, He knew well whom she meant; and he had trouble 
upon him for it. So his son, who had told his father I had reigned too 
long, and it was time to have me cut off, might observe how his father 
was cut off afterwards, he being hanged at Tyburn. 

I was carried up prisoner by captain Drury from Leicester; and when 
we came to Harborough, he asked me, If I would go home, and stay a 
fortnight ? I should have my hberty, he said, if I would not go to nor 
keep meetings. I told him, I could not promise any such thing. Several 
times upon the road did he ask, and try me after the same manner; and 
still I gave him the same answers. So he brought me to London, and 
lodged me at the Mermaid over against the Mews at Charing-Cross. As 
we travelled, I was moved of the Lord to warn people at the inns and 


places, where I came, of the day of the Lord that was coming upon — 


them. William Dewsbury and Marmaduke Storr being in prison at 
Northampton, he let me go and visit them. : 

After captain Drury had lodged me at the Mermaid, he went to give 
the protector an account of me. When he came to me again, he told 
me, The protector required that I should promise not to take up a carnal 
sword or weapon against him or the government, as it then was; and 
that I should write it in what words I saw good, and set my hand to it. 
I said little in reply to captain Drury. But the next morning I was 
moved of the Lord to write a paper ‘To the protector, by the name of 
‘Oliver Cromwell; wherein I did in the presence of the Lord God de- 
‘clare, that I did deny the wearing or drawing of a carnal sword, or 
‘any other outward weapon, against him or any man. And that I was 
‘sent of God to stand a witness against all violence, and against the 
‘works of darkness; and to turn people from darkness to light; to bring 
‘them from the occasion of war and fighting to the peaceable gospel; 
‘and from being evil-doers, which the magistrate’s sword should be a 
‘terror to... When I had written what the Lord had given me to write, 
I set my name to it, and gave it to captain Drury to hand to O. Crom- 
well; which he did. After some time captain Drury brought me before 
the protector himself at Whitehall. It was in a morning, before he was 
dressed; and one Harvey, who had come a little among friends, but 
was disobedient, waited upon him. When ] came in, I was moved to 
say, ‘Peace be in this house: and I exhorted him to keep in the fear of 
‘God, that he might receive wisdom from him; that by it he m‘ght be 
‘ordered, and with it might order all things under his hand unto God’s 
‘glory.’ I spoke much to him of truth; and a graat deal of discourse 
I had with him about religion: wherein he carried himself very mo:ler- 
ately. But he said, We quarrelled with the priests, whom he called 
ministers. I told him, ‘I did not quarrel with then , they quarrelled with 
‘me and my friends. But, said I, if we own the prophets, Christ, and 


the apostles, we cannot hold up such teachers, prophets, and shepherds. — 


, 
4 
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| 
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" 


1654? GEORG«# FOX'S JOURNAL. 169 


‘as the prophets, Christ, and the apostles declared against; but we must 

‘declare against them by the same power and Spirit. Then J shew- 

‘ed him, That the prophets, Christ, and the apostles declared freely, 

‘and declared against them that did not declare freely; such as preach- 

ed for filthy lucre, divined for money, and preached for hire, and were 

‘covetous and greedy, like the dumb dogs that could never have enough: 

‘and that they, who have the same Spirit that Christ and the propnets, 

‘and the apostles had, could not but declare against all such now, as 

‘they did then.’ As I spoke he several times said, It was very good, and 

it was truth. ‘I told him, That all Christendom (so called) had the scrip- 

‘tures, but they wanted the power and Spirit that those had who gave 

‘forth the scriptures; and that was the reason they were not in fellow- 

‘ship with the Son, nor with the Father, nor with the scriptures, nor one 
‘with another.’ Many more words I had with him; but people coming 
in, I drew a little back. As I was turning, he catched me by the hand, 
and with tears in his eyes, said, ‘Come again to my house; for if thou 

‘and I were but an hour of a day together, we should be nearer one to 

‘the other ;’ adding, That he wished me no more ill than he did to his 

own soul. I told him, ‘If he did, he wronged his own soul; and ad- 

‘monished him to hearken to God’s voice, that he might stand in his 

‘counsel, and obey it; and if he did so, that would keep him from hard- 

‘ness of heart: but if he did not hear God’s voice, his heart would be 

‘hardened.’ He said, It was true. Then I went out; and when captain 

Drury came out after me, he told me, His lord protector said, I was at 
-, liberty, and might go whither I would. Then I was brought into a great 
hall, where the protector’s gentlemen were to dine. I asked them, What 
‘they brought me thither for? They said, It was by the protector’s order, 
_ that I might dine with them. I bid them let the protector know, I would 
not eat of his bread, nor drink of his drink. When he heard this, he 
said, ‘ Now I see there is a people risen, that I cannot win either with 
‘gifts, honours, offices, or places; but all other sects and people I can.’ 
It was told him again, ‘'That-we-had-forsook our own; and were not 
‘like to look for such things from him.’ 

Being set at liberty, I went to the inn where captain Drury at first 
lodged me. This captain, though he sometimes carried it fairly, was an 
enemy to me and to truth, and opposed it. When professors came to 
_ me, while I was under his custody, and he was by, he would scoff at 
trembling, and call us Quakers, as the Independents and Presbyterians 
had nicknamed us before. But afterwards he came and told me, That, 
as he was lying on his bed to rest himself in the day-time, a sudden 
trembling seized on him, that his joints knocked together; and his body 
shook so that he could not rise from his bed: he was so shaken, that he 
had not strength enough left to rise. But he felt the power of the Lord 
was upon him; and he tumbled off his bed, and cried to the Lord, and 
said le would never speak against the Quakers more, such as trembled 
at the word of God. 

Muring the time I was prisoner at Charing-Cross, there came abun- 
dance to see me, almost of all sorts, priests, professors, officers of the 
_-army, &c. Once a company of officers being with me, desired me to 
| pray wita them. I sat still, with my mind retired to the Lord. At last 

I felt the power and Spirit of God move in me; and the Lord’s power 
did so shake and shatter them, that they wonderea, though trey did not 
ive in it. f 


\ 


truth spread exceedingly. T. Aldam and R. Craven, who had been 


170 : GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1654 


Among those that came was colonel Packer, with several of his 
officers. While they were with me, came in one Cob, and a grei.t com- 
pany of Ranters with him. The Ranters began io call for drink and 
tobacco; but I desired them to forbear it in my rvom, telling them, ‘If 
‘they had such a mind to it, they might go into another room.’ One of 
them cried, ‘ All is ours:’ and another of them said, ‘ All is wel.’ J re- 
plied, ‘ How is all well, while thou art so peevish, envious, and crabbed ? 
for I saw he was of a peevish nature. I spake to their conditions, and 
they were sensible of it, and looked one upon another, wondering. 

Then colonel Packer began to talk with a light, chaffy mind, con- 
cerning God, Christ, and the scriptures: it was a great grief to my soul 
and spirit, when I heard him talk so lighily; so that I told him, ‘ He was 
‘too light to talk of the things of God: for he did not know the solidity 
‘of a man.’ Thereupon the officers raged, and said, Would I say so of 
their colonel? Packer was a Baptist: he and the Ranters bowed and 
scraped to one another very much; for it was the manner of the Rant- 
ers to be exceeding complimental, so that Packer bid them give over 
their compliments; but I told them, ‘ They were fit to go together, for 
‘they were both of one spirit.’ | 

This colonel lived at Theobalds near Waltham, and was made a jus- 
tice of peace. He set up a great meeting of the Baptists at Theobalds” 
Park; for he and some other officers had purchased it. They were ex- 
ceeding high, railed against friends and truth; and threatened to appre-_ 
hend me with their warrants, if ever I came there. Yet after I was set 
at liberty, I was moved of the Lord to go to Theobalds, and appoint a 
meeting hard-by them; to which many of his people came, and divers 
of his hearers were convinced of the way of truth, received Christ the 
free teacher, and came off from the Baptist ; which made him rage the 
more. But the Lord’s power came over him so, that he was not able to 
meddle with me. Then I went to Waltham, hard-by him, and had a 
meeting there. The people were very rude, gathered about the house,” 
and broke the windows. Whereupon I went out to them, with the bible 
in my hand, desired them to come in; and told them, ‘I would shew 

them scripture both for our principles and practices.’ When I had 
done so, I shewed them also ‘that their teachers were in the steps of 
‘such as the prophets, Christ, and the apostles cried against. I directed” 
‘them to the light of Christ, the Spirit of God in their own hearts; that” 
‘by it they might come to know their free teacher, the Lord Jesus” 
‘Christ’ The meeting being ended, they went away quieted and satis- 
fied; and a meeting hath since been settled in that town. But this was” 
some time after I was set at liberty by O. Cromwell. 

When I came from Whitehall to the Mermaid at Charing-Cross, 1 
staid not long there: but went into the city of London, where we had 
great and powerful meetings; so great were the throngs of people, that 
I could hardly get to and from the meetings for the crowds; and the) 


sheriffs of Lincoln, and divers friends, came up to London after me: | 
but A. Parker abode with me. 

After awhile I went to Whitehall again, and was moved to declare | 
‘the day of the Lord amongst them; and that the Lord was come to | 
‘teach his people himself: so I preached truth both to the officers, and 
to them that were called Oliver’s gentlemen, who were of his guard. | 
But a priest opposed, while I declared the word of the Lord amongst 


. 


1654} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 171 


them: for Oliver had several about him, of which this was ks news- 

monger; an envious priest, a light, scornful, chaffy man. I bid him re- 
ent; and he put it in his news-paper the next week, that I had been at 
hitehall, and had bid a godly minister there repent. When I went thither 
again, | met with him; and abundance of people gathered about me. I 
manifested the priest to be a liar in several things that he had affirmed: 
and he was put to silence. He put in the news, that I wore silver but- 
tons; which was false; for they were but ochimy. Afterwards he put 
in the news, that I hung ribands on people’s arms, which made them 
follow me. ‘This was another of his lies; for I never used nor wore 
ribands in my life. Three friends went to examine this priest, that gave 
forth this false intelligence; and to know of him where he had that in- 
formation? He said, It was a woman that told him so; and if they 
would come again, he would tell them the woman’s name. When they 
came again, he said, It was a man, but would not tell them his name 
then; but if they would come again, he would tell them his name, and 
where he lived. . They went the third time; and then he would not say 
who told him; but offered, if I would give it under my hand that there 
was no such thing, he would put that into the news. Thereupon the 
friends carried it to him under my hand; but when they came, he broke 
his promise, and would not put it in: but was in a rage, and threatened 
them with the constable. This was the deceitful doing of this forger of 
lies: and these lies he spread over the nation in the news, to render truth 
odious, and to put evil into people’s minds against friends and truth; of 
which a more large account may be seen in a book printed soon after 
this time, for the clearing of friends and truth from the slanders and false 
reports raised and cast upon them. ‘These priests, the news-mongers, 
were of the independent sect, like them in Leicester; but the Lord’s 
power came over all their lies, and swept them away; and many came 
to see the naughtiness of these priests. ‘The God of heaven carried me 
over all in his power, and his blessed power went over the nation; inso- 
much that many friends about this time were moved to go up and down, 
to sound forth the everlasting gospel in most parts of this nation, and 
also in Scotland; and the glory of the Lord was felt over all to his ever- 
lasting praise. A great convincement there was in London; some in 
the protector’s house and family. I went to have seen him again, but 
could not get to him, the officers were grown so rude. 

_ The Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists were greatly disturbed ; 
for many of their people turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, sat down under 
his teachings, received his power, and felt it in their hearts; and then 
they were moved of the Lord to declare against the rest of them. 

I appointed a meeting in the fields near Acton, in which the word of 
ife, the saving truth was declared freely. The Lord’s power was emi- 
nently manifested, and his blessed day exalted over all. 

About this time I was moved to write a paper, and send it among the 
' professors, on this wise: 


‘ To all professors of Christianity : 


‘Aut those that professed Jesus Christ in words, and yet heard him 
“not when he was come, said, he was a deceiver and a devil. The chief 
‘priests called him so. The Jews said, “ He hath a devil, and is mad ; 
““why do ye hear him?” But others said, “ These are not the words of 
“him that hath a devil. Cana devil open the eyes of the blind?” The 


a 


172 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1654 


Jews then doubted whether he was the Christ, or no. So all, like the 
Jews, in the knowledge, in the notion, that profess Christ without only, 
‘ where he is risen within, do not own him, but doubt of him; though 
‘ Christ be the same now and for ever. He said, “1 and my Father are 
“‘one; then the Jews took up stones to stone him;” and where Jesus 
* Christ is now spiritually come and made manifest, such as are chris- 
‘tians in outward profession only, have the same hard hearts inwardly 
‘now as the Jews had then; and cast stones at him, where he is risen. 
‘ Jesus said, “ For which of these good works do ye stone me?” The Jews . 
answered, “ For thy good works we stone thee not; but for blasphemy, 
‘in that thou being a man, makest thyself God.” Jesus answered them, 
“ Is it not written in your law, I said you are gods? and the scripture 
“cannot be broken. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified 
“and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, 1 am the 
“Son of God? The Jews said to him, Say we not well, that thou hast a 
“devil? Jesus answered, I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me. And 
“they that were in the synagogue rose up, and thrust him out of the city ; 
“and took him up to the edge of the hill whereon their city was built, 
“to cast him down headlong. The Pharisees said, “He casteth out 
“ devils by the prince of devils.” Christ was called a glutton and a wine- 

‘bibber; a friend of publicans and sinners; but wisdom is justified of 
‘her children. The officers, when the high-priests and Pharisees asked 
‘them, “ Why have ye not brought him?” said, “ Never man spake like © 
“this man.” The Pharisees said, “ Are you also deceived! Do any of 
“the rulers or of the Pharisees believe on him? but this people, which — 
“ know not the law, are accursed. Nicodemus said unto them (he that — 
“ came unto Jesus by night) doth our law judge any man before it hear — 
“him? When Stephen confessed Jesus, the substance of all figures and — 
‘types, and was brought before the chief priests to his trial, he told 
‘them, “The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands ;” and — 
‘brought the prophets’ words to witness, and told them, They were stifl- — 
‘necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, and always resisted the 
‘ Holy Ghost, as their fathers had done. Stephen was full of the Holy 
‘ Ghost, and said, He saw Jesus; and they ran upon him, and stoned him 
‘to death, as he was calling upon the Lord. When Paul confessed Jesus 
‘Christ, and his resurrection, Festus said, He was mad. When Paul 
‘preached the resurrection, some mocked. ‘The Jews persuaded the 
‘people, and they stoned him, and drew him out of the city, thinking he 
‘had been dead. The Jews stirred up the Gentiles, to make their minds 
‘ evil-aflected towards the brethren. The Jews stirred up the devout and © 
‘honourable women, and the chief of the city; and raised persecution — 
‘against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts: and 
‘there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and of the Jews, with - 
‘ their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them. In like man- 
‘ner all in the nature of those Jews now, whose religion stands in no- 
‘tions, stir up the rulers and the ignorant people, and incense them 
‘against Jesus Christ, to stone all with one consent in whom he is risen, 
. * This is, that the scripture might be fulfilled, and the blindness of the 
‘people might be discovered. The same power now is made manifest, 
‘and doth overturn the world, as did then overturn the world, to the — 
exalting of the Lord, and the pulling down of the kingdom of Satan 
and of this world, and setting up his own kingdom, to his everlasting 
praise The Lord is now exalting himself, and throwing down man’s 


y 
| 
i 
, 


1654] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. i73 


self. The proud one’s head is aloft, fearing he should lose his pride and 
his crown. The priests incense the ignorant people, for fear their trade 
‘should go down, and professors shew forth what is in them, being ful: 
-of rage; which shews that Jesus Christ the substance is not there; but 
>a stony heart, to stone the precious, where it is risen. The carnal mind 
feeds upon the outward letter ; earth feeds upon earth; and that vine- 
»yard is not dressed, but is full of briers and nettles; and ravenous 
- beasts, swine, dogs, wolves, and lions, and all venomous creatures lodge 
in that habitation. That house is not swept. These are the persecutors 

- of the just, enemies of the truth, and of Christ. These are blasphemers 
of God and his truth. These call upon God with their lips, but their 
hearts are far from him. These feed on lies; priests and people. These 
-incense the people, and stir up envy; for it begets its own, one like 
+itself, These are as the waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. 
«These have double eyes; whose bodies are full of darkness. These 
* paint themselves with the prophets’, with Christ’s, and with the apostles’ 
_ words most fair. Whited walls, painted sepulchres, murderers of the 
+ just youare. Your eyes are double, your minds are double, your hearts 
‘aredouble. Ye flatterers, repent and turn from your carnal ends, who 
‘are full of mischief; pretending God and godliness, taking him for your 
cloak; but he will uncover you, and he hath uncovered you to his chil- 
‘dren. He will make you bare, discover your secrets, take off your 
‘crown, take away your mantle and your veil, and strip you of your 
‘cloathing; that your nakedness may appear, and how you sit deceiving 
‘the nations. Your abomination and your falsehood is now made mani- 
‘fest to those who are of God; who in his power triumph over you, re- 
‘joice over you, the beast, the dragon, the false prophet, the seducer, the 
‘hypocrite, the mother of all harlots. Now thou must have thy cup 
‘double. Give it to her double. Sing over her, ye righteous ones, sing 
‘over them all, ye saints; triumph in glory, triumph over the deceit: sing 
‘the song of the lamb; triumph over the world, spread the truth abroad. 
Come ye captives out of the prison; rejoice with one accord, for the 
joyful days are coming. Let us be glad, and rejoice for ever! Single- 
ness of heart is come; pureness of heart is come; joy and gladness is 
come. The glorious God is exalting himself; truth hath been talked of, 
but now it is possessed. Christ hath been talked of; but now he is come 
‘and possessed. The glory hath been talked of; but now it is possessed, 
‘and the glory of man is defacing. The Son of God hath been talked 
‘of; but now he is come, and hath given us an understanding. Unity 
‘hath been talked of; but now it is come. Virgins have been talked of; 
‘but now they are come with oil in their lamps. He will be glorified 
‘alone. Where pride is thrown down, earth and the fleshly will is thrown 
‘down, and the pure is raised up; there alone is the Lord exalted. Let 
‘the heavens bow down to him, and the earth reel to and fro, and stag- 
‘ger up and down. The Lord is setting up his throne and his crown, 
and throwing down the crown of man; he alone will be glorified: to 
‘whom be all honour and glory, all praises and all thanks! He gives his 
children wisdom and strength, knowledge and virtue, power and riches, 
‘blessings and durable substance; an eye to discern, and an ear to hear 
things singly; brings down the pride of man’s heart, and turns the 
wicked out of the kingdom. The righteous inherit righteousness; the 
pure, pureness; the holy, holiness. Praises, praises be to the Lord, 
whose glory now shines, whose day is broken forth; which is hid from 


174 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (11654 


‘the world, hid from all worldly-wise ones, from all the prudent of this 
‘world; from the fowls of the air; from all vultures’ eyes, all venomous 
‘ beasts, all liars, all dogs, and all swine. But to them that fear his name, 
‘the secrets of the Lord are made manifest, the treasures of wisdom are 
‘opened, and the fulness of knowledge: for thou, O Lord! dost make 
‘thyself manifest to thy children. eo 


My spirit was greatly burdened to see the pride that was got up ‘nm the 
nation, even amongst professors; in the sense whereof I was moved to 
give forth a paper directed 


‘To such as follow the world’s fashions: 

‘Waar a world is this! how doth the devil garnish himself! how 
obedient are people to do his will and mind! They are altogether car- 

‘ried away with fooleries and vanities, both men and women. They 

‘have lost the hidden man of the heart, the meek and quiet spirit; which 
‘with the Lord is of great price. They have lost the adorning of © 

‘Sarah; they are putting on gold and gay apparel; women plaiting the 

‘hair, men and women powdering it; making their backs look like bags 
‘of meal. They look so strange, that they can scarce look at one an- 
‘other; they are so lifted up in pride. Pride is flown up into their head ; 
‘and hath so lifted them up, that they snuff up, like wild asses, and like © 
‘ Ephraim: they feed upon wind, and are got to be like wild heifers, who 
‘feed upon the mountains. Pride hath puffed up every one of them. | 
‘They are out of the fear of God; men and women. Young and old; 
‘one puffs up another. They must be in the fashion of the world, else | 
‘they are not in esteem; nay they shall not be respected, if they have - 
‘not gold or silver upon their backs, or if the hair be not powdered. 
‘ But if one have store of ribands hanging about his waist, at his knees ~ 
‘and in his hat, of divers colours, red, white, black, or yellow, and his 
‘hair powdered; then he is a brave man, then he is accepted, then he is - 
“no Quaker. He hath ribands on his back, belly, and knees, and his hair _ 
‘powdered. This is the array of the world. But is not this from the 
‘lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life? Likewise the 
‘women having their gold, their patches on their faces, noses, cheeks, 
‘ foreheads, their rings on their fingers, wearing gold, their cuffs double © 
‘under and above, like a butcher with his white sleeves; their ribands : 


‘tied about their hands, and three or four gold laces about their cloaths; 
‘this is no Quaker, say they. This attire pleaseth the world; and if 
‘they cannot get these things, they are discontented. But this is not the 
‘attire of Sarah, whose adorning was in the hidden man of the heart,” 
‘of a quiet and meek spirit. This is the adorning of the heathen; not 
‘of the apostle, nor of the saints, whose adorning was, not wearing of — 
‘ gold, nor plaiting of hair, but that of a meek and quiet spirit, which is” 
‘of great price with the Lord. Here was the sobriety and good orna~ 
‘ment which was accepted of the Lord. This was Paul’s exhortation 
‘and preaching. But we-sce, the talkers of Paul’s words live out of 
‘Paul’s command, and out of the example of Sarah, and are found in- 

the steps of the great heathen, who comes to examine the apostles in” 
‘his gorgeous apparel. Are not these, that have got ribands hanging 
‘about their arms, hands, back, waists, knees, hats, like fiddler’s boys? 
‘ This shews, that they are got into the basest and most contemptible life — 
‘who are in the fashion of fiddler’s boys and stage-players, quite out of 
‘the paths and steps of solid men; in the very steps and paths of the wild 


1654] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. i775 


‘heads, who give themselves up to every invention and vanity of the 
world that appears, and are inventing how to get it upon their backs, 
‘heads, feet, and legs; and say, If it be out of the fashion, it is nothing 
‘worth. Are not these spoilers of the creation, who have the fat and 
‘the best of it, and waste and destroy it? Do not these incumber God’s 
‘earth? Let that of God in all consciences answer, and who are in the 
‘wisdom judge. And further; if one get a pair of breeches like a coat, 
‘and hang them about with points, and up almost to the middle, a pair 
fof double cuffs upon his hands, and a feather in his cap, here’s a gen- 
tleman; bow before him, put off your hats, get a company of fiddlers, 

a set of musick, and women to dance. ‘This is a brave fellow. Up in 
the chamber ; up in the chamber without, and up in the chamber within. 
‘Are these your fine Christians? Yea, say they, They are Christians; 
‘but say the serious people, ‘They are out of Christ’s life, out of the apos- 
‘tles’ command, and out of the saints’ ornament. ‘To see such as are in 
‘the fashions of the world before-mentioned, a company of them playing 
at bowls, or at tables, or at shovel-board, or each taking his horse, with 
bunches of ribands on his head, as the rider hath on his own, perhaps 

a ring in his ear too, and so go to horse-racing_to spoil the creatures. 
Oh! these are gentlemen indeed, these are bred up gentlemen, these are 
brave fellows, they must take their recreation; for pleasures are lawful. 

* These in their sports, set up their shouts like wild asses. They are like 
‘the kine or beasts, when they are put to grass, lowing when they are 
‘full. Here is the glorying of those before-mentioned; but it is in the 
‘flesh, not in the Lord. These are bad christians, and shew that they 
‘are gluttoned with the creatures, and then the flesh rejoiceth. Here is 
‘evil breeding of youth and young women, who are carried away with 
‘the vanities of the mind in their own inventions, pride, arrogance, lust, 
‘gluttony, uncleanness. They eat and drink, and rise up to play. This 
‘is the generation which God is not well pleased with; for their eyes are 
‘fall of adultery, who cannot cease from evil. These be they that live 
*in pleasures upon earth; these be they who are dead while they live; 
‘who glory not in the Lord, but in the flesh: these be they that are out 
‘of the life that the scriptures were given forth from, who live in the 
‘fashions and vanities of the world, out of truth’s adorning in the devil’s 
‘adorning (who is out of the truth) not in the adorning of the Lord, 
‘which is a meek and quiet spirit, and is with the Lord of great price. 
_* But this ornament and this adorning is not put on by them that adorn 
_ themselves, and have the ornament of him that is out of the truth. That 


‘is not accepted with the Lord which is accepted in their eye. 
'G.. Be 


_ It came upon me about this time from the Lord to write ‘a short 
| ‘paper and send forth, as an exhortation and warning to the pope, and 
‘all kings and rulers in Europe. : 


‘Friends, 

‘Ye heads, rulers, kings, and nobles, of all sorts, Be not bitter, nor 
‘hasty in persecuting the lambs of Christ, neither turn yourselves ag tinst 
‘the visitation of God, and his tender love and mercies from on high. 

| ‘who sent to visit you; lest the Lord’s hand, arm, and power take hold 
‘swiftly upon you; which is now stretched over the world. It is turned 
against kings, and shall turn wise men backward, will bring their crowns 
to the dust, and lay them low and level with the earth. The Lord will 


es 


176 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. pl654 : 


be king, who gives crowns to whomsoever obey his will. This is the 
‘age, wherein the Lord God of heaven and earth is staining the pride of — 
*man and defacing his glory. You that profess Christ, and do not love 
‘your enemies, but on the contrary shut up and imprison those who are 
‘his friends; these are marks that you are out of his life, and do not love 
‘Christ, who do not the things he commands. The day of the Lord’s 
‘wrath is kindling, his fire is going forth to burn up the wicked, which 
‘will leave neither root nor branch. ‘They that have lost their habita- 
‘tion with God are out of his Spirit that gave forth the scriptures, and 
‘from the light that Jesus Christ hath enlightened them withal; and so 
‘from the true foundation. Therefore be swift to hear, slow to speak, 
‘and slower to persecute; for the Lord is bringing his people to himself, 
‘from all the world’s ways, te-Christ the way; from all the world’s 
* churches, to the church which is in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus 
‘Christ; from all the world’s teachers, to teach his people himself by his — 
‘Spirit; from all the world’s images, into the image of himself; and from — 
‘all the world’s crosses of stone or wood, into his power which is the ~ 
‘cross of Christ. For all these images, crosses, and likenesses are among 
them that are apostatized from the image of God, the power of God, the — 
cross of Christ, which now fathoms the world, and is throwing down 
that which is contrary to it; which power of God never changes. 
‘Let this go to the kings of France and of Spain, and to the pope, for 
‘them to prove all things and to hold that which is good. And first to ~ 
‘prove, that they have not quenched the Spirit; for the mighty day of — 
‘the Lord is come, and coming upon all wickedness, ungodliness, and ~ 
‘unrighteousness of men, who will plead with all flesh by fire and by 
‘sword. And the truth, the crown of glory, and the sceptre of right- 
‘eousness over all shall be exalted; which shall answer that of God in 
‘every one upon the earth, though they be from it. Christ is come a 
‘light into the world, and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the © 
‘ world, that all through him might believe. He that feeleth the light, ~ 
‘that Christ hath enlightened him withal, he feeleth Christ in his mind . 
‘and the cross of Christ, which is the power of God; he shall not need 
‘to have a cross of wood or stone to put him in mind of Christ, or of his 
‘cross, which is the power of God manifest in the inward parts. 


‘Ga ks 


Besides this I was moved to write a letter to the Protector (so called) 
‘to warn him of the mighty work the Lord hath to do in the nations, 
‘and the shaking of them; and to beware of his own wit, craft, subtilty, 

and policy, or seeking any by-ends to himself.’ 

There was about this time an order for the trying of ministers (so 
called) and for approving, or rejecting them out of their places or bene- 
fices; whereupon I wrote a paper to the justices and other commissioners, 
who were appointed to that work. 


‘Friends, 

‘You that are justices, and in commission to try ministers, who have 
‘so long been in the vineyard of God, see whether they be such as are 
‘mentioned in the scriptures, whom the prophets, Christ, and the apos- 
tles disapproved of. And if they be such as they disapproved, see how 
ye can stand approved in the sight of God, to let such go into his vine 
yard, and approve of them who will admire your persons hecause of 
advantage, and if you do not give them advan‘age they will not admire 


7 


. 354] GEORGE FOX’'S JOURNAL. 177 


_ your persons; such Jude speaks of. See if they be not such as teach 
for filthy lucre, for love of money, covetous, such as love themselves, 
‘who have a form of godliness, but deny the power; from such the 
‘apostle bids, Turn away. The apostles said, their mouths should be 
‘stopped, who served not the Lord Jesus, but their own bellies; being 
‘evil beasts, slow bellies, who mind earthly things. Paul gave Timothy 
‘a description tu try ministers by: he said, They must not be covetous, 
*nor given to wine, nor filthy lucre, nor novices; lest being lifted up into 
‘pride, they fall into the condemnation of the devil. These he was to try 
‘and prove without partiality. Take heed of approving such as he dis- 
‘approved; for since the apostles’ days, such as he disapproved have had 
‘their liberty; and they have teld us, The tongues were their original, 
‘that they were orthodox men, and that the steeple-house, with a cross 
on the top of it, was the church (the Papists’ mass-house, you may look 
‘on the top of it and see the sign.) But the scriptures tell us, “ All the 
“earth was of one language before the building of Babel.” And when 
‘Pilate crucified Christ, he set the tongues, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin 
‘over his head. And John tells us, that the beast had power over the 
‘tongues, kindreds and nations: and that the whore sits upon the tongues, 
of whose cup all nations have drunk, and the kings of the earth have 
committed fornication with her. John also said, The tongues are 
waters. Christ gives marks to his disciples, and to the multitude, how 
‘to try such as these that you are to try. They are called of men mas- 
ter, they love the chiefest seat in the assemblies, they be sayers but not 
‘doers; and, said he, they shall put you out of the synagogues. Seven 
woes he denounced against them, and therefore disapproved them. 
Christ said, False prophets should come; and John saw, They were 
*come: for they went forth from them; and the world since hath gone 
‘after them. But Babylon must be confounded, the mother of harlots 
and the devil must be taken, and with him the beast, and the false pro- 
‘*phet must be cast into the lake of fire: for the Lamb and his saints over 
‘all must reign, and have the victory. The Lord sent his prophets of old 
_ *to ery against the shepherds that sought for the fleece, Ezek. xxxiv. and 
“to cry against such shepherds as seek for their gain from their quarter, 
*and never have enough, Isa. v. 6, and to cry against the prophets that 
‘prophesied falsely, and the priests that bore rule by their means ; which 


‘was the filthy and horrible thing, Jer. v. And if you would forbear to 
‘give them means, you would see how long they would bear rule. There 
‘was in old time a storehouse for the fatherless, strangers, and widows, 
‘to come to and be filled; and those did not prosper then who did not 
‘bring their tithes to the storehouse. But did not Christ put an end to 
*that priesthood, tithes, temple, and priests? Doth not the apostle say, 
‘The priesthood is changed, the law is changed, and the commandment 
‘disannulled? Might not they have pleaded the law of God, that gave 
‘them tithes? Was not the first author of them since Christ’s time the 
* pope, or some of his church? Did the apostles cast men into prison for 
‘tithes, as your ministers do now? As instance: Ralph Hollingworth, 
‘priest of Phillingham, for petty tithes, not exceeding six shillings, hath 
‘cast into Lincoln prison a poor thatcher, Thomas Bromby; where he 
‘hath been about eight-and-thirty weeks, and still remains prisoner: and 
“the priest petitioned the judge, that the poor man might not labour in 
‘the city to get a litile money towards his maintenance in prison. Is 
*this a good savour amongst you that are in commission to choose min- 


xX 


178 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1654 


‘isters? Is this glad tidings? to cast in prison a man that is not his hear- 
‘er, because he could not put into his mouth ? Can such as are in the fear 
of God, and in his wisdom, own such things? the ministers of Christ 
‘are to plant a vineyard, and then eat of the fruit; to plow, sow, and 
‘thresh, and get the corn; and then let them reap: but not cast them into 
‘prison for whom they do no work. Christ, when he sent forth bis 
‘ministers, bid them give freely as they had received freely; and into 
‘what city or town soever they came, inquire who were worthy and 
‘there abide; and what they set before you, said he, that eat. And when 
‘these came back again to Christ, and he’ asked them, If they wanted 
‘any thing? they said, No. They did not go to a town; and call the 
‘people together, to know how much they might have by the year, as. 
‘these that are in the apostacy do now. ‘The apostle said, Have I not 
‘power to eat and to drink? But he did not say, To take tithes, easter- 
‘reckonings, midsummer-dues, augmentations, and great sums of money ;_ 
‘but have I not power to eat and to drink? Yet he did not use that power 
‘among the Corinthians. But they that are apostatized from him will 
‘take tithes, great sums of money, easter-reckonings, and midsummer- 
‘dues; and cast those into prison that will not give it them, whom they 
‘do no work for. The ox’s mouth must not be muzzled that treads out 
the corn; but see if the corn be trodden out in you, and the wheat be 
in the garner? This is from a lover of your souls, and one that desires 
your eternal good. 
‘Gos 


After I had made some stay in the city of London, I was moved of 
the Lord to go into Bedfordshire to John Crook’s; where there was a 
great meeting, and people generally convinced of the Lord’s truth. 
When I was come thither, John Crook told me, that the next day seve- 
ral of those called the gentlemen of the country would come to din 
with him, and to discourse with me. They came, and I declared t 
them God’s eternal truth. Several friends went to the steeple-houses that 
day. And there was a meeting in the country, which Alexander Parke 
went to; and towards the middle of the day it came upon me to go to 
it, though it was several miles off. John Crook went with me. When 
we caine there, there was one Gritton, who had been a Baptist, 
but he was got higher than they, and called himself a trier of spirits. 
He used to tell people their fortunes, and pretended to discover when 
goods were stolen, or houses broken up, who the persons were that did 
it: by which he had got into the affections of many thereabouts. This 
man was in that meeting speaking, and making an hideous noise ove 
the young convinced friends, when I came in; and he bid Alexande 
Parker give a reason of his hope. Alexander Parker told him, Christ 
was his hope; but because he did not answer him so soon as he expect- 
ed, he boastingly cried, His mouth is stopped. Then Gritton directed 
his speech to me; for I stood still and heard him express many things 
not agreeable to scripture. I asked him, ‘ Whether he could make those 
‘things out by scripture which he had spoken?’ He said, Yes, yes. 
Then I bid the people take out their bibles ana search the places h 
should quote for proof of his assertions; but he could not make good by 
scripture what he had said. So he was ashamed, and fled out of th 
house, and his people were generally convinced; for his spirit was dis- 
covered, and he came nc more amongst them. When they were settle 


Bat 


1635; GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 179 


in God’s truth, they published a book against him, denying his spirit and 
his false discoveries. Many were turned to Christ that day, and came 
to sit under his teaching; insomuch that the judges were in a great 
rage, and many of the magistrates in Bedfordshire, because so many 
were turned from the hireling priests to the Lord Jesus Christ’s free 
teaching. But John Crook was kept by the power of the Lord; yet 
he was discharged from being a justice. 

After some time I returned to London again; where friends were 
finely established in the truth, and great comings-in there were. About 
‘his time several friends went beyond sea, to declare the everlasting 
truth of God. When I had staid awhile in the city, I went into Kent. 
When we came into Rochester, there was a guard kept to examine pas- 
sengers; but we passed by, and were not stopped. So I went to Cran- 
brook, where there was a great meeting; several soldiers were at it, and 
many were turned to the Lord that day. After the meeting some of 
the soldiers were somewhat rude; but the Lord’s power came over 
them. Thomas Howsigoe, an independent preacher, who lived not far 
from Cranbrook, was convinced, and became a faithful minister for the 
Lord Jesus. Some friends had travelled into Kent before, as John 
Stubbs and William Caton; and the priests and professors had stirred 
up the magistrates at Maidstone to whip them for declaring God’s truth 
unto them; as may be seen in the journal of William Caton’s life. Cap- 
tain Dunk was also convinced in Kent. He went with me to Rye, 
where we had a meeting; to which the mayor, officers, and several 
captains came. They took what I said in writing, which I was well 
pleased with. All was quiet, and the people affected with the truth. 

From Rye I went to Rumney, where the people had notice of my 
coming some time before. There was a very large meeting. Thither 
came Samuel Fisher, an eminent preacher among the Baptists, whe had 
a parsonage reputed worth two hundred pounds a year; which for con- 
science sake he had given up. There was also the pastor of the Bap- 
tists, and abundance of their people. The power of the Lord was so 
mightily over the meeting, that many were reached, and one greatly 
shaken ; and the life sprang up in divers. One of the pastors of the 
Baptists, being amazed at the work of the Lord’s power, bid one of our 
friends that was so wrought upon, Have a good conscience. Where- 
upon I was moved of the Lord to bid him, Take heed of hypocrisy and 
deceit; and he was silent. A great convincement there was that day. 
Many were turned from darkness to the divine light of Christ, and came 
to see their teachers’ errors, and to sit under the Lord Jesus Christ’s 
teaching ; to know him their way, and the covenant of light, which God 


had given to be their salvation; and they were brought to the one Bap- 


“ism, ana to the one Baptizer, Christ Jesus. When the meeting was done, 
Samuel Fisher’s wife said, ‘We may discern this day betwixt flesh and 
‘Spirit, and distinguish spiritual teaching from fleshly.’ The people 
were generally well satisfied with what had been declared; but the two 
Baptist teachers and their company, when they were gone from the 
meeting, fell to reasoning amongst the people. Samuel Fisher, with 
divers others, reasoned for the word of life, which had been declared 
that day, and the other pastor and his party reasoned against it; so it 
divided them asunder and cut them in the midst. A friend came and 
told me, ‘ That the Baptists were disputing one with another, and desired 
‘me to go to them.’ I said, ‘ Let them alone, the Lord will divide them 


180 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165 


and they that reason for truth will be too hard for the other?’ and so it 
was. Samuel Fisher received the truth in the love of it, became a faith- 
ful minister, preachec Christ freely, and laboured much; being movea 
of the Lord to go and declare the word of life at Dunkirk, in Holland, | 
and in divers parts of Italy, as Leghorn, and Rome itself; yet the 
Lord preserved him and his companion John Stubbs out of their in- 
quisitions. 

From Rumney I passed to Dover, and had a meeting, where several 
were convinced. Near Dover a governor and his wife were convinced, 
who had been Baptists. The Baptists thereabouts were much offended, 
and grew very envious; but the Lord’s power came over all. Luke 
Howard of Dover was convinced some time before, and became a faith- 
ful minister of Christ. 

Returning from Dover I went to Canterbury, where a few honest- 
hearted people were turned to the Lord; who sate down under Christ’s 
teaching. Thence J passed to, Cranbrook again, where I had a great 
meeting. A friend went to the steeple-house, and was cast into prison; 
but the Lord’s power was manifested, and his truth spread. 

From thence I passed into Sussex, and lodged near Horsham, where 
was a great meeting ; and many convinced. Also at Steyning we had a © 
great meeting in the market-house, and several were convinced there 
and thereaway; for the Lord’s power was with us. Several meetings I 
had thereabouts; amongst the rest a meeting was appointed at a great 
man’s house, and he and his son went to fetch several priests who had 
threatened to come and dispute. But none of them came, for the Lord’s 
power was mighty in us. A glorious meeting we had. The man of the 
house and his son were vexed, because none of the priests would come. 
So the hearts of the people were opened by the Spirit of God, and they 
were turned from the hirelings to Christ Jesus, their shepherd, who had 
purchased them without money, and would feed them without money or 
price. Many that came, expecting to hear a dispute, were convinced ; 
amongst whom Nicholas Beard was one. 

Thus the Lord’s power came over all, and his day many came to see. 
There were abundance of Ranters in those parts, and professors, who 
had been so loose in their lives that they began to be weary of them, and 
had thought to have gone into Scotland to have lived privately; but the” 
Lord’s net catched them, and their understandings were opened by his” 
light. Spirit, and power, through which they came to receive the truth, - 
and to be settled upon the Lord; and so became very sober men, and 
good friends in the truth. Great blessing and praising the Lord there 
was amongst them, and great admiration in the country. 

Out of Sussex I travelled till I came to Reading; where I found a few 
that were convinced of the way of the Lord. J staid till the first-day, 
and had a meeting in George Lambold’s orchard; and a great part of 
the tow~ came to it. A glorious meeting it proved; great convincen.ent 
there was, and the people were mightily satisfied. Thither came two of 
judge Fell’s daughters to me, and George Bishop, of Bristol, with his 
sword by his side, for he was a captain. After the meeting many Bap- 
tists and Ranters came privately, reasoning and discoursing; but the 
Lord’s power came over them. The Ranters pleaded, that God made 
the devil: I denied it, and told them, ‘I was come into the power of God, 

the seed Christ, which was before the devil was, and bruised his head ; 
‘and he became a devi! by going out of truth; and so became a murderer 


1655] GEORGE FOX’S JUURNAL. 18, 


‘and a destroyer. 1 shewed them, that God did not make hin. a devil; for 

God is a God _ of truth, and~made-all-things good, and blessed them; 
‘but God did not bless the devil. And the devil is bad, and was a liar and 

a murderer from the beginning, and spoke of himself, and not from God.’ 
So the truth stopt and bound them, and came over all the highest notions 
in the nation, and confounded them. For by the power of the Lord I 
was manifest, and sought to be made manifest to the Spirit of God in all 
that by it they might be turned to God; as many were turned to the 
Lord Jesus Christ by the holy Spirit, and were come to sit under his 
teaching. 

After this I passed to London, where | staid awhile, and had large 
meetings: then went into Essex, and came to Cogshall, where was a 
meeting of about two thousand people, as it was judged, which lasted 
several hours, and a glorious meeting it was; for the word of life was 
freely declared, and people were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, their 
teacher and Saviour, the way, the truth, and the life. 

On the sixth-day I had a large meeting near Colchester, to which 
many professors and the Independent teachers came. After I had done 
speaking, and was stept down from the place on which I stood, one of 
the Independent teachers began to make a jangling; which Amor Stod- 
dart perceiving, said, Stand up again, George; for I was going away, 
and did not at the first hear them. But when I heard the Independent, | 
stood up again, and after awhile the Lord’s power came over him and 
nis company; who were confounded, and the Lord’s truth went over all. 
A great flock of sheep hath the Lord in that country, that feed in his 
pastures of life. On the first-day following we had a very large meeting 
not far from Colchester, wherein the Lord’s power was eminently mani- 
fested, and the people were very well satisfied; for being turned to the 
Lord Jesus Christ’s free teaching, they received it gladly. Many of 
these people were of the stock of the martyrs. 

As | passed through Colchester, I went to visit James Parnel in 
prison; but the gaoler would hardly let us come in, or stay with him. 
Very cruel they were to him. The gaoler’s wife threatened to have his 
blood; and in that gaol they did destroy him, as the reader may see in 
a book printed soon after his death, giving an account of his life and 
death; and also in an epistle printed with his collected books and 
writings. 

From Colchester I went to Ipswich, where we had a little meeting, 
and very rude; but the Lord’s power came over them. After the meet- 
ing, I said, ‘If any had a desire to hear further, they might come to the 
‘inn; and there came in a company of rude butchers that had abused 
friends but the Lord’s power so chained them they could not do mis- 
chief. Then I wrote a paper and gave it forth to the town, ‘ warning 
‘them of the day of the Lord, that they might repent of the evils they 
‘lived in; directing them to Christ, their teacher and way; and exhort- 
‘ing them to forsake their hireling-teachers.’ 

We passed from Ipswich to Mendlesham, in Suffolk, where Robert 
Duncon lived. There we had a large meeting that was quiet, and the 
Lord’s power was preciously felt amongst us. Then we passed to a 
meeting at captain Lawrence’s, in Norfolk; where, it was judged, were 
above a thousand people; and all was quiet. Many persons of note 
were present, and a great convincement there was. They were turned 
to Christ, and many of them received him, and sate down under him, 


182 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1655 


their vine. Here we parted with Amor Stoddart and others, who in- 
tended to meet us again in Huntingdonshire. 

About the second hour in the morning we took horse for Norwich, 
where Christopher Atkins, that dirty man, had run out, and brought dis- 
honour upon the blessed truth and the name of the Lord. But he had 
keen denied by friends, and afterwards he gave forth a paper of con- 
demnation of his sin and evil. We came to Yarmouth, and staid awhile ; 
where there was a friend, Thomas Bond, in prison, for the truth of 
Christ. ‘There we had some service; some being turned to <he Lord in 
that town. From thence we rode to another town about twenty miles 
off, where were many tender people. I was moved of the Lord to speak 
to the people as I sat upon my horse, in several places as I passed along. 
We went to another town about five miles from thence, and set up our 
horses at an inn; Richard Hubberthorn and I having travelled five-and- 
forty miles that day. There were some friendly people in the town; and 
we had a tender, broken meeting amongst them, in the Lord’s power, to 
his praise. | 

We bid the hostler have our horses ready by three in the morning; — 
for we intended to ride to Lynn, about three-and-thirty miles, next morn- 
ing. But when we were in bed, about eleven at night came the consta- 
ble and officers, with a great rabble of people into the inn, and said, 
They were come with an hue and cry from a justice of peace, that lived — 
near the town where I had spoken to the people in the streets as I rode 
along, to search for two horsemen that rode upon grey horses, and in 
grey cloaths; an house having been broken upon the seventh-day before 
at night. We told them, ‘ We were honest innocent men, and abhorred 
‘such things;’ yet they apprehended us, and set a guard with halberds 
and pikes upon us that night; making some of those friendly people, 
with others, watch us. Next morning we were up betime, and the con- 
stable with his guard carried us before a justice of peace about five 
miles off. We took two or three of the sufficient men of the town with 
us, who had been at the meeting at captain Lawrence’s, and could testify 
that we lay both the seventh-day night and the first-day night at captain 
Lawrence’s; and it was the seventh-day night that they said the house 
was broken up. The reader is to be informed, that during the time | 
was prisoner at the Mermaid at Charing-Cross, this captain Lawrence 
brought several Independent justices to see me there, with whom I had 
a great deal of discourse ; which they took offence at. For they pleaded — 
for imperfection, and to sin as long as they lived; but did not like to 
hear of Christ’s teaching his people himself, and making people as clear 
whilst here upon the earth as Adam and Eve were before they fell. 
These justices had plotted together this mischief against me in the coun- 
try, pretending an house was broken up; that they might send their 
hue and cry after me. They were vexed also and troubled to hear of 
the great meeting at John Lawrence’s; for a colonel was convinced — 
there that day, who lived and died in the truth. But Providence so or- 
dered, that the constable carried us to a justice about five miles onward 
in our way towards Lynn, who was not an Independent justice, as the 
rest were. When we were brought before him, he began to be angry, 
because we did not put off our hats to him. I told him, I had been be- 
fore the protector, and he was not offended at my hat; and why should 
he be offended, who was but one of his servants? Then he read the hue 
and cry; and I told him, ‘ That night, wherein the house was said to be 


| 
| 


9655] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 183 


broken up, we were at captain Lawrence’s house; and that we had 
several men present could testify the truth thereof.’ Thereupon the 
justice, having examined us and them, said, ‘ He believed we were not 
‘the men that had broken the house; but he was sorry,’ he said, ‘ that he 
‘had no more against us.’ We told him, ‘ He ought not to be sorry for 
‘not having evil against us, but rather to be glad; for to rejoice when he 
got evil against people, as for house-breaking or the like, was not a 
‘good mind in him.’ It was a good while yet before he could 1esolve 
whether to let us go, or send us to prison; and the wicked constable 
stirred him up against us, telling him,‘ We had good horses; and that if it 
‘pleased him, he would carry us to Norwich gaol.’ But we took hold 
of the justice’s confession, ‘ That he believed we were not the men that 
‘had broken the house ;’ and after we had admonished him to fear the 
Lord in his day, the Lord’s power came over him, that he let us go; so 
their snare was broken. A great people were afterwards gathered to the 
Lord in that town, where I was moved to speak to them in the street, 
from whence the hue and cry came. 

Being set at liberty, we travelled to Lynn; to which we came about 
the third hour in the afternoon. Having set up our horses, we met with 
Joseph Fuce, who was an ensign. We desired him to speak to as many 
of the people of the town as he could, that feared God; and the captains 
and officers to come together; which he did. We had a very glorious 
meeting amongst them, and turned them to the Spirit of God, by which 
they might know God and Christ, and understand the scriptures; and 
learn of God and of Christ, as the prophets and aposiles did. Many 
were convinced there; and a fine meeting there is, of them that are 
come off from the hirelings’ teaching, and sit under the teaching of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. 

Lynn being then a garrison, we desired Joseph Fuce to get us the gate 

opened by the third hour next morning; for we had forty miles to ride 
next day. By that means getting out early, we came next day by the 
eleventh or twelfth hour to Sutton, near the isle of Ely, where Amor 
Stoddart, and the friends with him, met us again. A multitude of peo- 
ple was gathered thither, and no less than four priests. The priest of 
the town made a great jangle; but the Lord’s power so confounded him, 
that he went away. The other three staid; and one of them was con- 
vinced. One of the other two, whilst I was speaking, came to lean upon 
me: but I bid him sit down, seeing he was so slothful. A great con- 
vincement there was that day. Many hundreds were turned from dark- 
ness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, and from the spirit of 
error to the Spirit of truth, to be led thereby into all truth. People came 
to this meeting from Huntingdon, and beyond; the mayor’s wife of Cam- 
bridge was there also. A glorious meeting it was; many were settled 
under Christ's teaching, and knew him their Shepherd to feed them: for 
the word of life was freely declared, and gladly received by them. The 
meeting ended in the power of the Lord, and in peace; and after it was 
done, | walked into a garden: where I had not been long, before a friend 
came and told me, several justices were come to break up the meeting. 
But many of the people were gone away; so they missed of their design; 
and after they had staid awhile, they departed also in a fret. 

That evening | passed to Cambridge. When I came into the town, 
the scholars, hearing of me, were up, and were exceeding rude. I kept 
¢n my horse’s back, and rode through them in the Lord’s pc wer; but 


184 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. (1655 


they unhorsed amor Stoddart before he could get to the inn. When we 
‘vere in the inn, they were so rude in the courts and in the streets, that 
the miners, colliers, and carters could never be ruder. The people of 
the house asked us, What we would have for supper? ‘Supper!’ said I. 
‘were it not that the Lord’s power is over them, these rude scholars look 
‘as if they would pluck us in pieces, and make a supper of us.’ They 
knew I was so against the trade of preaching, which they were there as 
apprentices to.learn, that they raged as bad as ever Diana’s craftsmen 
did against Paul. At this place John Crook met us. When it was within 
night, the mayor of the town, being friendly, came and fetched me to 
his house ; and as we walked through the streets, there was a bustle in 
the town; but they did not know me, it being darkish. They were ina 
rage not ‘only against me, but against the mayor also; so that he was — 
almost afraid to walk the streets with me, for the tumult. We sent for 
the friendly people, and had a fine meeting in the power of God; and ] 
staid there all night. Next morning, having ordered our horses to be | 
ready by the sixth hour, we passed peaceably out of town; and the de-— 
stroyers were disappointed: for they thought I would have staid longer 
in the town, and intended to have done us mischief; but our passing away — 
early in the morning frustrated their evil purposes against us. 

Then we rode to “Bishop- Stortford, where some were convinced ; and | 
to Hertford, where also some were convinced ; and where now there is 
a large meeting. 

From thence we returned to London, where friends received us glad- 
ly; the Lord’s power having carried us through many snares and dan-— 
gers. Great service we had, for many hundreds were brought to sit 
under the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour, and to praise 
the Lord through ‘him. James Nayler also was come up to London; and 
Richard Hubberthorn and I staid some time in the city, visiting friends, 
and answering gainsayers: for we had great disputes with professors of 
all sorts. Many reproaches they cast upon truth, and lying slanderous 
books they g gave forth against us; but we answered them, cleared God’s 
truth, set it over them, and the Lots power was over all. 


2 
. 
: 


Amongst other services for the Lord, which then lay upon me in the’ 
city, I was moved to give forth a paper to those that made a scorn at 
trembling and quaking: 


‘Tue word of the Lord to you all, that scorn trembling and quaking, ~ 
‘who scorn, throw stones at, and belch forth oaths against those whoj 
‘are trembling and quaking, ‘threatening and beating them. Strangers” 

ye are to all the apostles and prophets; and are of the generation that — 
‘stoned them and mocked them in those ages. Ye are of the scoffers 

‘which they spake of, that are come in the last times. Be ye witnesses 
‘against yourselves. To the light in all your consciences I speak, that 
‘with it you may see yourselves to be out of the life of the holy men 
‘of God. 

‘Moses, who was judge over all Israel, trembled, feared, and quaked, 
‘when the Lord said unto him, I am the God of Abraham, and the God 
‘of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; then he trembled, and durst not be- 
‘hold. This, which makes to tremble now, ye teachers and people scoff — 

at, and scorn those in your streets who witness the power of the Lord. 
Moses forsook the pleasures of the world, which he might have enjoyed 
for a season. He might have been called the son xf Pharaoh’s daugh 


1655] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 185 


‘ter; he refused it, and forsook Pharaoh’s house; yet was no vagabond. 
‘David, a king, trembled. He was mocked; they made songs on him; 
‘they wagged their heads at him. Will you profess David’s words, and 

Moses’s words, who are in the generation of your fathers, mockers, 
‘scoflers, wonderers and despisers, which are to perish? O blush! Be 
‘ashamed of all your profession, and be confounded! Job tremblec., ais 
‘flesh trembled, and they mocked him; so do you now mock them in 
‘whom the same power of God is made manifest; yet you profess Jcb’s 
‘words. O deceitful hypocrites! will ye not own scripture? O for 

shame! Never profess scripture words, and deny the power, which, ac- 
‘cording to the scripture, makes the keepers of the house to tremble, and 
‘the strong man to bow himself. These things priests, magistrates, and 
‘people scoff at; but with the power ye are judged, and by the power 
‘and life ®ondemned. 

‘The prophet Jeremiah trembled, he shook, his bones quaked, he reeled 
‘to and fro, like a drunken man, when he saw the deceit of the priests 
‘and prophets who were turned from the way of God; and they were 
‘not ashamed, neither could they blush. Such were gone from the light ; 
‘and such were they that ruled over the people. But he was brought to 
‘ery, O foolish people! that had eyes, and could not see; that had ears, 

and could not hear; that did not fear the Lord, and tremble at his pres- 
“ence, who placed the sands for bounds to the sea by a perpetual decree, 


“that the waves thereof cannot pass! And he said, “ A horrible thing is 


“committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests 
“bear rule by their means. Shall not I visit for these things, saith the 
“Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged upon such a nation as this?” 
‘They were such as did not tremble at the word of the Lord; therefore 
‘he called them a foolish people. Hear-all-ye the word of the Lord, ye 
‘foolish people, who scorn trembiing and quaking. Give over professing 
‘the prophet Jeremiah’s words, and making a trade of them; for with 
‘his words you are judged to be among the scoflers, scorners, and stock- 
fers. For he was stocked by your generation; and you now stock them 
‘that tremble at the word of the Lord, at the power of the mighty God, 
‘which raises up the Seed of God, and throws down the earth which 
‘hath kept it down. So you that are in the fall, where death reigneth, 
‘enemies of the truth, despising the power of God, as those of your gen- 
‘eration ever did, wo and misery is your portion, except you speedily 
‘repent. Isaiah said, “ Hear the word of the Lord, all ye that tremble 
“at his word.” And he said, “ This was the man that God did regard, 
* who was of a broken and contrite heart, and trembled at his word. 
“ When their brethren hated and persecuted them, saying, Let the Loid 
“be glorified; he shall appear to your joy, but they shall be ashamed,” 
‘Isa. Ixvi. 5. Now all ye scoffers and scorners, that despise trembling, 
‘you regard not the word of the Lord; they are not regarded by you, 
‘that tremble at the word; who are regarded by the Lord: therefore 
‘you are contrary to Isaiah’s words. Profess him and his words no 
‘more for shame, nor make a trade of his words. Ye that seek for your 
‘gain from your quarter, ye greedy, dumb dogs, that never have enough, 
“ye are they that despise trembling; ye are such as Isaiah cried against, 
‘who himself witnessed trembling. Here therefore be ye witnesses 
‘against yourselves, that with the light in your consciences ye may see 
tye are out of the prophet Isaiah’s spirit, and are haters of them that 

tremble, whom the Lord regards; bu‘ such you regard not, but hate 


186 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL 1655 


persecrie, mock, and rail against. It is manifest you walk in the steps 

of your forefathers, that persecuted the prophets. Habakkuk, the pro- 

phet of the Lord, trembled. Joel, the prophet of the Lord, said, * Blow 
‘the trumpet in Zion, and let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble.” 
‘ The people shall tremble, and all faces shall gather blackness; and the 
‘people shall be much pained. And now this trembling is witnessed by 
‘the power of the Lord. This power of the Lord is come; the trumpet 
‘is sounding, the earth is shaking; the inhabitants of the earth are tren: 
‘bling; the dead is arising; and the living is praising God: the world is 
‘raging ; the scoflers are scorning; and they that witness trembiing and 

quaking wrought in them by the power of the Lord, can scarce pass up 
‘and down the streets but with stones and blows, fists and sticks, or dogs 
‘set at them, or they are pursued with mockings and reproaches. Thus 

you vent your malice against them that witness the power of the Lord, 
‘as the prophets did; who are come to the broken heart and contrite 
‘spirit; who tremble at the word of the Lord, and whom the Lord re- 
‘gards: these you stone, stock, set your dogs at; these you scoff and 
‘scorn; these you revile and reproach; but these reproaches are our 
‘riches; praised be the Lord who hath given us power over them. If 
‘you see one, as Habakkuk, whose lips quivered, whose belly shook ; who 
‘said, ‘* Rottenness was entered into his bones,” and who trembled in 
‘himself; if you see such an one in this condition now, ye say he is be- 
‘witched. Here again you shew yourselves strangers to that power, to - 
‘that life which was in the prophet: therefore, for shame, never make a 
‘profession of his words, nor a trade of his words; nor of Joel’s, who 
‘witnessed trembling, which ye scorn and scoff at. Ye proud scorners, 
‘misery is your end, except you speedily repent. Daniel, a servant of 
‘the most high God, trembled; his strength and his breath were gone. 
‘He was prisoned, he was hated, he was persecuted. ‘They laid baits 
‘and snares for him, in whom the holy Spirit of God was. For shame, 
‘you that make a profession of Daniel’s words, give over your profes- 
‘sion, priests and people, who scoff and scorn at trembling: with the 
‘light you are seen to be out of Daniel’s life, and by the same power you 
‘are judged, at which you scorn and scoff. Here again be ye witnesses 
‘against yourselves, that you are scorners and scoffers against the truth; 
‘and with the scripture you are judged to be contrary to the life of the 
‘holy men of God. Paul, a minister of God, made by the will of God a 
‘messenger of the Lord Jesus, a vessel of the Lord, to carry his name 
‘abroad into several nations, when the dark, blind world have got some 
‘of his words and epistles, you teachers make a trade of them, and get 
‘great sums of money for it, so you destroy souls for dishonest gain; 
‘making a trade of his words, and of the rest of the apostles, prophets, 
‘and of Christ’s words, but denying the Spirit and life that they were 
‘guided by, and that power which shook the flesh and the earth; which. 
‘the apostle witnessed, who said, “ When he came among the Corinthi- 
“ans, he was with them in weakness and fear, and in much trembling, 
“that their faith might not stand in the wisdom of words, but in the — 
“power of God;” in that power which made him to tremble. This 
‘power it is that the world, and all the scoffing teachers, scoff at and 
‘scorn at in your towns, in your villages, in your assemblies, in your 
‘alehouses. For shame, lay aside all your professions of the apostle’s 
‘words and conditions! Some that scoff at this power, call it the power 
‘of the devil. Some persecute, stone and stock, imprison and whip them. — 


635] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 187 


m whom that power is made manifest, and load them with reproaches, 
as not worthy to walk on the earth; hated and persecuted, as the off- 
scouring of all things. Here you may see you are in the steps of your 
forefathers, who persecuted the apostles, and acted so against them; 
stocked them, mocked them, prisoned them, stoned them, whipped them, 
haled them out of the synagogues, reproached them, and shamefully 
treated them. Do not you here fulfil the scripture, and Christ’s saying, 
‘who said, “If they kill you, they will think they do God service?” Yet 
‘you make a profession of Christ’s words, of the prophets’ and apos- 
* tles’ words, and call yourselves churches, and ministers of the gospei. 
‘I charge you, in the presence of the living God, to be silent who act 
such things! Mind the light in your consciences, ye scoflers and scorn- 
‘ers, which Christ hath enlightened you withal; that with it ye may see 
* yourselves, what ye act, and what ye have acted; for who act such 
‘things shall not inherit the kingdom of God: all such things are by the 
‘light condemned. 

* You who come to witness trembling and quaking, the powers of the 
‘earth to be shaken, the lustful nature to be destroyed, the scorning and 
‘ scoffing nature judged by the light; in it wait to receive power from 
‘him who shakes the earth. That power we own, and our faith stands 
‘in it, which all the world scoffs at; the lofty, the proud, the presumptu- 
‘ous, who live in presumption, and yet make a profession of the scrip- 
‘tures, as your fathers the Pharisees did, who were painted sepulchres 
‘and serpents; and as the Scribes did, who had the chiefest places in 
‘the assemblies, stood praying in the synagogues, and were called of 
‘men, Masters, whom Christ cried wo against. These are not come so 
‘far as the trembling of devils, who believed and trembled. Let that 
‘judge you. The light and life of the scripture is seen and made manifest, 
‘and with it all you scorners, persecutors, and railers are seen. 

‘ Take warning, all ye powers of the earth, how ye persecute them 

_* whom the world nicknames and calls Quakers, who dwell in the eternal 
‘ power of God; lest the hand of the Lord be turned against you, and ye be 
‘all cut off To you this is the word of God, Fear and tremble, and 
‘take warning; for this is the man whom the Lord doth regard, who 
‘trembles at his word; which you, who are of the world, scorn, stock, 
‘persecute, and imprison. Here ye may see ye are contrary to God, 
‘contrary to the prophets; and are such as hate what the Lord regards, 
* which we, whom the world scorns, and calls Quakers, own. We exalt 
‘and honour that power which makes the devils tremble, shakes the 
‘earth, throws down the loftiness of man, the haughtiness of man, and - 
‘makes the beasts of the field to tremble, and causes the earth to reel to 
‘and fro, cleaves it asunder, and overturneth the world. This power we 
‘own, honour, and preach up, whom the world scornfully calls Quakers. 
‘But all persecutors, railers, and scorners, stockers and whippers, we 

deny by that power which throweth down all that nature; as seeing 
‘that all who act such things, without repentance, shall not inherit the 
‘kingdom of God, but are for destruction. 

‘ Rejoice, all ye righteous ones, who are persecuted for righteousness’ 
‘sake; for great is your reward in heaven. Rejoice, ye that suffer for 
‘ well-doing; for ye shall not lose your reward. Wait in the light, that 
you may grow up in the life that gave forth the scriptures; that with it 

fye may see the saints’ conditions, and all that which they testified 

against; with it ye will see the state of those that did reproach and 


188 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. - 71655 


‘scoff them, mock, persecute, whip, stock, and hale them out of the 
‘ synagogues before magistrates. To you, who are in the same light and 
‘ lite, the same things they do now; that they may fill up the measure of 
‘their fathers. With the light now they are seen, where the light, life, 
‘and power of God is made manifest ; for as they did unto them, so will 
‘they do unto you. Here is our joy; the scripture is fulfilled, and ful- 
‘filling ; with the ight which was before the world was, which is now 
‘made manifest in the children of light, they see the world, comprehend 
‘it, and the actions of it: for he that loves the world, and turns from the 
‘light is an enemy to God; he turneth into wickedness: for the whole 
* world lieth in wickedness. He who turns from the light, turns into the 
‘works of evil, which the light of Christ testifies against. By this light, 
‘where it is made manifest, all the works of the world are seen and 
‘made manifest. G. FY 


Great was the rage and enmity of the people, professors as well as 
prophane, against the truth and people of God at this time; and great 
the contempt and disdain they shewed of friends’ plainness. Wherefore 
[ was moved to write the following paper, and send it forth, directed as 
— An episile to gathered churches into outward forms, upon earth. 


‘ Att ye churches gathered into outward forms upon the earth, the 
‘Son of God is come to reign; he will tread and trample, will shake, 
‘and make you quiver, you that are found without his life, his light, and 
‘his power. His day hath appeared ; mortar and clay will you be found. 
‘Breaking, shaking, and quaking is coming among you! Your high 
‘building is to be laid desolate; your professed liberty shall be your 
‘bondage: the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it. Tremble, 
‘ye hypocrites, ye notionists. The fenced cities shall be laid desolate, 
‘the fruitful fields shall become a wilderness; your false joy shall be- 
‘come your heaviness: the time of weeping and desolation draweth 
‘nigh! Come ye witty ones, see how ye can stand before the Almighty, 
‘who is now come to plead with you. You'll fall like leaves, and wither 
‘like weeds! Come you, that have boasted of my name, saith the Lord, 
‘and have gloried in the flesh, ye shall fade like a flower: who have 

slain my witness, yet boast of my words, which have been as a song 
‘unto you. Come ye novelists, who love novelties, changeable suits of 
‘ apparel, who are in the fashions outward and inward, putting on one 
‘thing this day, and another the other day. “I'll strip thee,” saith the 
‘ Lord, “1’ll make thee bare, I’ll make thee naked, and thou shalt know 
“that Iam the Lord.” What! hast thou professed the prophets’ words? 
‘ hast thou professed the apostles’ words, and my Son’s words? hast thou 
‘covered thyself with their expressions? thinkest thou not that I see thee 
‘out of my life? thinkest thou, thou witty one, to hide thyself where 
‘none can see thee! thinkest thou, if thou fliest to the uttermost parts 
‘of the earth, that [am not there? Is not the earth mine, and the fulness 
‘of it, saith the Lord? Come all ye that have trusted in your own con- 
ceited knowledge and wisdom, who were never yet out of the earth, 
‘and the lusts of it, never yet got the load of thick clay off you, never 
were out of the drunken spirit, whose imperfection appears, which must 
be come upon as a potter’s vessel broken cisterns; ye that have been 

' wise in your own conceit, wise in your own eyes, in which pride hath 
lifted you up, and not humility; you must be abased. You have run 
on, every one after his own invention, and every man hath done that 


ee 


655] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 189 


which was right in his own eyes, that which pleased himself. This 
* hath been the course of people upon earth. Ye have run on without a 
‘king, without Christ, the light of the world, which hath enlightened 
‘every one that is come into the world. But now is truth risen, now 
‘are your fruits withermg. You that are fortified, and have fortified 
‘ your strong houses, called your churches, make your cords strong, the 
Lord will break you asunder, ye that are gathering in, and ye that are 
athered. For the Lord is risen to scatter you, his witness is risen ia 
‘the hearts of his people ; they will not be fed with dead words, nor with 
that which dies of itself; nor will they be satisfied with the husks which 
‘the swine feed upon. All ye priests in the nation, and teachers, that 
‘now stand against the light, your envy shews that ye are in Cain’s way ; 
‘your greediness shews that ye are in Balaam’s way; your standing 
‘ against the light, which hath enlightened every man that cometh into 
‘the world, doth manifest that you are in Core’s way, that spoke the 
‘ great high words of vanity; ye, whose consciences are seared as with 
‘an hot iron, whose judgment doth not linger, whose damnation doth not 
‘slumber, who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but your own bellies; 
‘ who are as the evil beasts spoken of, which have destroyed many fami-_ 
‘lies, taken away their cattle, their horses, their goods, even their house- 
‘hold goods; destroyed many poor men, even whole families, taking 
‘ their whole estates from them, whom you do no work for. O the griev- 
‘ ous actions that are seen done by you, the ministers of unrighteousness ; 
‘ whose fruits declare to the whole nation, that you are not the messen- 
‘gers of God! your actions declare it; your taking tythes, augmenta- 
tions, treble damages, midsummer-dues, as ye call them, of those ye do 
‘no work for, nor minister to. 

‘ All ye powers of the earth, beware of holding such up as are un- 
‘righteous. Let not the words of the unrighteous overcome you, lest 
‘the righteous God, the judge of heaven and earth, take hold upon you ; 
‘ whose judgment is according to that of God in you, which will let you 
‘see when you transgress. Come you proud, lofty ones, who have not 
‘considered the handy-works of the Lord, but have destroyed them; 

nor have regarded the way of the Lord, but have had plenty of the 
‘creatures, and have therewith fatted up yourselves, and forgotten the 
‘Lord and his way: O let shame cover your faces here upon earth! 
‘Come ye, that are given to pleasures, who spend your time in sports, 
‘idleness, and fulness; your fruits declare the sins of Sodom; yet you 
‘ will make a talk of my name, and of my saints’ words. “ But I behold you 
“afar off,” saith the Lord. You are proud and lofty; you are bad pat- 
‘terns, bad examples, full, rich, and idle; who say, others are idle, that 
‘cannot maintain your lusts. Oh! the unrighteous balances that are 
‘among people! O the iniquity in measuring! O the oppression in ruling 
‘and governing! Because of these things my hand shall come upon you, 
saith the Lord. For the oppression is entered into the ears of the Lord, 
who gives rest to the wearied, to the burdened, to the oppressed; who 
feeds the hungry, and clothes the naked; who brings the mighty from 
their seats, beats the lofty to the ground, and makes the haughty bend. 
Come, sa.th the Lord, ye mockers, scorners, and rebellious ones, light 
‘and wild people, vain and heady; you have had your day of joy, you 
have scoffed, you have mocked and derided my messengers, my am- 
hassadors, who have preached in your streets, and cried in your syna- 
gogues and temples; a day of trembling and lamentation shall come 


190 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1655 


upon you when you are not aware. I’ll take away your pride and 

your height; I’ll shake you as a leaf, and bring you to be as men dis- 
‘tracted. I'll distract you, and make you that you shall not trust one 
‘another in the earth; who have joined hand in hand against my ser- 
‘ vants in the truth. I’ll smite you with terrors, and bring frets and fears 
‘upon you; the cup of my indignation and fury shall you drink. Where 
‘will you appear, when repentance is hid from your eyes; when 
‘prophane Esau, your father, is set before you, and Ishmael and Cain, 
‘wild and envious, whose fruits declare the stock! Come, ye proud 
‘ priests, who have eaten up the fat of the nation, who by violence have 

taken other men’s goods, whose envy hath slain many, whose wicked- 

ness and darkness hath abounded, and whose unrighteousness daily ap- 
‘pears. Your fruits every day declare it, in summoning up by writs 
‘and subpcenas from most parts of the nation for wages and tythes, 
‘such as ye do no work for. Oh! the abominable unrighteousness ! 
‘how is the state of man lost, that these things they do not take to 
‘heart, to feel them! What havock is made in most parts of the nation 
‘by such! And all ye priests and teachers, who are railing and brawling 
‘in the pulpit, setting people at variance one against another, haters and 
‘hateful, provoking people to hate one another; here is the seed of en- 
‘mity seen which you have sown and are sowing, whose seed must be 


bruised by the seed of the woman, which atop of your heads is set. 
‘GF 


This year came out the oath of abjuration, by which many friends 
suffered. Several friends went to speak with the Protector about it; but 
he began to harden. And sufferings increasing upon friends, by reason 
that envious magistrates made use of that oath as a snare to catch them 
in, who they knew could not swear at all; I was moved to write to the 
Protector as followeth: 


‘Tue magistrate is not to bear the sword in vain, who ought to be a 
‘terror to the evil-doers; but the magistrate that bears the sword in vain, 
‘as he is not a terror to evil-doers, so he is not a praise to them that 
‘do well. Now hath God raised up a people by his power, whom people, 
‘ priests, and magistrates, out of the fear of God, scornfully call Quakers, 
‘who cry against drunkenness (for drunkards destroy God’s creatures) 
‘and cry against oaths (for because of oaths the land mourns) and these 
‘drunkards and swearers, to whom the magistrate’s sword should be a 
‘terror, are, we see, at liberty; but for crying against such, many are 
‘cast into prison, and for crying against their pride and filthiness, their 
‘deceitful merchandize in markets, their cozening, their cheating, their, 
‘excess and naughtiness, their playing at bowls and shovel-boards, at} 
‘cards and at dice, and their other vain and wanton pleasures. Who 
‘live in pleasures are dead while they live, and who live in wantonness 
‘kill the just. ‘This we know by the Spirit of God which gave forth the 
‘scriptures, which God the Father hath given to us, and hath placed his" 

righteous law in our hearts; which law is a terror to evil-doers, and 
‘answers that which is of God in every man’s conscience. They who 
‘act contrary.to the measure of God’s Spirit in every man’s conscience, 
‘cast the law of God behind their backs, and walk despitefully against 
‘the Spirit of Grace. The magistrate’s sword, we see, is borne in vain, 
‘whilst evil-doers are at liberty to do evil, and they that ery against-such 
‘are, for so doing, punished by the magistrate, who hath turned his 


1655] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. -19] 


‘sword backward against the Lord. Now the wicked one fenceth him- 
‘self, and persecutes the innocent, as vagabonds and wanderers, for 
‘ crying against sin, unrighteousness, and ungodliness openly, in the mar- 
‘kets and in the highways; or as railers, because they tell them what 
‘judgment will come upon those that follow such practices. Here they 
‘that depart from iniquity are become a prey, and few Jay it to heart. 
‘ But God will thresh the mountains, beat the hills, cleave the rocks, and 
‘cast into his press which is trodden without the city, and will bathe his 
‘sword in the blood of the wicked and unrighteous. You that have 
‘drunk the cup of abominations, an hard cup have you to drink, you 
‘who are the enemies of God, of you he will be avenged. You in 
‘whom something of God is remaining, consider; If the sword was not 
‘borne in vain, but turned against evil-doers, the righteous would not 
* suffer, and be cast into holes, dungeons, corners, prisons, and houses of 
‘ correction, as peace-breakers, for crying against sin openly, as they are 
‘commanded of the Lord, and for crying against the covetousness of 
‘the priests and their false worships; who exact money of poor people, 
‘whom they do no work for. Oh! where will you appear in the day of 
‘the Lord? How will you stand in the day of his righteous judgment? 
‘How many gaols and houses of correction are now made places to 
‘put the lambs of Christ in, for following him and obeying his com- 


‘mands! The royal law of Christ, “'To do as ye would be done by,” 


‘is trodden down under foot; so that men can profess him in words, but 
‘crucify him wheresoever he appears, and cast him into prison, as the 
‘talkers of him always did in generations and ages past. The labour- 
‘ers, which God, the master of the harvest, hath sent into his vineyard, 
‘do the chief of the priests and the rulers now take counsel together 
‘ against to cast them into prison: here are the fruits of priests, people, 
‘and rulers, without the fear of God. The day is come and coming 
‘that every man’s work doth and shall appear; glory be to the Lord God 
‘for ever! See and consider the days you have spent, and the days you 
‘do spend; for this is your day of visitation. Many have suffered great 
* fines, because they could not swear, but abide in Christ’s doctrine, who 
‘saith, Swear not at all: and by that means are they made a prey upon 
‘for abiding in the command of Christ. Many are cast into prison and 
‘made a prey upon, because they cannot take the oath of abjuration. 
‘tho’ they denied all that is abjured in it; and by that means many of 
‘the messengers and ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ are cast into 
* prison, because they will not swear nor go out of Christ’s command. 
‘ Therefore, O man! consider; to the measure of the life of God in thee 


a: speak. Many also lie in gaols, because they cannot pay the priests 


*tythes; many have their goods spoiled, and treble damages taken of 
‘them; many are whipped and beaten in the houses of correction, who 
“have broken no law. These things are done in thy name, in order tu 
‘protect them in these actions. If men fearing God bore the sword. 
“and covetousness was hated, and men of courage for God were set up, 
‘then they would be a terror to evil-doers and a praise to them that do 
well; and not cause such to suffer. Here tpxcy would be heard in our 
land, and righteousness would stand up and take place; which giveth 
not place to the unrighteous, but judgeth it. To the measure of God’s 
‘Spirit in thee I speak, that thou mayest consider and come to rule for 
God: that thou mayest answer that which 1s of God in every man’s 


 * conscience ; for that is it which bringeth to honour all men in the Lord 


~~ 


192 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1655 


Therefore consider for whom thou rulest, that thou mayest come to 
‘receive power from God to rule for him; and all that is contrary to 
*God may by his light be condemned. 

‘From a lover of thy soul, who desires thy eternal good, G. FY 


Sufferings and imprisonments continuing and increasing, and the Pro- 
tector, under whose name they were inflicted, hardening himself against 
the complaints that were made to him, I was moved to give forth the 
following lines amongst friends, to bring the weight of their sufferings 
more heavy upon the heads of the persecutors. 

‘ Wuo is moved by the power of the Lord to offer himself to the jus- 
‘tice for his brother or sister in prison, to lie in prison in their stead, 
‘that his brother or sister may come out of prison, and so offer his life 
‘for his brother or sister? Where any lie in prison for tythes, witness- 
‘img the priesthood changed that took tythes, and the unchangeable 
‘priesthood come; if any brother in the light, who witnesseth a change 
‘of the old priesthood that took tythes, and a disannulling of the com 
‘mandment for tythes, be moved of the Lord to go to the priest or im- 
‘propriator, to offer himself to lie in prison for his brother, and to lay 
‘down his life that he may come forth, he may cheerfully do it, and 
‘heap coals of fire upon the head of the adversary of God. Likewise 
‘where any suffer for the truth by them who are in the untruth, if any 
‘brother be moved of the Lord to go to the magistrate, judge, general, 
‘or protector, and offer up themselves to the prison, to lay down their 
‘lives for the brethren; as Christ hath laid down his life for you, so offer 
‘your lives one for another. Here you may go over the heads of per- 
‘ secutors, and reach the witness of God in all. And this shall lie a judg- 
‘ment upon them all for ever, and be witnessed to by that which is of 

God in their consciences. Given forth from the Spirit of the Lord 
through G. FY 


Besides this, I wrote also a short epistle to friends, as an encourage- 
ment to them in their severa! exercises 


‘ My dear friends, 

‘Iv the power of the everlasting God, which comprehends the power 
‘of darkness and all temptation, and that which comes out of it, in this 
‘power of God dwell. This will bring and keep you to the word in the 
‘beginning; it will keep you up to the life, to feed thereupon, in 
‘which you are over the power of darkness, and in which you will 
‘feel dominion and life. And that will let you see before the tempter 
‘was and over him, into which the tempter cannot come; for the 
‘power and truth he is out of. Therefore in that life dwell, in which 
‘you will know dominion. Let your faith be in the power over the 
‘weakness and temptations; look not at them; but in the light and 
‘power of God, look at the Lord’s strength, which will be made perfect 
‘in your weakest state. In all temptations look at the grace of God to 

bring your salvation, which is your teacher to teach you; for when 
‘you look or hearken to the temptations, you go from your teacher, the 
‘Grace of God; and so are darkened in going from that teacher 
‘which should bring your salvation, the Grace of God, which is sufli- 
‘cient in all temptations to lead out of them and to keep over them. 
GES 

After I had cleared myself of those services for the Lord, which lay 

upon me in the city of London, I passed into Bedfordshire and North- 


i655}, GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 192 


amptonshire. At Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire, I had a great 
meeting, in which the Lord’s everlasting power and truth was over all; 
and many in that country were turned to the Lord. Great rage was 
amongst the professors; for the wicked priests, Presbyterians, and Inde- 
pendents falsely reported, ‘ That we carried bottles about with us, which 
‘ we gave people to drink of, which made them follow us: but the Power 
Spirit, and Truth of God kept friends over the rage of the people. Great — 
spoiling also there was of friends’ goods for tythes by the Independent, 
Presbyterian, and some Baptist priests, who had got into the steeple- 
houses. 

From Wellingborough I went into Leicestershire, where colonel 
Hacker had threatened, If I came he would imprison me again, though 
the Protector had set me at liberty: but when I was come to Whetstone, 
the meeting from which he took me before, all was quiet. Colonel 
Hacker’s wife and his marshal came to the meeting, and were convinced ; 
for the glorious, powerful day of the Lord was exalted over all, and 
many were convinced that day. There were at that meeting two jus- 
tices of the peace from Wales, their names were Peter Price and Walter 
Jenkins; who came both to be ministers of Christ. 

I went from thence to Sileby, to William Smith’s, where was a great 
meeting, to which several Baptists came; one of them, a Baptist teacher, 
was convinced, and came to sit under the Lord’s teaching by his Spirit 
and Power. ‘This Baptist said, He had baptized thirty in a day. 

From thence I went to Drayton, my native town, where so many 
priests and professors had formerly gathered together against me; but 
now never a priest nor professor did appear. I asked some of my rela- 

tions, Where all the priests and professors were? They said the priest 

of Non-eaton was dead, and eight or nine of them were seeking to get 
his benefice. ‘They will let you alone now,’ said they, ‘for they are 
‘like a company of crows, when a rotten sheep is dead, they all gather - 
‘together to pull out the puddings; so do the priests for a fallen benefice. 
These were some of their own hearers that said so of them: but they 
had spent thvir venom against me, and the Lord delivered me by hp» 
power out of their snare. 

Then I went to Badgley, where was a great meeting. Numbers came 
far to it. Many were convinced, and turned to the Lord; who came 

eee Christ’s teaching, and were settled upon him, their foundation and 
rock. 

From thence J passed into Nottinghamshire, and had large meetings, 
and into Derbyshire, where the Lord’s power came over all. Many 
_ were turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, 
and came to receive the Holy Ghost. Great miracles were wrought 
‘in many places by the power of the Lord through several. 
In Derbyshire James Nayler met me, and told me, seven or eight 
| priests had challenged him to a dispute. I had a travail in my Spirit for 
him, and the Lord answered me. I was moved to bid him go on, ‘and 
| *God Almighty would be with him, and give him the victory in his 
| ‘power.’ And the Lord did so; insomuch that the people saw the priests 
were foiled, and cried, ‘ A Nailer, a Nailer hath confuted them all.’ After 
the dispute he came to me again, praising the Lord. Thus was the 
| Lord’s day proclaimed, and set over all their heads. People began to 
see the apostacy and slavery they had heen under to their hireling 
mre, and came to know their teacher the Lord Jesus, who had vur. 

= Z 


194 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL (1655 


chased them, and made their peace betwixt God and them. While we 
were here, friends came out of Yorkshire to see us, and were glad of 
the prosperity of truth. 

After this I passed into Warwickshire amongst friends, visiting their 
meetings; and so into Worcestershire. I had a ‘meeting at Birmingham, 
where several were convinced, and turned to the Lord. I came to one 
Cole’s house near Chattan. This Cole had given an Independent preacher 
a meeting-place, who came to be convinced; afier which he laid aside 
his preaching; whereupon the old man Cole gave him an hundred 
pounds a year. I had a meeting there; a very great one it was, inso- 
much that the meeting-place would not hold the people. Many were 
turned to the Lord that day. Afterwards, when the time of trials came, 
this Independent did not stand to that which had convinced him; but 
turned back: whereupon the old man took away his 1002 a year from 
him again. But Cole himself died in God’s truth. 

I heard that at Evesham the magistrates had cast several friends into 
divers prisons; and that, hearing ‘of my coming, they made a pair of 
high stocks. I sent for Edward Pittaway, a friend, who lived near Eves- 
ham, and asked him the truth of the thing. He said, it was so. I went 
that night with him to Evesham; and in the evening we had a large, 
precious meeting, wherein friends and people were refreshed with the 
word of life, the power of the Lord. Next morning I rode to one of 
the prisons, and visited friends there, and encouraged them. Then I 
rode to the other prison, where were several prisoners. Amongst them 
was Humphry Smith, who had been a priest, but: was now become a 
free minister of Christ. When I had visited friends at both prisons, and 
was turned to go out of the town, I espied the magistrates coming up 
the town to have seized me in prison. But the Lord frustrated their 
intent, the innocent escaped their snare, and God’s blessed power came 
over them all. But exceeding rude and envious were the priests and 
professors about this time in these parts. | 

I went from Evesham to Worcester, and had a precious meeting 
there, and quiet. After which, coming towards our inn, some professors 
fell to discourse with friends, ie were like to have made a tumult in the 
city. As we went into the inn, they all cluttered into the yard; but I 
went among them and got them quieted. Next day I walked into the’ 
town, and had a great deal of discourse with some of the professors’ 
concerning Christ ‘and the way of truth. One of them denied, that) 
| Christ was s of Abraham according to the flesh, and that he was declared. 
to be the Son of God according to the Spirit. I proved from Rom. i. 
tnat he was of the seed of Abraham, being made of the seed of David 
according to the flesh; and that according to the Spirit he was declared 
to be the Son of God. Afterwards I wrote a paper concerning it. 

From Worcester we went to Tewksbury, where in the evening we 
had a great meeting, to which came the priest of the town with a great 
rabble of rude people. The priest boasted, that he would see whether 
he or I should have the victory. ‘I turned the people to the Divine 
‘ Light, which Christ, the heavenly and spiritual man, enlighteneth them 
‘withal : that with that Light they might see their sins, and that the 
‘were in death and dar ness, and without God in the world; and migh 
‘ also see Christ trom whom ‘it cometh, their Saviour and Raduahier: whe 
‘shed his blood and died for them; who is the way to God, the tr a 

and the life.’ Here the priest began to rage against the Light, ar 


1655] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 193 


denied it; for neither priest nor professor could endure tu hear the Light 
spoken of. Having railed at the Light the priest went away, and left 
his rude company amongst us;-but the Lord’s power came over them, 
though mischief was in their hearts. 

Leaving Tewksbury we passed to Warwick, where in the evening we 
had a meeting at a widow-woman’s house with many sober people. A 
precious meeting we had in the Lord’s power; several were convinced, 
and turned to the Lord. After the meeting, a Baptist in the company 
began to jangle; and the bailiff of the town, with his officers, came in, 
and said, What do these people here at this time of night? So he secur- 
ed John Crook, Amor Stoddart, Gerrard Roberts, and me; but we had 
leave to go to our inn, and to be forth-coming in the morning. The next 
morning many rude people came into the inn, and into our chambers, 
desperate fellows; but the Lord’s power gave us dominion over them. 
Gerrard Roberts and John Crook went to the bailiff to know what he 
had to say to us. He said, we might go our ways, for he had little to 
say to us. As we rode out of town, it lav upon me to ride to his house, 
to let him know, ‘That the Protector having given forth an instrument 
‘of government, in which liberty of conscience was granted, it was very 
‘strange that, contrary to that instrument of government, he would 
‘trouble peaceable people that feared God.’ The friends went with me, 
but the rude people gathered about us with stones. One of them took 
hold of my horse’s bridle, and broke it; but the horse drawing back 
threw him under him. Though the bailiff saw this, yet he did not stop, 
nor so much as rebuke the rude multitude; so that it was much we had 
not been slain or hurt in the streets; for the people threw stones and 
struck at us as we rode along the town. 

When we were quite out of the town, I told friends, ‘It was upon me 
‘from the Lord that I must go back into the town again; and if any one 
‘of them felt any thing upon him from the Lord, he might follow me; the 
‘rest that did not, might go on to Dun-cow.’ So I passed through the 
market in the dreadful power of God, declaring the word of life to them ; 
and John Crook followed me. Some struck at me; but the Lord’s power 
was over them, and gave me dominion over all. I shewed them their 
unworthiness of the name of christians, and the unworthiness of their 
teachers, that had not brought them into more sobriety; and what a 
shame they were to christianity ! 

Having cleared myself I turned out of the town again, and passed to 
Coventry ; where we found the people closed up with darkness. I went 

__to a professor’s house I had formerly been at, and he was drunk; which 
_ grieved my soul so, that I did not go into any house in the town; but 
rode into some of the streets, and into the market-place. I felt the power 
of tle Lord was over the town. 

Then J went to Dun-cow, and had a meeting in the evening, and some 
_ were turned to the Lord by his Spirit, as some also were at Warwick 
“ind Tewksbury. We lay at Dun-cow that night; where we met with 
ohn Camm, a faithful minister of the everlasting gospel. In the morr- 
“ng there gatl ered a rudé Company of priests and people, who behaved 
‘more like beasts than men; for some of them came riding on horse- 
back into the room where we were; but the Lord gave us dominior 
over them. 

_ From thence we passed into Leicestershire, where we had a great 


th 


“mieeting at the place where I had been taken formerly. After that we 


196 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1653 


tame to Badgley, in Warwickshire. Here William Eamundson who 
lived in Ireland, having some drawings upon his spirit te come into Eng- 
land to see me, met with me; by whom I wrote a few lines to friends 
then convinced in the north of Ireland. 


‘ Friends, 

‘In that which convinced you, wait; that you may have that >emov- 
‘ed you are convinced of. And, all my dear friends, dwell in the life, 
‘love, power, and wisdom of God, in unity one with another, and with 

God; and the peace and wisdom of God fill all your hearts, that no- 
thing may rule in you but the life which stands in the Lord oe ip 
‘ > 


When these few lines were read amongst the friends in Ireland at their 
meeting, the power of the Lord seized upon all in the room. 

From Badgley we passed to Swanington and Higham, and into North- 
amptonshire and Bedfordshire, having great meetings. Many were 
turned to the Lord by his Power and Spirit. When we came to Baldock 
in Hertfordshire, I asked, ‘If there was nothing in that town, no profes- 
‘sion!’ It was answered me, There were some Baptists, and a Baptist 
woman sick. John Rush of Bedfordshire went with me to visit her. 
When we came in, many tender people were about her. They told me, 
‘She was not awoman for this world; but if I had any thing to comfort 
‘her concerning the’world to come, I might speak to her.’ 1 was moved 
of the Lord to speak to her; and he raised her up again, to the astonish- 
ment of the town and country. Her husband’s name was Baldock. This 
Baptist woman and her husband came to be convinced; and many hun- 
dreds of people have met at their house since. Great meetings and con- 
vincements were in those parts afterwards; many received the word of 
life, and sat down under the teachings of Christ their Saviour. 

When we had visited this sick woman, we returned to our inn; where 


hand, and the other by the other, shewed them the evil of their doings, 
and reconciled them one to the other; and they were so loving and 
thankful to me, that people admired at it. 

From thence I passed to Market-street, where God had a people; and 
through Albans to London, where friends were glad of the prosperity of 
truth, and the manifestation of the Lord’s glorious power, which had de- 
livered us, and carried us through many dangers and difficulties. I also 
rejoiced to find truth prosper in the city, and all things well amcngst 
friends there. Only there was one John Toldervey, who had heen con- 
vinced of truth, and run out from it; and the envious priests took occa- 
sion from thence to write a wicked book against friends, which they 
stuffed with many lies, to render truth and friends odious. They entitled 
their book, “The Foot out of the Snare.” But this poor man came to 
see his folly, and returned, condemned his backsliding, answered the 
priests’ book, and manifested all their lies and wickedness. Thus the 
Lord’s power came over them; his everlasting Seed reigned, and reigns 
to this day. 

After [had tarried some time in London, and had visited friends in 
their meetings, I went out of town, leaving James Nayler in the city. — 
As ] passed from him, I cast my eyes upon him, and a fear struck me — 


et 


55] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 197 


concerning him; but I went away, and rode to Ryegate in Surr2y, where 
[ had a little meeting. ‘There friends told me of one Thomas Moore, a 
justice of peace, that lived not far from Ryegate, a friendly, moderate 
man; whereupon | went to visit him at his house, and he came to be a 
serviceable man in truth. 

We passed to Thomas Patchings, of Binscombe in Godalming, where 
we had a meeting, to which several friends came from London. John 
Bolton and his wife came on foot in frost and snow. After we had part- 
ed with friends there, we went towards Horsham Park; where having 
visited friends, we went to Arundel and Chichester, where we had meet- 
ings. At Chichester many professors came in, and made some jangling ; 
but the Lord’s power was over them. ‘The woman of the house, where 
the meeting was, though convinced of truth, yet not keeping her mind 
close to that which convinced her, she fell in love with a man of the 
world, who was there that time. When I knew it, I took her aside, and 
was moved to speak to her and to pray for her; but a light thing got up 
in her mind, and she slighted it. Afterwards she married that man; and 
soon after went distracted; for he was greatly in debt, and she greatly 
disappointed. ‘Then was I sent for to'her; and the Lord was entreated, 
raised her up again, and settled her mind by his power. Afterwards her 
husband died; and she acknowledged the just judgments of God were 
come upon her, for slighting the exhortation and counsel I had given 
her. 

After we left Chichester, we travelled to Portsmouth. There the sol- 
diers had-us to the governor’s house. After some examination, the 
Lord’s power came over them, and we were set at liberty, and had a 
meeting in the town. After which we came to Ringwood, where in the 
evening we had a meeting. Several were convinced, and turned to the 
Spirit of the Lord, and to the teaching of Christ Jesus their Saviour. 

From Ringwood we came to Pool; and, having set up our horses at 
an inn, we sent into the town to inquire for such as feared the Lord, and 
such as were worthy; and we had a meeting there with several sober 
people. William Baily, a Baptist teacher, was convinced at that time. 
The people received truth in the inward parts, and were turned to the 
Lord Jesus Christ, their rock and foundation, their teacher and Saviour ; 
and there is become a great gathering in the name of Jesus of a very 


tender people, who continue under Christ’s teaching. 


We went also to Southampton, and had a meeting, where several 
were convinced. Edward Pyot ‘of Bristol travelled with me all this 
western journey. 

From thence we went to Dorchester, and alighted at an inn, a Bap- 
tist’s house: we sent into the town to the Baptists, to let us have their 
meeting-house to assemble in, and to invite the sober peovle to the meet- 
ing; but they denied it us. We sent to them again, to know why they 
would deny us their meeting-house? so the thing was noised in the town. 
Then we sent them word, If they would not let us come to their house, 
they, or any people that feared God, might come to our inn, if they 
pleased ; but they were ina great rage. Their teacher, and many of them 
came up, and slapped their bibles on the table. I asked them, «Why 
they were so angry? were they angry with the bible?’ But they fell 
mto a discourse about their water-baptism. I asked them, ‘ Whether 
they could say they were sent of God to baptize people, as John was? 
And whether they had the same Spirit and power that the apostles 


198 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [less 


had?” They said, They had not. Then I asked them, ‘How many 
‘ powers there are? Whether there are any more than the power of God. 
‘and the power of the devil?’ They said, There was not any other power 
than those two. Then said I, ‘If you have not the power of God that 
‘the apostles had, you act by the power of the devil.’ Many sober people 
were present, who said, “ They have thrown themselves on their backs.” 
Many substantial people-were convinced that night; a precious service 
we had there for the Lord, and his power came over all. Next morning 
as we were passing away, the Baptists, being in a rage, began to shake 
the dust off their feet after us. ‘ What,’ said I, ‘in the power of dark- 
‘ness! We, who are in the power of God, shake off the dust of our feet 
‘against you.’ 

Leaving Dorchester, we came to Weymouth; where also we inquired 
afier sober people; and about fourscore of them gathered together at a 
priest’s house, all very sober people. Most of them received the word 
of life, and were turned to their teacher Christ Jesus, who had enlight- 
ened them with his divine light, by which they might see their sins, and 
him who saveth from sin. A blessed meeting we had with them, and 
they received the truth in the love of it, with gladness of heart. The 
meeting held several hours. ‘The state of their teachers, and the apos- 
‘tacy was opened to them; and the state of the apostles, and of the 
‘church in their days: and the state of the law and of the prophets be- 
‘fore Christ, and how Christ came to fulfil them; that he was their 
‘teacher in the apostles’ days; and that he was come. now to teach his 
‘people himself by his power and spirit.’ All was quiet, the meeting 
broke up peaceably, the people were very loving; and a meeting is con- 
tinued in that town to this day. Many are added to them; and some 
who had been Ranters came to own the truth, and to live very soberly. 

There was a captain of horse in the town, who sent to me, and would 
fain have had me to have staid longer; but J was not to stay. He and 
his man rode out of town with me about seven miles; Edward Pyot 
also being with me. This captain wasthe fattest, merriest, cheerfullest 
man, and the most given to laughter, that ever-I_met with: insomuch 
that I was several times moved to speak in the dreadful power of the 
Lord to him; yet it was become so customary to him, he would pres- 
ently laugh at any thing he saw. But I still admonished him to come to 
sobriety, and the fear of the Lord, and sincerity. We lay at an inn that 
night; and the next morning I was moved to speak to him again, when 
ke parted from us. Next time I saw him, he told me, When I spoke to 
him at parting, the power of the Lord so struck him, that before he got 
home he was serious enough, and had left his laughing. He afterwards 
was convinced, and became a serious good man, and died in the truth. 

Parting from him, we went to Honiton; and at our inn inquired, What 
people were in the town that feared God, and sent for them. There 
came to us some of the particular Baptists, with whom we had a great 
dea’ of reasoning. I told them, ‘They held their doctrine of particular 
‘elect.on in Esau’s, Cain’s, and Ishmael’s nature ; not in Jacob, the second 
‘birth: but they must be born again before they could enter the kingdom 
‘of God. And that as the promise of God was to the Seed, not as many, 
but as one, which was Christ; so the election and choice stands in- 

Christ; and they must be such as walk in his light, grace, Spirit, and 
truth. ah 

From thence we passed to Topsham, and staid over first-day ; but the | 

: 


ae 


| 
: 


1655: GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 199 


inn-keeper and his people were rude. Next morning, we gave forth some 
queries to the priests and professors: whereupon some rude professors 
came to our inn; and, had we not gone when we did, they had stopped 
us. I wore a girdle, which through forgetfulness I left behind me, and 
afterwards sent to the inn-keeper for; but he would not let me have it 
again. Afterwards, when he was troubled in his mind about it, he burnt 
t, lest he should be bewitched by it, as he said; yet when he had burnt it, 
ne was more troubled than before. Some, notwithstanding the rudeness 
of the place, were convinced, and a meeting was afterwards settled in 
that town, which hath continued ever since. 

Afier this we passed to Totnes, a dark town. We lodged there at an 
inn; and that night Edward Pyot was sick, but the Lord’s power healed 
him, so that the next day we got to King’s Bridge, and at our inn inquired 
for the sober people of the town. They directed us to Nicholas Tripe 
and his wife; and we went to their house. ‘They sent for the priest, 
with whom we had some discourse; but he being confounded, quickly 
left us. Nicholas Tripe and his wife were convinced; and since there is 
a good meeting of friends in that country. In the evening we returned 
to our inn. There being many people drinking in the house, ‘I was 
‘moved of the Lord to go amongst them, and direct them to the light 
‘ which Christ the heavenly man had enlightened them withal; by which 
‘they might see all thew evil ways, words, and deeds, and by the same 
‘light they might also see Christ Jesus their Saviour.’ The inn-keeper 
stood uneasy, seeing it hindered his guests from drinking ; and as soon as 
the last words were out of my mouth, he snatched up the candle, and 
said, ‘Come, here is a light for you to go into your chamber.’ Next 
morning, when he was cool, I represented to him, ‘ What an uncivil thing 
‘it was for him so to do;’ then warning him of the day of the Lord, we 
got ready and passed away. 

We came next day to Plymouth, refreshed ourselves at our inn, and 
went to Robert Cary’s, where we had a very precious meeting. At this 
meeting was Elizabeth Trelawny, daughter to a baronet. She being 
somewhat thick of hearing, came close up to me, and clapped her ear 
very nigh me, while I spake; and she was convinced. After this meet- 
ing came in some jangling Baptists; but the Lord’s power came over 
them, and Elizabeth Trelawny gave testimony thereto. A fine meeting 
was settled there in the Lord’s power, which hath continued ever since; 
where many faithful friends have been convinced. 

From thence we passed into Cornwall, and came to an inn in the 
parish of Menhenniot. At night we had a meeting at Edward Han- 
cock’s, to which came Thomas Mounce and a priest, with a great dea! 
of people. We brought the priest to confess, That he was a minister 
made by the state, and maintained by the state; and he was confounded 
and went h:s way: but many of the people staid. I directed them to 
the ‘light of Christ, by which they might see their sins, and their Saviour 
‘Cirist Jesus, the way to God, their Mediator to make peace betwixt 
*God and them; their Shepherd to feed them, and their Prophet to teach 
‘them. I directed them to the Spirit of God in themselves, by which 
‘they might know the scriptures, and be led into all truth; and by the 
‘Spirit might know God, and in it have unity one with another.’ Many 
were convinced at that time, and came under Christ’s teaching; and 
there are fine gatherings in the name of Jesus in those parts at this day. 

We travelled from thence through Penryn, and came tc Helston; but 


200 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1655 


could not get tc the knowledge of any sober people, turough the badness 
of the mn-keepers. At length we came to a village, where some Baptists 
and sober people lived, with whom we had discourse. Some of them 
were brought to confess, that they stumbled at the light of Christ. They 
would have had us to have staid with them; but we passed thence to. 
Market-Jew ; and having taken up our lodging at an inn, we sent over 
night to inquire for such as feared the Lord. Next morning the mayor 
and ald:imen gathered together, with the high-sheriff of the county ; 
and sent the constables to bid us come before them. We asked them for 
their warrant; and they saying they had none, we told them, we should 
not go along with them without a warrant. Upon the return of the con- 
stables without us, they sent their sergeants, and we asked them for their 
warrant. They said, they had none; but told us, the mayor and alder- 
men staid for us. We told them, the mayor and his company did not 
well to trouble us in our inn; and we should not go with them without a 
warrant. So they went away, and came again; and when we asked 
them for their warrant, ene of them plucked his mace from under his 
cloak. We asked them, Whether it was their custom to molest and 
trouble strangers in their inns and lodgings? After some time Edward 
Pyot went to the mayor and aldermen, and a great deal of discourse he 
had with them; but the Lord’s power gave him dominion over them all. 
When he returned, several of the officers came to us; and we laid be- 
fore them the incivility and unworthiness of their carriage towards us, 
the servants of the Lord God, thus to stop and trouble us in our inns and 
lodgings; and what an unchristian act it was. Before we left the town, 
I wrote a little paper, to be sent to the seven parishes at the Land’s End. 


‘Tue mighty day of the Lord is come, and coming, wherein all hearts 

_ €shall be made manifest, and the secrets of every one’s heart shall be 
“revealed by the light of Jesus, who lighteth every man that cometh into 
‘the world, that all men through him might believe, and that the world 
‘might have life through him, who saith, “ Learn of me;” and of whom 
‘God saith, “ This is my beloved Son, hear ye him.” Christ is come to 
‘teach his people himself; and every one that will not hear this Prophet, 
‘which God hath raised up, and which Moses spake of, when he said, 
“Like unto me will God raise you up a Prophet, him shall you hear :” every 
‘one, I say that will not hear this prophet, is to be cut off They that 
‘despised Moses’s law, died under the hand of two or three witnesses ; 
‘but how much greater punishment will come upon them that neglect 
‘this great salvation, Christ Jesus, who saith, “ Learn of me, I am the 
“ way, the truth, and the life ;” who lighteth every man that cometh into 
‘ the world; and by his light lets him see his evil ways and evil deeds. But 
‘if you hate that light, and go on in evil, this light will be your con- 
‘demner. Therefore, now ye have time, prize it: for this is the day «f 
‘ your visitation, and salvation offered to you. Every one of you hath 
-a light from Christ; which lets you see you should not lie, nor do wrong 
‘to any, nor swear, nor curse, nor take God’s name in vain, nor steal. 
‘Tt is the light that shews you these evil deeds: which if you love, and 
‘come unto it, and follow it, it will lead you to Christ, who is the way to 
‘the Father, fiom whom it comes; where no unrighteousness enters, nor 
‘ungodliness. If you hate this light, it will be your condemnation; but 
if you jove it, and come to it, you will come to Christ; and it will 
‘bring you off from all the world’s teachers and ways, to learn of Christ, 


655] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 201 


and will preserve you from the evils of the world, and all the deceivers 
in it. Gare 


This paper a friend, then with me, had; and when we were gone 
three or four miles from Market-Jew towards the west, he meeting with 
a man upon the road, gave him a copy of the paper. This man proved 
to be a servant to Peter Ceely, a major in the army, and a justice of 
peace in that county; and riding before us to a place called St. Ives, 
shewed the paper to his master. When we came to Ives, Edward 
Pyot’s horse having cast a shoe, we staid to have a shoe set; and while 
he was getting his horse shod, I walked to the sea-side. When I came 
back I found the town in an uproar. They were haling Edward Pyot 
and the other friend before major Ceely. I followed them into the justice’s 
house, though they did not lay hands upon me. When we came in, the 
house was full of rude people ; whereupon I asked, Whether there were 
not an officer among them, to keep the people civil? Major Ceely said, 
he was a magistrate. I told him, ‘He should shew forth gravity and 


-* sobriety then, and use his authority to keep the people civil ; for I never 


‘saw any people ruder: the Indians were more like Christians than 
‘they.’ After awhile they brought the paper and asked, Whether | 
would own it? I said, Yes. Then he tendered the oath of abjuration to 
us: whereupon I put my hand in my pocket, and produced the answer 
to it, which had been given to.the protector. After I had given him 
that, he examined us severally, one by one. He had with him a silly, 
young priest, who asked-us-many frivolous questions ; amongst the rest, 
he desired to cut ir, which then was pretty long; but I was not to 
cut it, though many were offended at it. I told them, ‘I had no pride 
‘in it; and it was not of my own putting on.’ At length the justice 
put us under a guard of soldiers, who were hard and wild, like the jus- 
tice himself: nevertheless we ‘warned the people of the day of the 
‘ Lord, and declared the truth to them.’ The next day he sent us guard- 
ed by a party of horse, with swords and pistols, who took us to Redruth. 
On first-day the soldiers would have carried us away; but we told them, 
It was their sabbath, and it-was not usual to travel on that day. Seve- 
ral Of the-town’s people gathered about us; and whilst I held the sol- 
diers in discourse, Edward Pyot spoke to the people; and afterwards 
Edward Pyot held the soldiers in discourse whilst I spoke to the people. 
In the mean time the other friend got out backwards, and went to the 
steeple-house to speak to the priest and peop'e. The people were exceeding 
desperate, in a mighty rage against him, ana abused him. The soldiers 
also missing him, were in a great rage, and seemed ready to kill us; 
but I declared the day of the Lord, and the word cf eternal life to the 
people. In the afternoon the soldiers were resolved to have us away ; 
so we took horse. When we had rid to the town’s end, I was moved of 


the Lord to go back again, to speak to the old man of the house. The 


soldiers drew out their pistols, and swore I should not go back. I 
heeded them not; but rode back, and they rode after me. So I cleared 
myself to the old man and the people; and then returned with them, and 
reproved them for being so rude and violent. 

At night we were brought to a town then called Smethick, but since 


_ Falmouth. It being the evening of the first-day, there came into our inn 


the chief constable of the place, and many sober people; some of whom 


began to inquire concerning us. We told them, We were prisoners for 


2A 


202 sEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. p65: 


truth’s sake ; and a great deal of discourse we had with them concern 
ng the things of God. They were very sober, and very loving to us 
Some of them were convinced, and stood faithful ever after. 

When the constable and these people were gone, others came in, whe 
also were very civil, and went away very loving. When all were 
gone, we went to our chamber to go to bed; and about the eleventh 
hour Edward Pyot said, ‘I will shut the door, it may be some may come 
‘to do usa mischief.’ Afterwards we understood captain Keat, who 
commanded the party, purposed to have done us some injury that night; 
cut the door being bolted, he missed his design. Next morning captain 
Keat brought a kinsman of his, a rude, wicked man, and put him into 
the room; himself standing without. This evil-minded man walked 
huffing up and down the room; I bid him fear the Lord. Whereupon 
he ran upon me, struck me with both his hands; and, clapping his leg 
behind me, would have thrown me down, if he could; but he was not 
able, for I stood stiff and still, and let him strike. As I looked towards the 
door, I saw captain Keat look on, and see his kinsman thus beat and abuse 
me. Whereupon I said to him, ‘ Keat, dost thou allow this ? He said he did. 
‘Is this manly or civil,’ said I, ‘to have us under a guard, and put a man 
‘to abuse and beat us? Is this manly, civil, or christian? J desired one 
of our friends to send for the constables, and they came. Then I de- 
sired the captain to let the constables see his warrant or order, by 
which he was to carry us; which he did; and his warrant was to con- 
duct us safe to captain Fox, governor of Pendennis castle; and if the 
governor should not be at home, he was to convey us to Lanceston gaol. 
I told him, He had broken his order concerning us; for we, who were 
his prisoners, were to be safely conducted; but he had brought a man 
to beat and abuse us: so he having broken his order, I wished the con- 
stable to keep the warrant. Accordingly he did, and told the soldiers, 
They might go their ways, for he would take charge of the prisoners ; and 
if it cost twenty shillings in charges to carry us up, they should not have 
the warrant again. I shewed the soldiers the baseness of their carriage 
towards us; and they walked up and down the house, pitifully blank and 
down. The constables went to the castle, and told the olficers what 
they had done. The officers shewed great dislike of captain Keat’s 
base carriage towards us; and told the constables, major-general Des- 
borough was coming to Bodmin, and that we should meet him; and it 
was likely he would free us. Mean-while our old guard of soldiers 
came by way of entreaty to us, and promised they would be civil to us, 
if we would go with them. Thus the morning was spent till about the 
eleventh hour; and then, upon the soldiers’ entreaty, and promise to be 
more civil, the constables gave them the order again; and we went 
with them. Great was the civility and courtesy of the constables and 
people of that town towards us, who kindly entertained us; and the 
Lord rewarded them with his truth; for many of them have since been — 
convinced thereof, and are gathered into the name of Jesus, and sit under 
Christ, their Teacher and Saviour. | 

Captain Keat who commanded our guard, understanding that captain 
Fox, who was governor of Pendennis castle, was gone to meet major- 
general Desborough, did not carry us thither; but took us directly to_ 
Bodmin, in the way to Lanceston. We met major-general Desborough 
on the way. The captain of his troop, that rode before him, knew 
me, and said, ‘Oh, Mr. Fox, what do you here?’ I replied, ‘I am a 


1656) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 203 


‘prisoner.’ ‘ Alack,’ said he ‘for what?’ I told him, ‘I was taken up as 
‘] was travelling.’ ‘Then,’ said he, ‘I will speak to my lord, and he 
‘ will set you at liberty.” So he came from the head of his troop, and 
rode up to the coach, and spoke to the major-general. We also gave 
him an account how we were taken. He began to speak against the 
light of Christ; against which I exhorted him. Then he told the sol- 
diers, They might carry us to Lanceston; for he could not stay to talk 
with us, lest his horses should take cold. 

To Bodmin we were had that night; and when we came to our inn 
captain Keat, who was in before us, put me into a room, and went his 
way. WhenI was come in, there stood a man with a naked rapier in 
his hand. Whereupon I turned out again, called for captain Keat, and 
said, ‘What now, Keat, what trick hast thou played now, to put me 
‘into a room where there is a man with his naked rapier? What is thy 
‘end in this!’ ‘Oh,’ said he, ‘pray hold your tongue; for if you speak 
‘to this man, we cannot all rule him, he is so devilish.’ ‘ Then,’ said J, 
*dost thou put me into.a room where there is such a man with a naked 

rapier, that thou say’st, You cannot all rule him? What an unworthy, 
‘base trick is this? and to put me single into this room from the rest 
‘of my friends, that were fellow-prisoners with me?’ Thus his plot was 
discovered, and the mischief they intended was prevented. Afterward 
we got another room, where we were together all night; and in the 
evening we declared the truth to the people: but they were dark and 
hardened. ‘The soldiers, notwithstanding their fair promises, were very 
rude and wicked to us again, and sat up drinking and roaring all night. 

Next day we were brought to Lanceston, where captain Keat deliv- 
ered us to the gaoler. Now was there no friend, nor friendly people 
near us; and the people of the town were a dark, hardened people. The 
gaoler required us to pay seven shillings a week for our horse-meat, and 
seven shillings a week for our diet apiece. After some time several 


sober persons came to see us, and some of the town were convinced; 


and many friendly people out of several parts of the country came to 
visit us, and were convinced. Then got up a great rage among the 
professors and priests against us. They said, This people Thou and 
Thee all men without respect, and will not put off their hats, nor bow 
the knee to any man; but we shall see when the assize comes, whether 
they will dare to Thou and Thee the judge, and keep on their hats be- 
fore him. They expected we should be hanged at the assize. But all 
this was little to us; for we saw how God would stain the world’s hon- 
our and glory; and were commanded not to seek that honour, nor give 
it; but knew the honour that cometh from God only, and sought that. 

It was nine weeks from the time of our commitment to the assizes, to 
which abundance of people came from far and near to hear the trial of 
the Quakers. Captain Bradden lay with his troop of horse there, whose 
soldiers and the sheriff’s men guarded us to the court through the multi 
tude that filled the streets; and much ado they had to get us through 
Besides, the doors and windows were filled with people looking upon us 


_ When we were brought into the court, we stood a pretty while with. 


our hats on, and all was quiet; and I was moved to say, ‘ Peace be 
‘amongst you?’ Judge Glyn, a Welshman, then chief justice of England 
said to the gaoler, ‘ What be these you have brought here into the court? 
«Prisoners, my lord,’ said he. ‘Why do you not put off your hats?’ said 
the judge to us. We said nothing. ‘ Put off your hats,’ said the judge 


204 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. “1656 


again. Still we said nothing. Then said the judge, ‘The court com- 
‘mands you to put off your hats.’ Then I queried, ‘ Where did ever any 
‘magistrate, king, or judge, from Moses to Daniel, command any to put 
‘off their hats, when they came before them in their courts, either 
‘amongst the Jews (the people of God) or amongst the heathen? And if 
‘the law of England doth command any such thing, shew me that law 
‘either written or printed.’ The judge grew very angry, and said, ‘I do 
‘not carry my law-books on my back.’ ‘ But,’ said I, ‘tell me where it 
‘is printed in any statute-book, that I may read it.’ Then said the judge, 
‘Take him away, prevaricator! I’ll ferk him. So they took us away, 
and put us among the thieves. Presently after he called to the gaoler, 
‘Bring them up again! Come,’ said he, ‘ where had they hats from Moses 
‘to Daniel? Come, answer me; I have you fast now.’ I replied, *‘ Thou 

mayest read in the third of Daniel, that the three children were cast 

ito the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar’s command, with their coats, 
‘their hose, and their hats on.’ This plain instance stopped him; so that 
not having any thing else to the point, he cried again, ‘'Take them away, 
‘gaoler.’ Accordingly we were taken away, and thrust in among the 
thieves; where we were kept a great while; and then, without being 
called again, the sheriff’s men and the troopers made way for us to get 
through the crowd, and guarded us to prison again, a multitude of people 
following us, with whom we had much discourse and reasoning at the 
gaol. We had some good hooks to set forth our principles, and to in- 
form people of the truth; which the judge and justices hearing of, they 
sent captain Bradden for them, who came and violently took our books 
from us, some out of Edward Pyot’s hands, and carried them away; so 
we never got them again. 

In the afternoon we were had up again into the chamber by the gaoler, 
sheriff’s men, and troopers; who had a mighty toil to get us through the 
crowd of people. When we were in the court, waiting to be called, ob- 
serving the jurymen, and such a multitude of others swearing, it grieved 
my life to see, that such as professed christianity should so openly dis- 
obey and break the command of Christ and the apostle. And I was 
moved of the Lord to give forth a paper against swearing, which I had 
about me, to the grand and petty juries. 


Concerning Swearine. 


‘Taxe heed of giving people oaths to swear: for Christ our Lord and 
‘Master saith, “Swear not.at all; but let your communication be yea, 
“yea, and nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” 
‘If any was to suffer death, it must be by the hand of two or three wit- 
‘nesses; and the hands of the witnesses were to be first upon him to put 
‘him to death. The apostle James saith, “ My brethren, above all things 
“swear not, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath, lest 
“ye fall into condemnation.” Hence ye may see-those that swear fall 
‘into condemnation, and are out of Christ’s and the apostle’s doctrine. 
‘Every one of you have a light from Christ, who saith, “I am the light 
“ of the world,” and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world. 

He saith, “ Learn of me,” whose doctrine, and that of the apostle, is 
not to swear; but “Let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay, in all 
‘your communication; for whatsoever is more cometh of evil:” they 
that go into more than yea and nay go into evil, and are out of the doc- 
trine of Christ. If you say, “ That the oath was the end of controversy 


a a 


re5s€ GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 205 


__and strife ;” those who are in strife are out of Christ’s doct: ne; for he 


is the covenant of peace, and who are in that, are in the covenant of 
peace. The apostle brings that but as an example: as men swearing 
by the greater, and the oath was the end of controversy and strife 
among men; saying, Verily, men swear by the greater: but God hav- 
ing no greater swears by himself concerning Christ; who, when he 
“was come, taught not to swear at all. So those who are in him, and 


_ ‘follow him, cannot but abide in his doctrine. If you say, “‘ They swore 
- “under the law, and under the prophets ;” Christ-is the end of the law, 


tne 


‘and of the prophets, to every one that believeth for righteousness’ sake. 
prop ry g 


Now mark, If you believe “I am the light of the world, which enlight- 


*eneth every man that cometh into the world,” saith Christ, by whom it 
‘was made; now every man of you that is come into the world is en- 
‘lightened with a light that comes from Christ, by which the world was 
‘made, that all of you through him might believe, that is the end for 
‘which he doth enlighten you. Now if you do believe in the light, as 
«Christ commands, “ Believe in the light, that you may be children of 
‘light ;” you believe in Christ, ud ‘earn of him, who is the way to 
‘the Father. This is the light which shews the evil actions you have all 
‘acted, the ungodly deeds you have committed, the ungodly speeches 
vou have spoken ; and all your oaths, cursed speaking, and ungodly ac- 
‘tions. If you hearken to this light, it will let you see all that you have 
‘done contrary to it; and loving it, it will turn you from your evil deeds, 
‘evil ways, and evil words, to Christ, who is not of the world; but is the 
‘light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and testifies 
‘against the world, that the deeds thereof are evil. So doth the light in 
‘every man, received from him, testify against all evil works, that they 
‘are contrary to the light; and each shall give an account, at the day of 
‘judgment, for every idle word that is spoken. This light shall bring 
‘every tongue to confess, yea and every knee to bow, at the name of 
‘Jesus: in which light, if you believe, you shall not come into condem- 
‘nation, but to Christ, who is not of the world, to him by whom it was 
‘made: but if you believe not in the light, this is your condemnation. 
SCRE? 


This paper passing among them, from the jury to the justices, they 


presented it to the judge; so when we were called before the judge, he 


bid the clerk give me that paper, and then asked me, Whether that sedi- 
tious paper was mine? I told him, ‘If they would read it up in open court 
‘that I might hear it, if it was mine, I would own it, and stand by it.’ 
He would have had me to have taken it, and looked upon it in my own 
hand; but I again desired, ‘ That it might be read, that all the country 
‘might hear it, and judge whether there was any sedition in it or no; for 
‘if there was, I was willing to suffer for it’ At last the clerk of the 
assize read it with an audible voice, that all the people might hear it. 
When he had done, I told them, ‘It was my paper. I would own it; 
‘and so might they too, except they would deny the scripture: for was 
‘not this scripture language, the words and commands of Christ and the 
‘apostle, which all true christians ought to obey?’ Then they dropped 
that subject ; and the judge fell upon us about our hats again, bidding the. 
gaoler take them off; which he did; and giving them to us, we put them 
on again. We asked the judge and justices, ‘ What we had lain in prison 


‘for these nine weeks, seeing they now objected nothing to us but about 


: 


206 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1656 


‘our hats? And as for putting off our hats, I told them,‘ That was the 
‘honour which God would lay in the dust, though they made so much 
‘ado about it; the honour which is of men, and which men seek one of 
‘ another, and is a mark of unbelievers. ‘ For “ How can ye believe,” 
‘ saith Christ, “who receive honour one of another, and seek not the 
“honour that cometh from God only ?” Christ saith, “I receive not hon 
“ our from men;” and all true christians should be of his mind.” Then 
tae judge began to make a pompous speech, how he represented the 
ord Protector’s person, who made him.lord chief justice of England, 
and sent him to come that circuit, &c. ‘We desired him then, that he 
‘would do us justice for our false imprisonment which we had suffered 
‘nine weeks wrongfully.’ But instead of that, they brought an indict- 
ment framed against us; so full of lies, that I thought it had been against 
some of the thieves. “That we came by force and arms, and in a hos- 
“ tile manner into the court;” who were brought as aforesaid. I told 
_ them, ‘It was all false; and still we cried for justice for our false im- 
‘prisonment, being taken up in our journey without cause by major 
‘Ceely.” Then Peter Ceely said to the judge, ‘May it please you, my 
‘lord, this man (pointing to me) went aside with me, and told me how 
‘serviceable I might be for his design; that he could raise forty thou- 
‘sand men at an hour’s warning, involve the nation in blood, and so bring 
‘in king Charles. I would have aided him out of the country, but he 
‘would not go. If it please, you, my lord, I have a witness to swear it. 
So he called upon his witness; but the judge not being forward to ex 
amine the witness, I desired, ‘That he would be pleased to let my mit- 
‘ timus be readin the face of the court and country, in which my crime 
‘was signified for which I was sent to prison.’ The judge said, It should 
not be read. I said, ‘It ought to be, seeing it concerned my liberty and 

my life.” The judge said again, It shall not be read. I said, ‘It ought 
‘to be read; for if I have done any thing worthy of death, or of bonds, 
‘let all the country know it. Then seeing they would not read it, I 
spoke to one of my fellow-prisoners, ‘ Thou hast a copy of it, read it up, 
‘said I’ It shall not be read, said the judge; gaoler, take him away 
Pll see whether he or I shall be master. So I was taken away, and 
awhile after called for again. I still called to have the mittimus read: 
for that signified the cause of my commitment. I again spoke to the 
friend, my fellow-prisoner, to read it up; which he did, and the. judge, 
justices, and the whole court were silent; for the people were eager to 
hear it. It was as followeth: 


‘ Peter Ceely, one of the justices of the peace of this county, to the 
‘keeper of his highness’s gaol at Lanceston, or his lawful deputy in 
‘that behalf, greeting: 


‘I senp you here withal by the bearers hereof, the bodies of Edward 
Pyot, of Bristol, and George Fox, of Drayton in the Clay, in Leices- 
tershire, and William Salt, of London, which they pretend to be the 
places of their habitations, who go under the notion of Quakers, and 
acknowledge themselves to be such; who have spread several papers 
tending to the disturbance of the publick peace, and cannot render 
anv lawful cause of coming into those parts, being persons altogether 
unknown, having no pass for travelling up and down the country, and 
refusing to give sureties for their good behaviour, according to the law 
in that behalf provided ; and refuse to take the oath of abjuration, &c 


: 1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 207 


a 


‘Bhese are therefore, in the name of his highness the lod Protector, to 
‘ will and command you, that when the bodies of the said Edward Pyot, 
‘George Fox, and William Salt, shall be unto you brought, you them 
‘receive, and in his highness’s prison aforesaid you safely keep them, 
“until by due course of law they shall be delivered. Hereof fail you not, 
“as you will answer the contrary at your perils. Given under my hand 
‘and seal, at St. Ives, the 18th day of January, 1655. 

‘P. Ceely.’ 

When it was read I spoke thus to the judge and justices, ‘ Thou that 
‘sayest thou art chief justice of England, and you justices, know that, 
‘if I had put in sureties, I might have gone whither I pleased, and have 
‘carried on the design (if I had had one) which major Ceely hath 
‘charged me with. And if I had spoken those words to him, which he 
‘hath here declared, judge ye whether bail or mainprize could have 
‘been taken in that case.’ ‘Then, turning my speech to major Ceely, I 
said, ‘ When or where did I take thee aside? Was not thy house full of 
‘rude people, and thou as rude as any of them, at our examination; so 
‘that | asked for a constable or some other officer to keep the people 
‘civil? But if thou art my accuser, why sittest thou on the bench? It 

is not the place of accusers to sit with the judge. Thou oughtest to 

come down and stand by me, and look me in the face. Besides, I 

would ask the judge and justices, Whether or no major Ceely is not 
* ouilty of this treason, which he charges against me, in concealing it so 
‘long as he hath done? Does he understand his place, either as a sol- 
‘dier or a justice of the peace? For he tells you here, “ That I went 
“aside with him, and told him what a design I had in hand, and how 
“ serviceable he might be for my design: that I could raise forty thou- 
“sand men in an hour’s time, bring in king Charles, and involve the na- 
“tion in blood.” He saith moreover, “ He would have aided me out 
“ of the country, but I would not go; and therefore he committed me to 
“prison for want of sureties for the good behaviour,” as the mittimus 
‘declares. Now do you not see plainly, that major Ceely is guilty of 
‘this plot and treason he talks of, and hath made himself a party to it 
‘by desiring me to go out of the country, demanding bail of me, and 
‘not charging me with this pretended treason till now, nor discovering 
‘it? But I deny and abhor his words, and am innocent of his devilish 
‘design.’ So that business was let fall; for the judge saw clear enough, 
that instead of ensnaring me, he had ensnared himself. 

Major Ceely got up again, and said, ‘If it please you, my lord, to hear 
‘me: this man struck me, and gave me such a blow as I never had in 
‘my life.’ At this I smiled in my heart, and said, ‘ Major Ceely, art thou 
‘a justice of peace, and a major of a troop of horse, and tellest the 
‘judge in the face of the court and country, that I, a prisoner, struck 
‘thee, and gave thee such a blow as thou never hadst the like in thy 

life? What! art thou not ashamed? Prithee, major Ceely, said I, where 

did I strike thee? and who is thy witness for that? who was by” He 
said, It was in the Castle-green, and captain Bradden was standing by 
when I struck him. ‘I desired the judge to let him produce his witness 
‘for that; and called again upon major Ceely to come down from the 
‘bench, telling him, It was not fit the accuser should sit as judge over the 
“accused.” When I called again for his witness, he said captain Brad-— 
den was his witness. Then I said, ‘Speak, captain Bradden, didst thou 
‘see me give him such a blow, and strike him as he saith? Captain 


208 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. . (1656 


Bradden made no answer, but bowed his head towards me. ‘I desired 
‘him to speak up, if he knew any such thing: but he only bowed his 
‘head again. Nay, said I, speak up, and let the court and country hear ; 
‘let not ‘bowing of the head serve the turn. If I have done so, let -the 
‘Jaw be inflicted on me; I fear not sufferings, nor death itself, for 1 am 
‘an innocent man concerning all his charge.’ But captain Bradden never 
testified to it. -The judge, finding those snares would not hold, cried, 
Take him away, gaoler; and when we were taken away, he fined us 
twenty marks apiece for not putting off our hats; to be kept in prison till 
we paid it; and sent us back to the gaol. 

At night captain Bradden came to see us, and seven or eight justices 
with him who were very civil to us, and told us, They believed, neither 
the judge nor any in the court gave credit to those charges which major 
Ceely had accused me of in the face of the country. And captain Brad- 
den said, Major Ceely had an intent to have taken away my life, if he 
could have got another witness. ‘But said I, ‘Captain Bradden, why 
‘ didst not thou witness for me, or against me, see1ag major Ceely pro- 
‘duced thee for a witness that thou sawest me strike him? When I de- 
‘ sired thee to speak either for me or against me, according to what thou 
‘ sawest or knewest, thou wouldst not speak.’ Why, said he, when major 
Ceely and I came by you, as you were walking in the Castle-green, he 
put off his hat to you, and said, How do you, Mr. Fox? your servant, 
Sir. Then you said to him, Major Ceely, take heed of hypocrisy and 
of a rotten heart; for when came I to be thy master, and thou my ser- 
vant! Do servants use to cast their masters into prison? This was the 
great blow he meant that you gave him. Then I called to mind that 
they walked by us, and that he spoke so to me, and I to him; which 
hypocrisy and rotten-heartedness he manifested openly, when he com- 
plained of this to the judge in open court, and in the face of the country ; 
whom he would have made believe that I struck him with my hand. 

Now were we kept in prison, and divers came from far and nigh to 
see us, of whom some were people of account in the world; for the re- 
port of our trial was spread abroad, and our boldness and innocency in 
our answers to the judge and court was talked or in the town and coun- 
try. Among others Humphry Lower came to visit us, a grave, sober 
ancient man, who had been a justice of peace, and was very sorry we 
should lie in prison; telling us, how serviceable we should be if we were 
at liberty. We reasoned with him concerning swearing: and having 
acquainted him they tendered the oath of abjuration to us as a snare, be- 
cause they knew we could not swear: and shewed him, that no people 
could be serviceable to God if they aisuve, -d the command of Christ; 
and that they that imprisoned us for the hat-honour, which was of men, 
and which men sought for, they prisoned the good, and grieved the 
Spirit of God in themselves, which should have turned their minds to him. 
So we directed him to the Spirit of God in his heart, the light of Christ 
Jesus: and he was thoroughly convinced, and continued so to his death, 
and became very serviceable to us. 

There came also to see us, one colonel Rouse, a justice of peace, and 
a great company with him. He was full of words and talk, as ever I 
heard any man in my life, so that without intruding, there was no speak- 
ing to him. At length I asked him, * Whether the had ever been at 
‘school, and knew what belonged to questions and answers” (this I said 
o stop him.) At school! said he, yes. At school! said the soldiers; 


1656. GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 209 


Doth he say so to our colonel, that is a scholar? Then said I,‘ If he be 
* so, let him be still and receive answers to what he hath said.’ Then J 
was moved of the Lord to speak the word of life to him in God’s dread- 
ful power; which came so over him that he could not open his mouth. 
His face swelled, and was red like a turkey. His lips moved, and he 
mumbled something ; but the people thought he would have fallen down. 
I stept to him; and then he said, He was never so in his life before; fur 
the Lord’s power stopped the evil power and air in him, so that he was 
almost choked. 'The man was ever after very loving to friends, but not 
so full of airy words to us; though he was full of pride: but the Lord’s 
power came over him, and the rest that were with him. 

Another time there came an officer of the army, a very malicious, 
bitter professor, whom I had known in London. He was full of airy talk 
also, and spoke slightly of the light of Christ, and against the truth, as 
colonel Rouse had done, and against the Spirit of God being in men, as 
it was in the apostles’ days, till the power of God that bound the evil in 
him had almost choked him also, as it did colonel Rouse; for he was so 
full of evil air, that he could not speak; but blubbered and stuttered. 
From that time that the Lord’s power struck him, and came over him, 
he was ever after more loving to us. 

The assizes being over, and we settled in prison upon such a commit- 
‘ment that we were not likely to be soon released, we broke off from 
giving the gaoler seven shillings a week apiece for our horses, and seven 
shillings a week for ourselves, and sent our horses into the country. Upon 
which he grew very wicked and devilish, and put us down into Dooms- 
dale, a nasty, stinking place, where they used to put murderers after they 
were condemned. The place was so noisome, that it was observed few 
that went in did ever come out again in health. There was no house of 
office in it; and the excrement of the prisoners, that from time to time 
had been put there, had not been carried out (as we were told) for many 
years. So that it was all like mire, and in some places to the top of the 
shoes in water and urine; and he would not let us cleanse it, nor suffer 
‘us to have beds or straw to lie on. At night some friendly people of the 
town brought us a candle and a litile straw; and we went to burn a little 
of our straw to take away the stink. 'The thieves lay over our heads. 
and the head-gaoler in a room by them over our heads also. It seems 
the smoke went un into the room where the gaoler lay; which put him 
into such a rage taat ne took the pots of excrement from the thieves, and 
poured them through a hole upon our heads in Doomsdale, till we were 
so bespattered that we could not touch ourselves nor one another. And the 
stink increased upon us; so that what with stink, and what with smoke, 
we had like to have been choked and smothered. We had the stink under 
our feet before, now we had it on our heads and backs also ; and he having 
quenched our straw with the filth he poured down, had made a great 
smother in the place. Moreover he railed at us most hideously, calling 
us hatchet-faced dogs, and such strange names as we had never heard 
of. In this manner we were obliged to stand all night, for we could not 
sit down, the place was so full of filthy excrement. A great whue he 
kept us after this manner before he would let us cleanse it, or suffer us 
to have any victuals brought in but what we got through the grate. One 
time a girl brought us a little meat; and he arrested her for breaking 
his house, and sued her in the town-court for breaking the prison. A 
great deal of trouble he put the young woman to; whereby others were 

2B 


a 


10 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [165t 


so discouraged that we had much ado to get water, drink, or victuals 
Near this time we sent for a young woman, Ann Downer, from London 
who could write and take things well in short-hand, to buy and dress our 
meat for us; which she was very willing to do, it being also upon ker 
spirit to come to us in the love of God; and she was very serviceable 
to us. ; 

The head-gaoler, we were informed, had been a thief, and was burnt 
both in the hand and in the shoulder: his wife too had been burnt in the 
hand. The under-gaoler had been burnt both in the hand and in the 
shoulder: his wife had been burnt in the hand also. Colonel Bennet, a 
Baptist-teacher, having purchased the gaol and lands belonging to the 
castle, had placed this head-gaoler there. The prisoners and some wild 
people would be talking of spirits that haunted Doomsdale, and how man 
had died in it, thinking perhaps to terrify us therewith. But I told them, 
‘That if all the spirits and devils in hell were there, I was over them in 
‘the power of God, and feared no such thing; for Christ, our Priest, 
‘would sanctify the walls of the house to us, he who bruised the head of 
‘the devil.’ The priest was to cleanse the plague out of the walls of the 
house under the law, which Christ, our Priest, ended; who sanctifies both 
inwardly and outwardly the walls of the house, the walls of the heart, 
and all things to his people. 

By this time the general quarter-sessions drew nigh; and the gaoler 
still carrying himself basely and wickedly towards us, we drew up our 
suffering case, and sent it to the sessions at Bodmin. Upon the reading of 
which the justices gave order, ‘ That Doomsdale-door should be opened, 

and that we should have liberty to cleanse it, and to buy our meat in 
the town.’ We sent up a copy also of our sufferings to the Protector, 
setting forth how we were taken and committed by major Ceely, and 
abused by captain Keat as aforesaid, and the rest in order. Whereupon 
the Protector sent an order to captain Fox, governor of Pendennis-cas- 
tle, to examine the matter about the soldiers abusing us, and striking 
me. There were at that time many of the gentry of the country at 
the castle; and captain Keat’s kinsman, that struck me, was sent for be- 
fore them, and much threatened. They told him, ‘If I should change 
‘my principle, I might take the extremity of the law against him, and 
‘might recover sound damages of him.’ Captain Keat was also check’d 
for suffering the prisoners under his charge to be abused. This was of 
zreat service in the country; for afterwards friends might have spoken 
in any market or steeple-house thereabouts, and none would meddle 
with them. I understood that Hugh Peters, one of the Protector’s 
chaplains, told him, ‘ They could not do George Fox a greater service 
‘for the spreading of his principles in Cornwall than to imprison him 
‘there.’ And indeed my imprisonment there was of the Lord, and for 
his service in those parts; for after the assizes were over, and it was 
known we were likely to continue prisoners, several friends from most 
parts of the nation came into the country to visit us. Those parts of 
the west were very dark countries at that time; but the Lord’s light 
and truth broke forth, shined over all, and many were turned from 
darkness to light, and from satan’s power unto God. Many were moved 
to go to the steeple-houses, several were sent to prison to us, and a great 
convincement began in the country: for now we had liberty to walk in’ 


the Castle-green, and divers came to us on-first days, to whom we de- 


clared the word of life. Great service we had, many were turned ta 


a 


656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 21) 


God up and down the country; but great rage got up in the priests and 
proressors against the truth and us. One of the envious professors haa 
gathered together many scripture sentences to prove, ‘ That we ought ta 
‘put off our hats to the people, and he invited the town of Lanceston 
to come into the Castle-yard to hear him read them. Amongst other 
instances that he brought, one was, ‘That Saul bowed to the witch of 
‘Endor When he had done we got a little liberty to speak, and shew- 
ed both him and the people, ‘That Saul was gone from God, and had 

disobeyed him, like them, when he went to the witch of Endor: that 
‘neither the prophets, nor Christ, nor the apostles ever taught people to 
‘bow to a witch. The man went away with his rude people; but some 
staid with us, and we shewed them, That this was not gospel instruc- 
tion, to teach people to bow to a witch. For now people began to be 
affected with the truth, and the devil’s rage increased; so that we were 
often in great danger. 

One time there came a soldier, and while one of our friends was ad- 
monishing and exhorting him to sobriety, &c. I saw him begin to draw 
his sword. Whereupon I stept to him, and represented what a shame 
it was to offer to draw his sword upon a naked man, and a prisoner, 
and how unfit and unworthy he was to carry such a weapon; and that, 
if he should have offered such a thing to some men, they would have 
taken his sword from him, and have broken it to pieces. So he was 
ashamed and went his way; and the Lord’s power preserved us. 

Another time, about eleven at night, the gaoler being half drunk, 
came and told me, He had got a man now to dispute with me (this was 
when we had leave to goa little into the town.) As soon as he spoke 
these words, I felt there was mischief intended to my body. All that 
night and the next day I lay down on a grass-plot to slumber, and 
felt something still about my body; and I started up, and struck at it in 
the power of the Lord, and still it was about my body. Then I rose 
and walked into the Castle-green, and the under-keeper came and told 
me, There was a maid would speak with me in the prison. I felt a 
snare in his words too, therefore I went not into the prison, but to the 
grate; and, looking in, I saw a man that was lately brought to prison for 
being a conjurer, who had a naked knife in his hand. I spoke to him, 
and he threatened to cut my chaps; but being within the gaol he could 
not come at me. This was the gaoler’s great disputant. I went soon 


after into the gaoler’s house, and found him at breakfast; he had then 


got his conjurer out with him. I told the gaoler, his plot was dis- 
covered. Then he got up from the table, and cast his napkin away in 
a rage; and I left them, and went to my chamber; for at this time we 
were out of Doomsdale. At the time the gaoler had said the dispute 
should be, I went down and walked in the court (the place appointed) 
till about the eleventh hour; but nobody came. Then I went up to my 
chamber again; and after awhile heard one call for me. I stepped to 
the stairshead, where I saw the gaoler’s wife upon the stairs, and the 
conjurer at the bottom of the stairs, holding his hand behind his back, 


and ina great rage. I asked him, ‘Man, what hast thou in thy hand 


behind thy back?’ ‘Pluck thy hand before thee,’ said I; ‘let’s see thy 

hand, and what thou hast in it?’ Then he angrily plucked forth his 

and with a naked knife in it. I shewed the gaoler’s wife their wicked 
design against me; for this was the man they brought to dispute of the 
_hings of God. But the Lord discovered their plot, prevented their evi 
tie 


vy; 
¥ 


212 GEORGE sUa’S JOURNAL. [1656 


design; and taey both raged, and the conjurer threatened. Then 1 was 
moved of the Lord to speak sharply to him in the dreadful power of the 
Lord; and the Lord’s power came over him, and bound him down; se 
that he never after durst appear before me, to speak tome. I saw i 
was the Lord alone that preserved me out of their bloody hands ; for the 
devil had a great enmity to me, and stirred up his instruments to seek 
my hurt. But the Lord prevented them; and my heart was filled with 
thanksgivings and praises to him. 

Now while I was exercised with people of divers sorts, that came 
some out of good-will to visit us, some out of an envious carping mind 
to wrangle and dispute with us, and some out of curiosity to see us; 
Edward Pyot, who before his convincement had been a captain in the 
army, and had a good understanding in the laws and rights of the peo- 
ple, being sensible of the injustice and envy of judge Glyn to us at our 
trial, and willing to lay the weight thereof upon him, and make him 
sensible thereof also, wrote an epistle to him, on behalf of us all, which 
was thus: 


‘To John Glyn, chief justice of England: 
‘Friend, 

We are freemen of England, free-born; our rights and liberties are 
‘according to law, and ought to be defended by it; therefore, with thee, 
‘by whose hand we have so long suflered, and yet do suffer, let us a lit- 
‘tle plainly reason concerning thy proceedings against us, whether they 
‘have been according to law, and agreeable to thy duty and office, as 
‘chief minister of the law or justice of England? And in meekness and 
“lowliness abide, that the witness of God in ihy conscience may be 
‘heard to speak and judge in this matter: for thou and we must all ap- 

pear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive 

‘according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ‘There- 
‘fore, friend, in moderation and soberness weigh what is herein laid be- 
‘ fore thee. 

‘In the afternoon, before we were brought before thee at the assize at 
‘Lanceston, thou didst cause divers scores of our books to be violently 
‘taken from us by armed men, without due process of law; which books 
‘being perused, to see if any thing in them could have been found to have 
‘been laid to our charge ( who were innocent men, and then upon our 
‘legal issue) thou hast detained from us to this very day. Our books are 
‘our goods, our goods are our property, and our liberty it is to have and 
‘enjoy our property: and of our liberty and property the law is the de- 
‘fence; which saith, “ No freeman shall be disseized of his freehold, lib- 
“erties, or free customs, &c. nor any way otherwise destroyed: nor we 
* shall not pass upon him, but by lawful judgment of his peers, or by the 
“ Jaw of the land, Magna Charta, cap. 29.” Now, friend, consider, is not 
‘the taking away of a man’s goods violently, by force of arms, as afore- 
‘said, contrary to the law of the land? Is not the keeping of them, so 
‘taken away, a disseizing him of his property, and a destroying of it and 
‘his liberty, yea, his very being, so far as the invading of the guard the 
‘law sets about him is in order thereunto? Calls not the law this a de- 
‘stroying of a man? Is there any more than one common guard or de- 

fence to property, liberty, and life, viz. the law? And can this guard be 
broken on the former, viz. property and liberty, and the latter, viz. life” 
~be sure? Doth not he, that makes an invasion upon a man’s piuperty) 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 213 


‘and liberty (which he doth, who, contrary to law, which is the guard, 
‘acts against either) make an invasion upon a man’s life ; since that which 
‘is the ground of the one is also of the other? If a penny or penny’s 
‘worth be taken from_a_man contrary to law, may not by the same rule 
all a man hath be taken away? If the bond ‘of the law be broken upon 
a man’s property may it not on the same ground be broken upon his 
‘person? And by the same reason as it is broken on one man, may it not 
‘be broken upon all. smce the liberty, property, and beings of all men 
‘under a government are relative, a communion of w ealth, as the mem. 
bers in the body but one guard and defence to all, the law? One man 
cannot be injured therein, “put it redounds to all. Do not such things 
tend to the subversion and dissolution of government? Where there is 
‘no law, what is become of government? And of what value is the law 
‘made, when the ministers thereof break it at pleasure upon men’s pro- 
‘perties, liberties, and persons? Canst thou clear thyself of these things, 
‘as to us? To that of God in thy conscience, which is just, do | speak. 
‘ Hast thou acted like a minister, the chief minister of the law, who hast 
‘taken our goods, and yet detainest them, without so much as going by 
‘jawful warrant, grounded upon due information, which in this our case 
‘thou couldst not have; for none had perused them, whereby to give thee 
‘formation? Shouldest thou exercise violence and force of arms on 
‘prisoners’ goods, in their prison-chamber, instead of proceeding orderly 
‘and legally, which thy place calls upon thee above any man to tender, 
‘defend, and maintain against wrong, and to preserve entire the guard of 
"every man’s being, liberty, and livelihood? Shouldst thou, whose duty 
‘it is to punish the. wrong-doer, do wrong thyself? Who oughtest to see 
‘the law be kept and observed, break the law, and turn aside the due ad- 
ministration thereof? Surely, from thee, considering thou art chief jus- 
‘tice of England, other things were expected, both by us and by the 
‘people of this nation. 

‘ And friend, when we were brought before thee and stood upon our 
‘Jegal issue, and no accuser or accusation came in against us, as to what 
‘we had been wrongfully imprisoned for, and in prison detained for the 
‘space of nine weeks, shouldest not thou have caused us to have been 
‘acquitted by proclamation? Saith not the law so? Oughtest thou not to 
‘have examined the cause of our commitment, and there not appearing 
‘a lawful cause, to have discharged us? Isit not the substance of thy office 
‘and duty, to do justice according to the law and custom of England? _ 
‘Is not this the end of the administration of the law! of the general as- 
‘sizes? of the gaol-deliveries? of the judges going the circuits? Hast 
‘not thou, by doing otherwise, acted contrary to all these, and to Magna 
‘Charta? which, Cap. 29, saith, “« We shall sell to no man, we shall deny 
“or defer to no man, either justice or right.” Hast thou not both defer- 
‘red and denied to us, who had been so long oppressed, this justice and 
‘right? And when of thee justice we demanded, saidst thou not, “ If we 

“would be uncovered, thou wouldst hear us, and do us justice ?”—** We 
“shall sell to no man, we shall deny or defer to no man either justice or 
“right,” saith Magna Charta as aforesaid: again, “ We have command- 
“ed all our justices, that they shall from henceforth do even Jaw, and 

 fexecution of right to all our subjects, rich and poor, without having 

_ “regard to any may’s person; and without letting to do right for any 

“letters or commandments which may come to them from us, or from 

“any other, or by any other cause, &c. upon pain to be at our will, body, 


214 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 656 


“lands and goods, to do therewith as shall please us, in case they do 
“contrary,” saith Stat. 20 Edw. II. Cap. 1. Again, “ Ye shall swear, 
“that ye shall do even law and execution of right to all, rich and poor, 
“without haying regard to any person; and that ye deny to no man 
“common right by the king’s letters, nor none other man’s, nor for none 
“other cause. And in case any letter come to you contrary to the law, 
“that ye do nothing by such letter; but certify the king thereof, and go 
“forth to do the law notwithstanding those letters. And in case ye be 
“ from henceforth found in default in any of the points aforesaid, ye shall 
“be at the king’s will of body, lands and goods, thereof to be done, as 
“shall please him:” saith the oath appointed by the statute to be taken 
‘by all the judges, Stat. 18 Ed. III. But none of these, nor any other 
‘law, hath such an expression or condition in it as this, viz. “ Provided 
“he will put off his hat to you, or be uncovered.” Nor doth the law of 
‘God so say, or that your persons be respected ; but the contrary. From 
‘whence then comes this new lew, “If ye will be uncovered, I will hear 
“you, and do you justice?” This hearing complaint of wrong, this do- 
‘ing of justice, upon condition; wherein lies the equity and the reason- 
‘ableness of that? When were these fundamental laws repealed, which 
‘were the issue of so much blood and war: which to uphold, cost the 
‘miseries and blood of the late wars, that we shall now be heard, as to 
‘right, and have justice done us but upon condition, and that too such a 
‘trifling one as the putting off the hat? Doth thy saying so, who art 
* commanded, as aforesaid, repeal them, and make them of no effect, and 
‘all the miseries undergone, and the blood shed for them of old and of 
late years? Whether it be so or not indeed, and to the nation, thou hast 
‘made it so to us; to whom thou hast denied the justice of our liberty 
‘when we were before thee, and no accuser nor accusation came in 
‘against us, and the hearing of the wrong done to us who are innocent, 
‘and the doing us right. And bonds hast thou cast and continued upon 
‘us until this day, under an unreasonable and cruel gaoler, for not per- 
forming that thy condition, for conscience sake. But thinkest thou that 
‘this thine own conditional justice maketh void the law? or can it do so? 
‘or absolve thee before God or man? or acquit the penalty mentioned in 
‘the laws aforesaid? unto which hast thou not consented and sworn? 
‘viz. “ And in case ye be from henceforth found in default in any of the 
“ points aforesaid, ye shall be at the king’s will, of body, lands, and goods, 
“thereof to be done as shall please him.” And is not thy saying, “If 
“ ye will be uncovered (or put off your hats) I will hear you, and do you 
“justice ;” and because we could not put them off for conscience sake, 
‘thy denying us justice, and refusing to hear us, as to wrong, who had 
‘so unjustly suffered, a default in thee against the very essence of those 
laws, yea, an overthrow thereof, for which things’ sake (being of the ~ 
highest importance to the well-being of men) so just, so equal, so neces- 
sary those laws were made, and all the provisions therein? To make a 
default in any one point of which provisions, exposeth to the said pen- 
alty. Dost not thou by this time see where thou art? Art thou sure 
thou shalt never be made to understand and feel the justice thereof? Is 
thy seat so high, and thy fence so great, and art thou so certain of thy 
time and station, above all that have gone before thee, wham justice 
hath cut down, and given them their due, that thou shalt never be call- 
ed to an account, nor with its long and sure stroke be reached? Deceive — 
not thyself, God is come nearer to judgment than the workers of iniquity 


656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 215 


‘in this age imagine, who persecute and evil entreat those that witness 
‘the Just and Holy One, for their witnessing of him, who is come to reign 
‘for ever and ever. Saith he not, he will be a swift witness aguinst the 
‘false swearers! God is not mocked. 

‘Surely, friend, that must needs be a very great offence, which de- 
‘prives a man of justice, of being heard as to wrong, of the benefit of 
‘the law, and of those laws afore rehearsed; to defend the justice and 
‘equity of which, a man hath adventured his blood and all that is dear 
‘to him. But to stand covered (or with the hat on) in conscience to the 

command of the Lord, is made by thee such an offence (which is none 
‘in law) and rendered upon us (who are innocent, serving the living God) 
‘effectual to deny us justice; though the laws of God, and of man, and 
‘the oath, and equity and reason say the contrary, and on it pronounceth 
‘such a penalty. “If ye will be uncovered (Uncovered, saidst thou) I 
“will hear you, and do you justice:” but justice we had not, nor were 
we heard, because Jesus Christ, who is the higher power, the lawgiver 
of his people, in our consciences commanded us not to respect persons ; 
‘whom to obey we choose rather than man. And for our obedience unto 
‘him hast thou cast us into prison, and continuest us there, till this very 
‘day; having shewed us neither law for it, nor scripture, nor instances 
‘of either, nor examples of heathens or others. Friend, Come down to 
‘that of God, that is just in thee, and consider, was there ever such a 
‘thing as this heard of in this nation? What is become of seriousness, 
‘of true judgment, and of righteousness? An unrighteous man, standing 
‘before ihee with his hat off, shall be heard; but an innocent man, ap- 
‘pearing with his hat on in conscience to the Lord, shall neither be heard, 
‘nor have justice. Is not this regarding of persons contrary to the laws 
‘aforesaid, and the oath, and the law of God? Understand, and judge. 
‘Did we not own authority and government oftentimes before the court? 
‘Didst thou not say in the court, Thou wast glad to hear so much trom 
‘us of our owning magistracy? Pleaded we not to the indictment, though 
‘it was such a new found one as England never heard of before? Came 
‘we not when thou sentest for us? Went we not when thou bidst us go? 
‘And are we not still prisoners at thy command and at thy will? If the 
‘hat had been such an offence to thee, couldst thou not have caused it to 
‘have been taken off, when thou heardst us so often declare, we could not 
‘do it in conscience to the commands of the Lord; and that for that 
‘cause we forbore it, not in contempt of thee, or of authority, nor in dis- 
‘respect to thine or any man’s person (for we said, we honoured all men 
#in the Lord, and owned.authority, which was a terror to evil-doers, and 
a praise to them that do well; and our souls were subject to the higher 
‘powers for conscience sake) as thou causedst them to be taken off, and 
to be kept so, when thou calledst the jury to find us transgressors with- 
‘out a law? What ado hast thou made to take away the righteousness 
‘of the righteous from him, and to cause us to suffer further, whom thou 
‘]newest to have been so long wrongfully in prison contrary to law? Is 
‘not liberty of conscience a natural right? Had there been a law in this 
‘case, and we bound yp in our consciences that we could not have obey- 
‘ed it, was not liberty of conscience there to take place? For where the 
‘Jaw saith not against, there needs no plea of liberty of conscience: but 
‘the law have we not offended; yet in thy will hast thou caused, and 
‘dost thou yet cause us to suffer for our consciences, where the law re 
‘quires no such thing: and yet for liberty of conscience hath all the 


> 


Pa 


216 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1650 


‘blood been spilt, and the miseries of the late wars undergone, and, 

‘as the protector saith, this government undertaken, to preserve it; and 

‘a natural right, he saith, it is; and he that would have it, he saith, ought 

‘to give it. And if it be a natural right, as is undeniable, then to attempt 

‘to force it, or to punish a man for not doing contrary to it, is tu act 

‘against nature: which as it is unreasonable, so it is the same as to offer 
violence to a man’s life. And what an offence that is in the law, thou 

‘knowest; and how, by the common law of England, all acts, agree- 

‘ments and laws, that are against nature, are mere nullities: and all the 

‘judges cannot make one case to be law, that is against nature. But put 

‘the case, our standing with our hats on had been an offence in law, and 
we wilfuly, and in contempt, and not out of conscience had stood so 

‘(which we deny) yet that is not a ground wherefore we should be de- 

‘nied justice, or to be heard, as to the wrong done to us.. “ If ye will 

“ not offend in one case, J will do you justice in another:” this is not the 

‘language of the law, or of justice, which distributes to every one their 

‘right; justice, to whom justice is due; punishment, to whom punish-_ 

‘ment is due. A man who doth wrong, may also have wrong done to 

‘him; shall he not have right, wherein he is wronged, unless he right 

‘him whom he hath wronged? The law saith not so; but the wrong- 

‘ doer is to suffer, and the sufferer of wrong to be righted. Is not other- 
wise to do, a denying, a letting or stopping of even law, and execution 
of justice, and a bringing under the penalties aforesaid? Mind and con- 

“sider. 

‘And shouldst thou have accused, when no witness appeared against — 
‘us, as In the particulars of striking Peter Ceely, and dispersing books 
‘(as thou saidst) against magistracy and ministry, with which thou didst — 

falsely accuse one of us? Saith not the law, “ The judge ought not to — 

‘be the accuser!” much less a false accuser. And wast thou not such © 
an one, in affirming, that he dispersed books against magistracy and — 

‘ministry, when the books were violently taken out of our chamber, — 

‘undispersed by him, or any of us? Nor didst thou make it appear in 

‘one particular, wherein those books, thou so violently didst cause to be 

‘taken away, were against magistracy or ministry; or gavest one in- 

‘ stance or reply, when he denied what thou chargedst therein; and spoke 

‘to thee to bring forth those books, and make thy charge appear. Is not 7 

‘the sword of the magistrate of God to pass upon such evil-doing? And | 

‘according to the administration of the law, ought not accusations to be” 

‘by way of indictment, wherein the offence is to be charged, and the law | 

‘expressed, against which it is? Can there be an issue without an indict- | 
ment? Or can an indictment be found, before proof be made of the | 
offence charged therein? And hast not thou herein gone contrary to- 

‘the law, and the administration thereof, and thy duty, as a judge? 
What just cause of offence gave George Fox to thee, when, upon thy | 

‘ producing a paper concerning swearing, sent by him (as thou saidst) to | 

‘the grand jury, and requiring him to say, Whether it was his hand- | 

‘writing? he answered, “ Read it up before the country; and when he 
‘heard it read, if it were his, he would own it?” Is it not equal, and | 
according to law, that what a man is charged with before the country, | 
should be read in the hearing of him and of the country: When a paper | 
is delivered out of a man’s hand, alterations may be made in it to his 
prejudice, which, on a sudden looking over it, may not presently be dis 
zeined; but by hearing it read up, may be better understood whether 


Se 


-656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 217 


any such alterations have been made therein? Couldst thou ia justice 
‘have expected, or required him otherwise to do? Considering also, that 
* he was not insensible how much he had suffered already, being innocent ; 
‘and what endeavours there were used to cause him further to suffer? 
‘Was not what he said a plain and single answer, and sufficient in the 
law? Though (as hath been demonstrated) contrary to law thou dids* 
‘act, and to thy office, in being his accuser therein, and producing the 
‘paper against him. And in his liberty it was, whether he would have 
‘made thee any answer at all to what thou didst exhibit, or demand out 
‘of the due course of law: for to the law answer is to be made, not to 
‘thy will. Wherefore then wast thou so filled with rage and fury upon 
‘that his reply? Calmly, and in the fear of the Lord consider: Where- 
‘fore didst thou revile him, particularly with the reproachful names of 
‘juggler and prevaricator? Wherein did he juggle? Wherein did he pre- 
‘varicate? Wherefore didst thou use such threatening language, and 
‘such menacings to him and us, saying, Thou wouldst ferk us, with such 
‘like? Doth not the law forbid reviling, and rage. and fury, and threat- 
‘ening and menacing of prisoners? Soberly mind; is this to act like 
*a judge, ora man? Is not this transgression? Is not the sword of the 
‘ magistrate of God to pass on this as evil doing, which the righteous law 
‘condemns, and the higher power is against, which judgeth for God? 
‘ Take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the Lora, 
‘ who is with you in the judgment: “ Wherefore now, let the fear of the 
* Lord be upon you; take heed, and do it: for there is no iniquity with 
“the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts,” said 
«Jehoshaphat to the judges of Judah. Pride, and fury, and passion, 
‘and rage, and reviling, and threatening are not the Lord’s: these, 
‘and the principle out of which they spring, are for judgment, and 
“must come under the sword of the magistrate of God; and of an ill 
savour, especially such an expression, as to threaten to ferk us. Is 
‘not such a saying more becoming a pedant, or schoolmaster with 
‘his rod or ferula in his hand, than thee, who art the chief justice of the 
‘nation, who sittest in the highest seat of judgment: who oughtest to 
‘ give a good example, and so to judge, that others may hear and fear? 
‘ Weigh it soberly, and consider, Doth not threatening language demon- 
‘strate an inequality and partiality in him who sits as a judge! Is it not 
‘a deterring of a prisoner from standing to and pleading the innocency 
‘of his cause? Provides not the law against it? Saith it not, That irons 
‘and all other bonds shall be taken from the prisoner, that he may plead 
* without amazement, and with such freedom of spirit as if he were not a 
‘prisoner? But when he, who is to judge according to the law, shall 
‘ beforehand threaten and menace the prisoner contrary to the law, how 
can the mind of the prisoner be free, to plead his innocency before him? 
* or expect equal judgment from him, who, before he hears him, threatens 
‘what he will do to him? Is not this the case between thee and us? Is 
‘not this the measure we have received at thy hands?’ Hast thou herein 
‘dealt according to law? or to thy duty? or as thou wouldst be done 
‘unto? Let that of God in thy conscience judge. 
‘ And didst not thou say, there was a law for putting off the hat; and 
‘that thou wouldst shew a law? and didst thou not often so express thy- 
self? But didst theu produce any law? or shew where that law might 
be found? or any judicial precedent, or in what king’s reign, when we 
so often desired it of thee? having never heard of or known any such 
2C 


218 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1656 


‘law, by waich thou didst judge us. Was not what we demanded of 
‘thee reasonabée and just? Was that a savoury answer, and according 
‘to law, which thou gavest us, viz. “ I am not to carry the law-books at 
“my back, up and down the country; I am not to instruct you!” Was 
‘ever such an expression heard before these days to come out of a 
‘judge’s mouth? Is he not to be of counsel in the law for the prisoner, 
‘and to instruct him therein? Is it not for this cause that the prisoner, 
‘in many cases, is not allowed counsel by the law? In all courts of 
‘justice in this nation, hath it not been known so to have been? And to 
‘the prisoner hath not this been often declared, when he hath demanded 

counsel, alleging his ignorance in the law, by reason of which his cause 
‘might miscarry, though it were righteous, viz. “ The court is of coun- 
“sel for you?” Ought not he, that judgeth in the law, to be expert in 
‘the law? Couldst not thou tell by what act of parliament it was 
‘made, or by what judicial precedent or in what king’s reign, or when 
‘it was adjudged so by the common law (which are all the grounds 
‘the law of England hath) had there been such a law, though the words 
‘of the law thou couldst not remember? Surely, to inform the prisoner 
‘when he desired it, especially as to a law which was never heard of, by 
‘which he proceeds to judge him, that he may know what law it is by 
‘which he is to be judged, becomes him who judgeth for God: for so the 
‘law was read to the Jews, by which they were to be judged, yea every 
‘sabbath-day; this was the commandment of the Lord. But instead 
‘thereof to say, “Iam not to carry the law books at my back up and 
“down the country; | am not to instruct you:” To say, “ There is 
“a law,” and to say, “ Thou wilt shew it;” and yet not shew it, nor 
‘to tell where it is to be found; consider whether it be consistent with 
‘ savouriness, truth, or justice ? 

‘ Have not thy whole proceedings against us made it evidently to ap- 
‘pear that thy desire was to cause us to suffer, not to deliver us, who 
‘ being innocent, suffered ; to have us aspersed and reproached before the 
‘country, not to have our innocency cleared and vindicated? Doth not 
‘the taking away our books as aforesaid, and the perusing of them in 
‘such haste before our trial, and thy accusing us with something which 
‘thou saidst was contained in them, make it appear that matter was 
‘sought out of them wherewithal to charge us, when the Et Cetera war- 
‘rant would stand in law by which we were committed, and were then 
‘upon our delivery according to the due course of law? Doth it not 
‘further appear, by thy refusing to take from our hands a copy of the 
‘strange Et Cetera. warrant by which we were committed, and of the 
‘ paper for which we stood apprehended, to read it or cause it to be read ; 
‘that so our long sufferings by reason of both might be looked into, and 
‘weighed in the law, whether just or righteous, and the country might 

as well see our innocency and sufferings without a cause, and the man- 
ner of dealing with us, as to hear such reports which went of us as 
‘ great offenders, when we called upon thee often so to do, and which 
taou oughtest to have done, and saidst, Thou wouldst do, but didst it 
‘not; nor so much as took notice before the country that we hac been 
‘falsely imprisoned, and had wrongfully suffered? But what might as- 
‘perse and charge us thou broughtest in thyself, contrary to law, and 
‘ didst call to have us charged therewith. Is not this further manifest, in 
‘that thou didst cause us on a sudden to be withdrawn, and the petty 
jury to be cz led in with their verdict; whereupon Peter Ceely’s falsely — 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 219 


accusing George Fox “ with telling him privately of a design, and per- 
© suading him to join therein,” was by George Fox made so clear to be 
‘a manifest falsehood, and so plainly to be perceived, that the cause of 
‘ our suflerings was not any evil we had done, or law that we had trans- 
‘gressed, but malice and wickedness? And is it not abundantly clear 
‘from thy not permitting us to answer, and clear ourselves of the many 
‘foul slanders charged upon us in the new found indictment, of which no 
‘proof was made? But when we were answering thereunto, and c’ear- 
‘ing ourselves thereof, thou didst stop us, saying, “‘ Thou mindedst not 
“ those things, but only the putting off the hat:” when as before the coun- 
‘try the new found indictment charged us with those things, and the petty 
‘jury brought in their verdict, “ Guilty of the trespasses and contempts 
* mentioned therein ;” of which (except as to the hat) not one witness or 
‘evidence was produced; and as to the hat, not any law or judicial pre- 
* cedent, upon the transgression of which all legal indictments are to be 
‘grounded! Now the-law seeks not for causes whereby to make the in- 
‘nocent suffer ; but helpeth him to right who suffers wrong, relieveth the 
‘ oppressed, and searcheth out the matter, Whether that of which a man 
‘stands accused be so or no ; seeking judgment and hastening righteous- 
‘ness: and it saith, “The innocent and the righteous slay thou not.” 
‘But whether thou hast done so to us, or the contrary, let the witness of 
‘ God in thee search and judge; as these thy fruits do also make manifest 
‘ And, friend, consider how abominably wicked, and how highly to be 

‘ abhorred, denied, and witnessed against, and how contrary to the laws 
‘such a proceeding is, as to charge a man with many offences in an in- 
‘ dictment, which they who draw the indictment, they who prosecute, and 
‘they who find the bill, know to be false, and to be put in purposely to 
‘reproach and wound his good name; whom, with some small matter 
* which they can prove, they charge and indict, as is the common prac- 
‘tice at this day. Prove but one particular charge in the indictment, and 
‘jt must stand (say they) for a true bill; though there be never so many 
‘falsehoods and lies therein, on set purpose to wrong him who is mali- 
ciously prosecuted: this is known to the judges, and almost to every 
‘man who hath to do with and attends their courts. How contrary is 
‘this to the end and righteousness of the law, which clears the innocent 


_fand condemns the guilty, and condemneth not the righteous with the 
~ ‘wicked ! Much it is cried out of ; but what reformation is there thereof? 


* How else shall clerks of assize, and other clerks of courts fill up their 
‘bags (out of which perhaps their master must have a secret considera- 
tion) and be heightened in pride and impudence ; that even in open court 
they take upon them to check and revile men without reproof, when a 
few lines might serve instead of an hundred? How else shall the spirit 
that is in men, that lusteth unto envy, malice, strife, and contention, be 
cherished and nourished, to feed the lawyers and dependants on courts 
with the bread of men’s children and the ruin of their families, to main- 
‘tain their long suits and malicious contentions! For a judge to say, “I 
“mind not these things; I'll not hear you; clear yourselves of what you 
“are falsely accused of: one thing I mind in your charge, the rest are 
“but matter of form, set there to render you such wicked men before 
* the country, as the thing that is to be proved against you is not sufficient 
*to make out.” Oh! abominable wickedness, and perverting of the right- 


_ eous end of the law, which is so careful and tender of every man’s 
peace aid innocency ! How is the law in the administration thereof adul- 


220 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1656 


‘terated by the lawyers, as the scriptures are mangled by the priests! 
‘And that which was made to preserve the righteous, and to punish the 
‘wicked, perverted to the punishing of the righteous and the preserving 
‘of the wicked! An eye for:an eye, a tooth for a tooth, life for life, burn- 
‘ing for burning, wound for wound, a stripe for a stripe; he that accuseth a 
‘man falsely, to sufier the same as he should have suffered, who was 
‘falsely accused, if he had been guilty. This saith the righteous law of 
‘God; which is agreeable to that of God in every man’s conscience. Ar2 
‘not such forms of iniquity to be denied, which are so contrary to the 
‘law of God and man? Which serve for the gendering of strife, and the 
‘kindling of contention? And of this nature was not that, with which 
‘thou didst cause us to be indicted? And this form didst not thou uphold, 
‘in not permitting us to answer to the many foul slanders therein; say- 
‘ing, “ Those things thou mindest not?” Will not the wrath of God be 
‘revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of 
‘men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; who are so far from the 
‘power of godliness, that they have not the form, but the form of iniquity, 
‘which is set up and held up instead of and as a law, to overthrow and 
‘destroy the righteousness of the righteous, and so to shut him up as by 
‘the law he can never get out? Is not the cry, thinkest thou, gone up, 
“Tt is time for thee to set to thine hand, O Lord, for thine enemies have 
“ made void thy law ?” Draws not the hour nigh? Fills not up the meas- 
‘ure of iniquity apace? Surely the day is coming, and hasteneth. Warned 
‘ve have been from the presence, and by the mouth of the Lord; and clear 
‘will he be when he cometh to judgment, and upright when he giveth 
‘sentence. That of God in every one of your consciences shall so to 
‘him bear witness and confess, and your mouths shall be stopped, and 
‘before your judge shall ye be silent, when he shall divide you your por- 
‘tion, and render unto you according to your deeds. Therefore, whilst 
‘thou hast time, prize it, and repent: for verily, “Our God shall come, 
“and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall 
“be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens 
“from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people; and the 
‘heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Con- 
“sider this, ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be 
“none to deliver. > 
‘ And, friend, shouldst thou have given judgment against us (wherein 
‘thou didst fine us twenty marks a-piece, and imprisonment till payment) 
without causing us, being prisoners, to be brought before thee, to hear 
‘the judgment, and to move what we had to say in arrest of judgment? 
‘Is not this contrary to the law, as is manifest to those who understand 
‘the proceedings thereof? Is not the prisoner to be called before judg- 
“ment be given? And is not the indictment to be read? and the verdict 
‘thereupon! And is not liberty to be given him to move in arrest of judg- 
‘ment? And if it be a just exception in the Jaw, ought not there to be 
‘an arrest of judgment? For the indictment may not be drawn up ac- 
‘cording to law, and may be wrong placed, and the offence charged 
‘therein may not be a crime in law; or the jury may have been cor- 
‘rupied or menaced, or set on by some of the justices; with other par- 
‘ticulars, which are known to be legal and just exceptions. And the judg-_ 
‘ment ought ‘o be in the prisoner’s hearing, not behind his back; as if 
the judge were so conscious of the error thereof, that he dares not give 


656] GEORGE FCX’S JOURNAL. 221 


*it to the face of the prisoner. But these privileges of the law, this justice 
* we (who had so long and so greatly sutiered contrary to law) received 
‘not, nor could have at thy hands; no, not so much as a copy or sight 
‘of that long and new-found indictment (which in England was never 
‘heard of before, nor that the matter contained therein was an offence in 
‘law, nor ever was there any law or judicial precedent that made it so) 
‘though two friends of ours, in our names and behalfs, that night, the 
‘next day, and the day following often desired it of the clerk of the as- 
‘size, and his assistant and servants; but they could not have it, nor so 
«much liberty as to see it. And it is like it was not unknown or unper- 
“ceived by thee, that, had we been called as we ought to have been, or 
‘had known when it was to be given, three or four words might have 
‘made a sufficient legal arrest of the judgment given on that new-found 
‘indictment, and the verdict thereupon. ‘Therefore as our liberties, who 
‘are innocent, have not in thy account been worth the minding, and es- 
‘teemed fit for nothing but to be trampled under foot and destroyed; so, 
‘if we find fault with what thou hast done, thou hast taken care that no 
‘door be left open to us in the law, but a writ of error: the considera- 
‘tion whereof, and the judgment to be given thereon, is to be had only 
‘where thyself is chief; of whom such complaint is to be made, and the 
“error assigned for the reverse of thy judgment. And what the fruit of 
‘that may be well expected to be, by what we have already mentioned 
‘as having received at thy hands, thou hast given us to understand. And 
‘here thou mayest think thou hast made thyself secure and sutiiciently 
‘barred up our way of relief, against whom (though thou knewest we 
‘had done nothing contrary to the law or worthy of bonds, much less of 
‘the bonds and sufferings we had sustained) thou hast proceeded, as hath 
‘been rehearsed; notwithstanding that thou art, as are all tne judges of 
‘the nation, intrusted not with a legislative power, but to administer jus- 
‘tice, and to do “even law and execution to all, high and low, rich and 
“poor, without having regard to any man’s person ;” and art sworn so to 
‘do; and wherein thou dost contrary art liable to punishment, as ceasing 
‘from being a judge, and becoming a wrong doer and an oppressor ; 
“which what it is tobe many of thy predecessors have understood, some by 
‘death, others by fine and imprisonment. And of this thou mayst not be 
‘ignorant, that to deny a prisoner any of the privileges the law allows 
‘him, is to deny him justice; to try him in an arbitrary way, to rob him 
‘of that liberty which the law gives him, which is his inheritance as a 
‘freeman: and which to do, is in eflect “ to subvert the fundamentai laws 
“and government of England, and to introduce an arbitrary and tyran- 
“nical government against law ;” which is treason by the common law: 
‘and treasons by the common law are not taken away by the statutes of 
«25 Edw. Ill. 1 H.TV.1,2. m. See O. St. Johns, now chief justice of 
‘the common pleas, his argument against Strafford, fol. 65, &c. in the 
* case. 

‘ These things, friend, we have laid before thee in all plainness, to the 
‘end that (with the light of Jesus Christ, who lighteth every one that 
‘cometh into the world, a measure of which thou hast, which sheweth 
‘thee evil and reproveth thee for sin, for which thou must be accounta- 
‘ble) thou be:ng still and coo] mayst consider and see what thou hast done 

against the innocent, and shame may overtake thee, and thou mayest 
turn to the Lord, who now calleth thee to repentance by his servants, 


oo 


222 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL [165e 
whom, for witnessing his living truth in them, thou hast cast into, and 


* yet coutinuest under cruel bonds and sufferings. 


‘ Edw. Pyot.’ 
‘From the gaol in Lanceston, 
‘the 14th day of the 5th 
‘month, 1656.’ 


By this letter the reader may observe how contrary to law we were 
made to suffer; but the Lord, who saw the integrity of our hearts to 
him, and knew the innocency of our cause, was with us in our suffer- 
ings, bore up our spirits, and made them easy to us; and gave us oppor 
tunities of publishing his name and truth amongst the people: so that 
several of the town came to be convinced, many were made loving te 
us, and friends from divers parts came to visit us; amongst whom were 
two out of Wales, who had been justices of peace. Judge Hagget’s 
wife, of Bristol, came to visit us, who was convinced, with several of 
her children; and her husband was very kind and serviceable to friends, 
and had a great love to God’s people, which he retained to his death. 

In Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, and Somersetshire, truth began 
mightily to spread ; many were turned to Christ Jesus and his free teach- 
ing: for many friends that came to visit us were drawn to declare the 
truth in those counties; which made the priests and professors rage, ana 
they stirred up the magistrates to ensnare friends. They set up watches 
in the streets and highways, on pretence of taking up suspicious persons, 
under which colour they stopped, and took up friends coming to visit us 
in prison; which they did, that they might not pass up and down in the 
Lord’s service. But that which they thought to have stopped the truth 
by, was the means of spreading it so much the more; for then friends 
were frequently moved. to speak to one constable, and t’other officer, 
and to the justices they were brought before; which caused the truth to 
spread the more in all their parishes. And when friends were got among 
the watches, it would be a fortnight or three weeks before they could 
get out of them again; for no sooner had one constable taken and car- 
ried them before the justices, and they had discharged them, but another 
would take them up and carry them before other justices: which put the 
country to a great deal of needless trouble and charges. 

As Thomas Rawlinson was coming out of the north to visit us, a con- 
stable in Devonshire took him up; and at night took twenty shillings out 
of his pocket: and after being thus robbed he was cast into Exeter gaol. 
They cast Henry Pollexfen also into prison in Devonshire, under pre- 
tence of his being a jesuit; who had been a justice of peace for the most 
part of forty years before. Many friends were cruelly beaten by them; 
nay some clothiers that were but going to mill with their cloth, and 


others about their outward occasions, they took up and whipped; though ~ 


m2n of about eighty or an hundred pounds by the year, and not above 
four or five miles from their families. 

The mayor of Lanceston took up all he could, and cast them inte 
prison. He would search substantial grave women, their petticoats and 
their head-cloaths. A young man coming to see us, I drew up all the 
gross, inhuman, and unchristian actions of the mayor, gave it him, and 
bid him seal it up, and go out again the back way; and then come into 
the town through the gates. He did so, and the watch took him up, and 


carried him before the mayor; who presently searched his pockets and 


ee ee ae 


— 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 223 


found the letter; wherein he saw all his actions characterized; which 
shamed him so, that from that time he meddled little with the Lord’s ser- 
vauts. 

From the sense | had of the snare that was laid, and mischief intended 
in setting up those watches at that time to stop and take up friends, it 
came upon me to give forth the following lines, as 


An exhortation and warning to the magistrates. 


‘ Aut ye powers of the earth, Christ is come to reign, and is among 
you, and ye know him not; who doth enlighten every orie of you, that 
ye all through him inight believe in him; who is the light, who treads 
the wine-press alone without the city, and whose feet are upon it. 
Therefore see all, and examine with the light what ye are ripe for; for 
the press is ready for you. 

‘ Before honour is humility. You that would have honour before ye 
‘have humility, are ye not as the heathen are! Ye would have honour 
‘before ye have humility; did not all the persecutors that ever were 
‘upon the earth want this humility? They wanted the honour, and yet 
‘would have the honour before they had the humility, and had learned 
‘that. So ye that are out of humility, are out of the honour, and ye are 
‘not to have the honour who have not the humility ; for before honour is 
‘humility : mark, before it. 

‘ Ye pretend liberty of conscience, yet one shall not carry a letter to 
‘a friend, nor men visit their friends, nor visit prisoners, nor carry a 
‘book about them, either for their own use or for their friends. Men 
‘shall not see their friends; but watches are set up against them to catch 
‘and stop them: and these must be well armed too against an innocent 
‘people, that have not so much as a stick in their hands, who are in 
‘scorn called Quakers. Yet by such as set up those watches is pretended 
‘liberty of conscience; who take up them whose consciences are exer- 
‘cised towards God and men, who worship God in spirit and truth; 
‘which they that are out of the light call heresy. These set up watches 
‘ against those they in scorn call Quakers, because they confess and wit- 
‘ness the true light, that lighteth every one that cometh into the world, 
‘amongst people as they pass through the country, or among their friends. 
‘ This is the dangerous doctrine which watchmen are set up against, to 
* subdue error, as they call it, which is the light that doth enlighten every 
‘man that cometh into the world; him by whom the world was made, 
‘who was glorified with the Father before the world began. For those 
‘ whom they in scorn call Quakers, have they set up their watches, able 
‘men, well armed, to take them up that bear this testimony either in 
‘ words, books, or letters. So that is the light you hate, which enlightens 
‘every man that cometh into the world; and these that witness to this 
‘light you put in prison; and after you have imprisoned them, you set up 
‘your watches to take all up that go to visit them, and to imprison them 
‘also: so that by setting up your watches, ye would stop all relief from 

coming to prisoners. Therefore this is the word of the Lord God to 
you, and a charge to you all, in the presence of the living God of hea- 


_ ‘ven and earth: every man of you being enlightened with a light that 


cometh from Christ, the saviour of people’s souls; to this light, all take 
heed, that with it ye may see Christ from whom the light cometh, vou 
may see him to be your Saviour by whom the world was made, wha 
saith, Learn of me. But if ye hate this light, ye hate Christ who doth 


224 GEORGE FOX S JOURNAL. [1656 


‘enlighten you all, that through him you might believe. But not believ- 
‘ing in the light, nor bringing your deeds to the light, which will make 
‘them manifest and reprove them, this becomes your condemner, even 
‘the light. Remember you are warned in your lifetime; for this light is 
‘ your way to salvation, if you walk in it; and this light is your con- 
‘demner, if you reject and hate it. You can never come to Christ, the 
‘ Second Priest, until you come to the light which the Second Priest hath 
‘enlightened you withal. So ye that come not to the light, ye go to the 
priests that take tythes, as did the first priesthood ; and so hale out of 
your synagogues and temples as that priesthood did which took tythes: 
‘which those of the second priesthood did not. Was there ever such a 
‘generation! Or did ever such a generation of men appear as doth now 
‘in this age, who are so full of madness, envy, and persecution, that they 
‘stand up in watches, with bills and weapons, against the truth, to per- 
‘secute it, as the towns and countries declare; which rings as Sodom, 
‘and like Gomorrah; And this hath its liberty, and truth is stood against ; 
‘to reprove sin is accounted a breach of the peace, as those say who 
‘are out of the truth, and set up their watches against it. Gaby 


Besides this general warning, there coming to my hand a copy of a 
warrant issued from the sessions of Exon, in express terms, “ For appre- 
hending of all Quakers ;” wherein truth and friends were reproached 
and vilified, 1 was moved to write an answer thereunto, and send it 
abroad, for the clearing of truth and friends from the slanders therein 
cast upon them: and to manifest the wickedness of that persecuting 
spirit from whence it proceeded; which was after this manner: 


‘Wuerpas there was a warrant granted the last sessions holden at 
‘ Exon, on the eighteenth day of the fifth month, 1656, which warrant is 
‘For the apprehending and taking up all such as are Quakers, or call 
“themselves Quakers, or go under the notion of Quakers;” and is di- 
‘rected “to the chief constables, to be sent by them to the petty consta- 
“bles, requiring them to set watches, able men with bills, to take up all 
“such Quakers as aforesaid ;” and whereas in your said warrant you 
‘speak of the Quakers spreading seditious books and papers; I answer, 
‘They, whom ye in scorn call Quakers, have no seditious books or 
‘papers; but their books are against sedition, and seditious men, sedi- 
‘tious books, seditious teachers, and seditious ways. Thus ye have 
‘numbered honest men, godly men, holy men, men that fear God, among 
‘beggars, rogues, and vagabonds; putting no difference between the 
‘precious and the vile. You are not fit to judge, who have set up your 
‘bills, and armed your men to stand up together in battle against inno- 
‘ cent people, the lambs of Christ, who have not lifted up an hand against 
‘you. But if ye were sensible of the state of your own country, your 
‘ cities, your towns, your villages, how the cry of them is like Gomor- 
‘rah, the ring like Sodom, and the sound like the old world, where all 
‘ flesh had corrupted its way, which God overthrew with the flood; if 


‘you did consider this with yourselves, you would find something to turn — 


‘the sword against, and not against the lambs of Christ, and not make a 
‘mock of the innocent, that stand a witness against all sin and unrighte- 
‘ ousness in your towns and steeple-houses. Noah, the eighth person, a 
‘preacher of righteousness, was grieved with the filthy conversation of 
the wicked: so are we now. Just Lot was grieved with their unmerci- 
ful deeds, and the filthy conversation of Sodom. And were not these 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 225 


‘hated of the world, and of them that lived in filthiness? And whereas 
‘vou speak of those you in scorn call Quakers, that they are a grief to 
‘those whom you call pious and religious people, and their religion; 
‘such as are in the religion that is vain, whose tongues are not bridled, 
‘I believe the Quakers are a grief to; but are not a grief to such as are 
‘in the pure religion, which keepeth unspotted of the world; which sets 
‘not up bills, nor watches, to maintain it by the world; for they are not 
‘of the world, who are in the pure religion, which keeps them unspotted 
of the world: mark, the “pure religion, which keeps unspotted of the 
world.” But such as are in the religion that is not pure, who have a 
‘form of godliness, and not the power, such as you call pious, the truth 
‘itself to such was always a grief; and so it is in this age. And now 
‘ your fruits appear, the end of your religion and profession, and what 
‘ you possess; but you are in the error, and have been but in the profes- 
‘sion, out of the possession of the Spirit, who are not in the Spirit of 
‘truth. For where did that ever set bounds, and number the just and 
‘innocent with the wicked? But the wicked set bounds and limits to the 
‘just, and numbered them among the wicked; yea, all manner of evil 
‘they spoke of them, as ye are doing now of us. According as it was 
‘ foretold in the scripture, such as tremble at the word of God, you cast 
‘out and hate, you that have your temple-worship. You say, the Qua- 
‘kers come to disturb you in your churches. Was it not the practice 
‘ of the apostles to go into the synagogues and temples, to witness against 
/‘the priesthood that took tythes? Was it not the practice of ‘the Jews to 
js hale them out, persecute them, and stone them, that witnessed Christ 
\ ‘the second priest, and went to bring people off from the first priest- 
i‘ hood? Was it not the practice of the prophets to go and cry against 
«thehigh places? And was it not the practice of the Jews, when they 
‘were back-slidden, and of the heathen, to imprison and persecute the 
‘ prophets, and send after them into other countries? Is not this your prac 
‘tice now, who are holding up your high places erected by the Papists, 
‘which ye now call your churches; where ye beat and persecute” 
‘What kind of religious people are you, that are filled with so much 
‘madness? Did not Paul confess he was mad while he was in your prac- 
‘tice, haling, beating, prisoning, putting out of the synagogues, having 
‘his authority from the chief priests? And are not the chief priests the 
‘cause of this! Was there ever such a cry made in any age past, as 
‘there is now in the pulpits, railing against an innocent people, who lift 
‘not up an hand against you; and who are indeed the pious, that are of 
‘the pure religion, who fear God, and worship him in the Spirit and in 
‘the truth, but cannot join with you in your religion? Do not the minis- 
‘ters of God say, that the scriptures are a declaration, which you call 
“the word? Do not you rob Christ of his title, and of his honour, and 
‘give it to the letter, and shew yourselves out of the doctrine of the 
‘ministers of God, who called the scriptures by the name of writings 
and treatises, and declarations; and said, Christ’s name is called the 
‘Word of God? Are not you here in the error you speak of, which is 
common talk among you! There was talk among some of you of your 
gospel shining. Doth the gospel persecute? Did ever any of those that 
did possess it cast into prison, and not suffer others to visit them? Are 
you like Christians in this, or like heathen, who set bounds and watches 
‘over the land, that they should not pass to visit those in prison? Was 
* ever the like heard in any age? Search and see, if you have not out- 
2D 


ane ae 


226 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1656 


‘stript them all in your watches, if not in your manner of persecution 
‘and in your imprisonments. Oh! never talk that we are a grief to them 
‘that are in the pure religion. 

‘And whereas in your warrant we are represented as disaffected to 
‘government; I say, the law; that is a terror to the evil-doer, we own; 
‘the higher power, to which the soul must be subject; but we deny the 
‘ evil-doer, the malicious man reigning, and the envious man seeking for 

his prey, whose envy is against the innocent; who raiseth up the coun- 
‘try against honest men, and so becomes a trouble to the country, in 
‘raising them up to take the innocent: but that we leave to the Lord to 
‘judge. Your false accusations of heresy and blasphemy we deny. 
‘ You should have laid them down in particulars, that people might have 
“seen them; and not have slandered us behind our backs. The law 
‘saith, The crime should be mentioned in the warrant. ‘Then for your 
‘saying, “ We deny the godly ministers to be a true ministry of Christ ;” 
‘that is false; for we say, The godly ministers are the ministers of 
‘Christ. But which of your ministers dare say that they are truly godly? 
‘And for your charging us with seducing many weak people, that is 
‘false also; we seduce none. But you, that deny the light which light- 
‘eth every man that cometh into the world, are seduced from the anoint- 
‘ing which should teach you; and if ye would be taught by it, ye would 
‘not need that any man should teach you. But such as are taught by 
‘the anointing which abideth in them, and deny man’s teaching, these ye 
‘call seducers, quite contrary to John’s doctrine, 1. Joh. 2. That which 
‘is truth, ye call seducing; and that which he calls seducing, you call 
‘truth. Read the latter part of the chapter. I warn you all from the 
‘Lord God of glory, set not any bound against him. Limit not the Holy 
‘One of Israel; for the Lord is rising in power and great glory, who 
‘will rule the nations with a rod of iron, which to him are but as the 
‘drop of a bucket. He that measures the waters in the hollow of his 
‘hand, will dash nations together as a potter’s vessel. And know, you 
‘that are found in this his day blaspheming his work which he hath 
‘brought forth, calling it blasphemy, fighting against it, setting up your ~ 
‘carnal weapons, making your bonds strong; God will break asunder 
‘that which your carnal policy hath invented, and which by your carnal — 
‘ weapons ye would uphold, and make you know there is a God in heaven, 
‘who carries his lambs in his arms, which are come among wolves, and 
‘are ready to be torn in pieces in every place, yea, in your steeple- 
‘houses; where people have appeared without reason and natural affec- 
‘tion. Therefore all ye petty constables, sheriffs, and justices, take 
‘ warning; take heed what ye do against the lambs of Christ; for Christ 
‘is come, and coming, who will give to every one of you a reward ac- 
‘cording to your works, you that have the letter, which speaks of Christ ; 
‘ who are persecuting that which the scripture speaks of: so your fruits 
‘make you manifest. Therefore every one, sheriffs, justices, constables, 
‘ &c. consider what ye possess, and what a profession ye are now in, 
‘that all these carnal weapons are set up against the innocent, yea, 
‘against the truth; which shews, that ye have not the spiritual weapons: 
‘and that ye want the counsel of Gamaliel, yea, ye want the counsel of 
‘such a man among you, who said, “ Let the apostles alone: if it be of 
« God, it will stand; if it be not, it will come to nought.” But ye may 

see yourselves, on the contrary, in the spirit of them that came with — 
‘Judas, with swords and staves from the chief priests against Christ ~ 


| 


| 
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656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 227 


still it is against Christ, where he is made manifest. Paul (while Sau) 
went against him, though he and the Jews professed a Christ that was 
to come: yet Paul persecuted him, where he was manifested in nis 
saints. ‘So ye profess a Christ that is come, but persecute him where 
he is manifest. You that have the letter, the high places, the syna- 
gogues, you persecute him where he is made manifest in his sairts, as 
the Jews did. Those who were in the letter, out of the life, persecuted 
them that were in the life of that which they profess in the letter: so do 
you persecute them that are in the life, and are yourselves strangers to 
‘it; as your fruits make appear. You have numbered the people of God 
‘amongst transgressors; but have you prisoned any of the rogues and 
‘transgressors you speak of ? You have prisoned the innocent, and let 
‘the others go free. Ged st 


When I had sent abroad the foregoing, so great a'sense came upon 
me of the veil of darkness that was over the priests and professors of 
christianity, that I was moved to give forth the following, as an awaken- 
ing warning to them: 


‘Buinpness hath happened to the professed christians of the letter 
‘now-a-days, as blindness happened to the Jews; who professed the let- 
‘ter, but owned not the life, which the letter speaks of: as the christians 

now, to whom this blindness hath happened, who profess the scripture, 
but own not the life which the scripture speaks of. For against the life 
‘the Jews stood, who professed the letter of the scripture; but they were 
‘blind, they gathered counsel against the life: they were in an uproar, 
‘when the babe was born in Bethlehem, Herod and all the chief priests. 
* And Herod sought to destroy all the young children in Bethlehem, yet 
‘missed the babe; Herod, that fox, though he put John to death. You 
‘may see here, how the literal professors stood up, not for the truth, but 
‘quite against it. Furthermore, the chief priests consulted together how 
‘they might take Jesus by subtilty, and put him to death; mark, by theiz 
‘subtilty. The professors of a Christ that was to come, they preached 
‘of a Messias, of a Christ, of a Saviour; but denied the life. When he 
“was made manifest, the chief priests, who were gathered together with 
‘the council, said, His disciples had stolen him away by night; and gave 
‘large sums of money to the soldiers to declare this. Likewise in the 
‘day, when the children of Israel were in Egypt, and they with their 
‘children began to spread and multiply, “Come,” said the Egyptians. 
“let us deal wisely with them to afflict them, and tax them :” which held 
‘till the Lord overthrew their oppressors, and brought his seed by his 
‘mighty power from under the oppressor, and exalted his son above all; 
‘though the heathen raged, and the people imagined vain things. He 
‘made his power known, that all might see that there was no God upon 
the earth but himself. This power now hath brought forth the work of 
‘tae Lord! Many, who are turned to the light, Christ, have received the 
‘power of God, and are thereby become the sons of God. Now this 
‘birth, that is born of God, are the powers of the world joined together 
‘to crucify to put to death those Jews in the Spirit, as they put Christ 
‘to death in the flesh formerly. This is the birth that all the wicked 
‘world is enraged against. Against this they set their watches, this 
‘birth, brought forth by the mighty God of Jacob, who rides upon the 
‘high places of the earth. This is the birth that the professed christians 
without the life in our days rage against, and lay out all their wisdom 


228 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 


‘about. Are not the chief priests and wise men of the earth consulting 
‘together how they may destroy this birth? Is not this the birth that is 
‘banished out of your hearts, you that profess the scripture, and are 
‘talkers of it, but do not own the light and life which the scripture speaks 
‘of, as the Jews would not; and so will not have Christ to reign over 
‘you, as they would not? Do you not hale out of your synagogues, and 
‘before magistrates? Do you jot herein fulfil Christ’s words, who said 
‘to his disciples, They should be haled out of the synagogues, and before 

rulers? Do you not persecute them from city to city! Do you not a- 

most fill your prisons with them? And now set your watches, that none 

should visit them, whom you have put into prison? Is not this an un- 
‘christian spirit? How can you for shame say, you are upholders of truth? 
‘Or how can you for shame say, that truth hath been professed among 
‘you! We grant that you have talked of it. And how can you for shame 
‘say, “The gospel shines among you,” when you will not own it, the life 
‘of it; when you call it error, and the evil seed? Yea, the very truth, the 
‘very life of truth ye have blasphemed against now, as the Jews did 
‘against Christ, calling him a devil; you now call it error, and the evil 
‘seed, and stand up against it, and turn the sword against it. It was the 
‘ Jews in their days who turned the sword against Christ ; so it is in these 
‘days the christian professors of the scripture, but out of the life that 
‘ gave it forth; as those were the Jews outward in the flesh, not the Jews 
‘in the Spirit. Is it not a shame to the ministers of the gospel (as they 
‘are called) that they can find no better way to maintain that which they 
‘call the truth, and their gospel, than by carnal weapons, stocks, prisons, 
‘whips, watches, and wards, and powers of the earth? Were these the 
‘apostles’ weapons? Carnal watches, stocks, prisons, and halings out of 
‘the synagogues, when they came to speak? Judge yourselves, what an 
‘antichristian spirit you have. Never talk of defending truth with that 
‘which is against truth. For are you not setting up the rabble of the 
‘world against it? Do they not join with you, with swords and staves 
‘against it? Is this the life of christians? Is not this the life of error, and 
‘of the evil seedsman? Surely ye would find work enough, if ye were in 
‘the fear of the Lord, to turn your swords against the profaneness, the 
‘oaths and wickedness, that are in your streets and highways. How do 
‘they ring like Sodom, and give a sound like Gomorrah! But these are 
‘become a prey in this age, that reprove in your gate sin, wickedness, 
‘and profaneness. They are become your by-word. Against them your 
‘councils are gathered, them you cast into prison, and hale them out of 
‘your synagogues: and cast them likewise into prison that write and 
‘speak against it; and set your guards to stop and hinder any from vis- 
‘iting them whom you cast into prison, and give them the names of vag- 
‘abonds and wanderers. Was ever the like heard in the days of ine 
‘heathen against the apostles, who witnessed the gospel? Did they set 
‘ouards and watches in every town, in every city, to take the disciples, 
‘the brethren, the believers, that heard the apostles were cast into prison, 
‘and came to see what they wanted? Shew ye not as much rage and 
‘fury now in your age, as was in those in that age? How can you talk 

of the gospel, and of defending the gospel, when you are setting guards 

and watches against it, are defending that which stands against it; and 

the lambs of Christ are almost torn to pieces amongst you, who are like 

wolves? for the Lord hath now sent his lambs among wolves. Have 

nat you professed the words of Christ, the prophets and apostles, as the - 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 229 


‘Jews had long professed the scriptures, the words of Moses, and the 
prophets, that prophesied of Christ then to come; and stood against him 
‘when he was come? as you do in this day of his reign, in this day of 
‘his glorious gospel, who are persecuting the messengers of it, imprison- 
‘ing them, persecuting them in your streets and highways, and setting 
‘up your watches against them who bring the glad tidings of peace to 
your souls; whose feet are beautiful atop of the mountains; mark, atop 
of the mountains; that against which the mountains rage and swell; 
‘but God will make them to melt; the Sun is risen, which will make ther. 
‘to melt. God will cleave the rocks and mountains asunder, and make 
‘the hills to bow perpetually; for his Son he will exalt, and his glory he 
‘will give to him, and not to another. Therefore be awakened, ye ru- 
‘lers of the earth, and take counsel of the Lord. Take not counsel to- 
‘gether against him. Make not your bondsstrong. Set not yourselves 
‘in battle against him: for ye will be found but as briers and thorns be- 
‘fore him, which the fire shall consume. Therefore be awakened, all 
‘ye talkers of the scripture, that gather yourselves together by your 
‘multitudes and meetings, and have had your teachers; but not having 
‘the Spirit that gave forth the scriptures, the Lord God of glory, the 
‘Father of spirits, will scatter you. All your bonds will not hold you 
‘together, who are out of the Spirit, which is the bond of peace. The 
‘threshing instrument is gone forth, which will beat the hills to pieces. 
Sion is risen to thresh. Out of the holy mountain is the trumpet sound- 
‘ed. Stand not up against the Lord: for all nations are to him as the 
‘drop of a bucket. He that measures the waters in the hollow of his 
‘hand, and weighs the earth in scales, the Lord of Hosts is his name, 
‘who is now risen and rising, to plead the cause of the innocent, and is 
‘exalting his Son, and bringing his sheep to him. Now are they seen 
‘and known, that feed upon wind, that are lifted up, given up to believe 
‘lies; who report, and say, “ Report, and we will report it.” Now are 
‘they seen, who have a form of godliness, but deny the power: so Christ 
‘is denied; for Christ is the power of God. And the power being deni- 
‘ed by you, that have a form of godliness, and the words of the scrip- 
‘tures; the gospel is denied: for the gospel is the power of God. Thus 
‘it is among you that have the knowledge and wisdom that is sensual, 
‘earthly, and devilish. Doth it not appear so? Let your gaols and watches 
‘witness your fruits in every town. Your wisdom is earthly, sensual, 
‘and devilish. You have a knowledge and wisdom, but not that which 
‘is from above; for that is pure and gentle, so is not your knowledge. 
‘But to know Christ, is life eternal. Your fruits have manifested, that 
‘you are not of this; and so out of the power of God, which is the cross 
‘of Christ; for you are found in the world, out of the power of God, out 
‘of the cross of Christ, persecuting. So that which doth persecute, and 
«send fortn writings and decrees to stop and take up all, and set watches, 
‘and prepare bonds to limit the Lord; to imprison and persecute, and 
‘suffer none to go and visit them: this shews you are not christians, but 
‘stand against the christian life, which brings to love enemies. Where 
‘is your love to your enemies who are thus persecuting your friends? 
“ He came to his own, and his own received him not.” Here is a turn- 
‘ing the sword against the just. Do you shew here a christian’s life, or 
‘yourselves christians, who are filling your gaols with the christians in 
the Spirit, you that are in the letter (in shadows) as the Jews in the let 
ter did, put the Jews in the Spirit into prison? Is not this the fruit in our 


230 i GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. -165€ 


‘days of christians in the letter, to put christians in the Spirit into prison ? 
‘Doth not this shew that your decrees, which you have sent forth, pro- 
‘ceed from death, who thus act against the life, and them that are in it; 
‘which the scriptures were. given forth from? Is it not here, as it was 
‘with Saul, when he went to persecute, to hale to prison, and bind all that 
‘he could find calling upon that name, who were christians in the life, 
‘the Spirit, such as you are persecuting, because they are in the life, 
‘though you profess their words? Are not your decrees gone forth from 
the same spirit of envy, against the ssine Spirit of Christ they were in? 
‘Ts it not manifest to all that fear God, and to the sober-minded and hon- 
‘est-hearted people, that see your practices, your decrees, your letters, 
‘to stop, to molest, to hinder, to imprison them that are moved of the 
‘Lord to do his will, or to go to visit prisoners whom you have impris- 
‘oned? Doth this shew you to have a spirit like Paul, yea, or nay? Are 
‘you not quite contrary, like them that persecuted Paul? The day hath 
‘declared it. To that of God in you all I speak, which shall witness it 
‘at the last day, the day of judgment. Persecution was blind in all ages; 
‘and madness and folly led it: yet persecution got always a form or pre- 
‘tence of godliness, a talk of religion, as in the days of Moses, of Jeremy, 
‘of Christ, and of the apostles. “Come,” saith the council, “let us erush 
“them while they are young, they have almost overspread the nation in 
“every corner.” This is as much as to say, “ Let us put this birth to 
“death, as Pharaoh and Herod did the children.” But the Lord caused 
‘his truth the more to spread. For you may read what numbers came 
‘out of Egypt! and what multitudes followed Christ! Therefore with 
‘consideration read these lines, and not with fury. Let not foolishness 
‘appear; but consider in humility the paths you go in, what spirit you 
‘are of, and what the end of your conversation is; for in love to your 
‘souls I write, that in the day of your visitation you may consider it. 


‘From him who loveth righteousness, and the establishing of it, 
‘and truth, peace, and faith, which is by Christ Jesus (Mercy and 
‘peace be multiplied among such!) But a witness against all 
‘hypocrites, and all who have a profession, but live out of the 
* possession ; in an hypocritical religion, in the lusts and fashions 
‘of the world, having a form of godliness, but standing against 
‘the power with might and main, sword and staff. Which things 
‘declare your conversation and practices to be out of Christ’s life 
‘against the gospel practice, and contrary to the manner and 
‘order of the saints. ay 


We were continued in prison till the next assize; before which divers 
friends, both men and women, were sent to prison, who had been taken 
by the watches. When the assize was come, several of these were called 
before the judge, and indicted: and though the gaoler brought them inte 
court, yet they indicted them, that they came in ‘by force of arms, and 
‘in an hostile manner;’ and the judge fined them, because they would 
not put off their hats. But we were not called before the judges any 
more. 

Great work we had, and service for the Lord, both between the assizés, 
and after, amongst professors and people of all sorts: for many came to 
see us, and to reason with us. Elizabeth Trelawny of Plymouth (daugh- 
ter of one called a baronet) being convinced, the priests, professors, and 
some great persons of her kindred, were exasperated, and wrote letters _ 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 231 


to her She bemg a wise and tender woman, and fearing to give them 
any advantage, sent their letters to me; which I answered, and returned 
them to her again, for her to send the answers to them. Which she did: 
till growing in the power, Spirit, and wisdom of God, she became able 
to answer the wisest priest and professor of them all: and had dominion 
over them in the truth, through the power of the Lord, by which she was 
kept faithful to her death. 

While I was in prison here, the Baptists and Fifth-monarchv-men 
prophesied, That this year Christ should come, and reign upon earth a 
thousand years. And they looked upon this reign to be outward : when 
he was come inwardly in the hearts of his people, to reign anc rule; 
where these professors would not receive him. So they failed in their 
prophecy and expectation, and had not the possession of him. But Christ 
is come, and doth dwell and reign in the hearts of his people. Thou- 
sands, at the door of whose hearts he hath been knocking, have opened 
to him; and he is come in, and doth sup with them, and they with him; 
the heavenly supper with the heavenly and spiritual man. So many of 
these Baptists and Monarchy-people turned the greatest enemies to the 
followers of Christ: but he reigns in the hearts of his saints over all their 
envy. 

At the assize divers justices came to us, and were pretty civil, and 
reasoned of the things of God soberly ; expressing a pity to us. Captain 
Fox, governor of Pendennis Castle, came and looked me in the face, and 
said never a word; but went to his company, and told them, ‘ He never 
‘saw a simpler man in his life.’ I called after him, and said, ‘Stay, man, 
‘ we will see who is the simpler man.’ But he went his way. A light 
chaffy person. 

Thomas Lower also came to visit us, and offered us money, which 
we refused; accepting nevertheless of his love. He asked us many 
questions concerning our denying the scriptures to be the word of God; 
concerning the sacraments, and such like: to all which he received sat- 
isfaction. I spoke particularly to him; and he afterwards said, My 
words were as a flash of lightning, they ran so through him. He said, 
He never met with such men in his life, for they knew the thoughts of 
his heart; and were as the wise master-builders of the assemblies, that 
fastened their words like nails. He came to be convinced of the truth, 
and remains a friend to this day. When he came home to his aunt 
Hambley’s, where he then lived, and made report to her concerning us ; 
she, with her sister Grace Billing, hearing the report of truth, came to 
visit us in prison, and was convinced also. Great sufferings and spoiling 
of goods both he and his aunt have undergone for the truth’s sake. 

About this time I was moved to give forth the following exhortation 
to friends in the ministry : 


‘Friends, 


‘In the power of life and wisdom, and dread of the Lord God of life, 
‘and heaven and earth, dwell; that in the wisdom of God over all ye 
‘may be preserved, and be a terror to all the adversaries of God, and 
‘a dread, answering that of God in them all, spreading the truth abroad, 
‘awakening the witness, confounding the deceit, gathering up out of 
‘transgression into the life, the covenant of light and peace with God 
‘Let all nations hear the sound by word or writing. Spare no place, 


_ ‘spare no tongue, nor pen; but be obedient to the Lord God: go tarough 


232 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [165€ 


/*the work; le valiant for the truth upon earth; tread and trample upon 
all that is contrary. Ye have the power, do not abuse it; and strength 
‘and presence of the Lord; eye it, and the wisdom; that with it you 
may all be ordered to the glory of the Lord God. Keep in the domi- 
nion; keep in the power over all deceit; tread over them in that, which 
lets you see to the world’s end, and the utmost parts of the earth. 
‘ Reign and rule with Christ, whose sceptre and throne are now set up, 
‘ whose dominion is over all to the ends of the earth; whose dominion is 
an everlasting dominion, his throne an everlasting throne, his kingdom 
‘an everlasting kingdom, his power above all powers. Therefore this is 
the word of the Lord to you all: “ Keep in the wisdom of God,” that 
‘spreads over all the earth; the wisdom of the creation, that is pure 
‘from above, not destructive. For now shall salvation go out of Zion, 
‘to judge the mount of Esau; now shall the law go forth from Jerusa- 
‘lem, to answer the principle of God in all; to hew down all inventors 
‘and inventions. For all the princes of the earth are but as air to the 
‘power of God, which you are in, and have tasted of: therefore live in 
‘it, that is the word of the Lord to you all; do not abuse it; keep down 
‘and low; and take heed of false joys, that will change. 
‘Bring all into the worship of God. Plow up the fallow ground. 
‘ Thresh and get out the corn; that the seed, the wheat, may be gather- 
‘ed into the barn: that to the beginning all people may come; to Christ, 
‘who was before the world was made. For the chaff is come upon the 
‘wheat by transgression. He that treads it out is out of transgression, 
‘fathoms transgression, puts a difference between the precious and the 
‘ vile, can pick out the wheat from the tares, and gather into the garner ; 
‘so brings to the lively hope the immortal soul into God, out of which it 
‘came. None worship God but who come to the principle of God, which 
‘they have transgressed. None are plowed up but he who comes to 
‘the principle of God in him, that he hath transgressed. Then he doth 
‘service as to God; then is the planting, watering, and increase from 
‘God. So the ministers of the Spirit must minister to the Spirit that is 
‘in prison, which hath been in captivity in every one; that with the 
‘Spirit of Christ people may be led out of captivity up to God, the Fa- 
‘ther of Spirits, to serve him, and have unity with him, with the serip- 
‘tures, and one with another. This is the word of the Lord to you all, 
‘a charge to you all in the presence of the living God; Be patterns, be 
‘ examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, where-ever you come; 
‘that your life and conduct may preach among all sorts of people, and 
‘to them. Then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, an- 
‘ swering that of God in every one; whereby in them ye may be a bless- 
‘ing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you: then to the 
‘ Lord God you shall be a sweet savour, and a blessing. 
‘Spare no deceit. Lay the Sword upon it; go over it. Keep your- 
selves clear of the blood of all men, either by word or writing, and keep 
yourselves clean, that you may stand in your throne, and every one 
‘have his lot and stand in the Jot in the Ancient of days. The blessing 
‘of the Lord be with you, and keep you over all the idolatrous worships 
and worshippers.. Let them know the living God; for teachings, 
churches, worships must be thrown down with the power of the Lora 
God, set up by man’s earthly understanding, knowledge, and will. All 
this must be thrown down withthat-which gave forth the scripture: 
and who are in that, reign over it all. That is the word of the Lord 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 233 


‘to you all. In that is God worshipped, that brings to declare his will, 
‘and brings to the church in God, the ground and pillar of truth: for 
‘now is the mighty day of the Lord appeared, and the arrows of the 
‘ Almighty gone forth; which shall stick in the hearts of the wicked. 
‘Now will I arise, saith the Lord God Almighty, to trample and thunder 
* down deceit, which hath long reigned and stained the earth. Now will 
‘I have my glory out of every one. The Lord God Almighty over all 
‘in his strength and power keep you to his glory, that you may come to 
“answer that of God in every one. Proclaim the mighty day of the 


Lord of fire and sword, who will be worshipped in spirit and in truth; 


“and keep in the life and power of the Lord God, that the inhabitants of 
‘the earth may tremble before you: that God’s power and majesty may 
‘be admired among hypocrites and heathens, and ye in the wisdom, 
‘ dread, life, terror, and dominion preserved to his glory; that nothing 
‘may rule or reign but power and life itself, and in the wisdom of God 
‘ye may be preserved in it. This is the word of the Lord God to you 
‘all. The call is now out of transgression, the Spirit bids, come. The 
‘call is now from all false worships and Gods, from all inventions and 
‘dead works, to serve the living God. The call is to repentance, to 
‘amendment of life, whereby righteousness may be brought forth, which 
‘shall go throughout the earth. Therefore ye that be chosen and faith- 
‘ful, who are with the Lamb, go through your work faithfully in the 
‘strength and power of the Lord, and be obedient to the power; for thai 
‘ will save you out of the hands of unreasonable men, and preserve you 
‘ over the world to himself. Hereby you may live in the kingdom that 
* stands in power, which hath no end; where glory and life is. 
‘G. FY 


After the assizes, the sheriff, with some soldiers, came to guard a 
woman to execution that was sentenced to die; and we had a great 
deal of discourse with them. One of them wickedly said, ‘ Christ was 
‘as passionate a man as any that lived upon the earth.’ For which 
wicked saying we rebuked him. Another time we asked the gaoler, 
what doings there were at the sessions? He said, small matters, only 
about thirty for bastardy. We thought it very strange that they, who 
professed themselves Christians, should make small matters of such 


‘things. But this gaoler was very bad himself. I often admonished him 
to sobriety; but he would abuse people that came to visit us. Edward 
_ Pyot had a cheese sent him by his wife from Bristol; and the gaoler took 


the cheese from him, and carried it to the mayor, to search it for treason 


able letters, as he said: and though they found no treason in the cheese 
they kept it from us. This gaoler might have been rich, if he had car- 


ried himself civilly; but he sought his own ruin, which soon after came 


upon him: for the next year he was turned out of his place, and for 


“some wickedness was cast into the gaol himself; and there begged of 
our friends. And for some unruliness in his carriage, he was by the 
succeeding gaoler put into Doomsdale, locked in irons, beaten, and bid 
_ to ‘remember how he had abused those good men, whom he had wick- 


‘edly, without any cause, cast into that nasty prison:’ and told, ‘ That 


_*now he deservedly should suffer for his wickedness, and the same mea- 


*sure he had meted to others, he should have meted out to himself.’ He 
became very poor, and died in prison. His wife and family came te 
misery. 

2E 


A 


234 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. "(1656 


While I was in prison at Lanceston, a friend went to. Oliver Cromwell, - 
and offered himself, body for body, to lie in Doomsdale in my stead; if 
he would take him, and set me at liberty. Which thing so struck him, 
that he said, to his great men and council; ‘ Which of you would do so 
‘much for me, if I were in the same condition?’ And though he did 
not accept of the friend’s offer, but said, ‘ He could not do it, for it was" 
‘contrary to law;’ yet the truth thereby came mightily over him, A 


- good while after this he sent down major general Desborow pretending 


to set us at liberty. When he came, he offered, if we would say, ‘We 
would go home and preach no more,’ we should have our liberty ; but 
we could not promise him. Then he urged, that we should promise ‘ to 

go home if the Lord permitted: whereupon Edward Pyot wrote him 
this following letter : 


‘To major general Desborow. 
‘ Friend, 

‘ Tyoves much might be said as to the liberty of Englishmen to trave | 
‘in any part of England, it being as the Englishman’s house by the law, 
‘and he to be protected in any part of it; and if he transgress the law, 
‘the penalty upon the transgressor is to be inflicted. And as to the lib- 
‘erty of conscience, which is a natural right, and a fundamental, and 
‘ the exercise of it by those who profess faith in God by Jesus Christ, it 
‘is to be protected, as by the imstrument of government it appears. 
‘though they differ in doctrine, worship, and discipline ; provided that 
‘liberty extend not to property, or prelacy, nor to licentiousness. Where 
‘these rights are denied us, our liberties are infringed, which are the 
‘ price of much blood and treasure in the late wars. Yet in the power 
‘of God over all, by which all are to be ruled, are we, and in it dwellj 
‘and by it alone are guided_to do.the-will of God; whose will is free, 
“and we, in the freedom-of his will, walk by the power, either as it com 
‘mands or permits, without any condition or-enforeement thereunto by 
‘men; but as the power moves, either by command or permission. An 
‘although we cannot covenant or condition to go forth of these parts, or 
‘to do this or that thing, if the Lord permit (for that were to do the wil 
‘of man by God’s permission) yet it is like we may pass forth of these 
‘parts in the liberty of the will of God, as we may be severally move 
‘and guided by the pure power, and not of necessity. We who wer 
‘ first committed were passing homeward when we were apprehended ; 
‘and, as far as I know, we might pass, if the prison doors were com 
‘ manded to be opened, and we freed of our bonds. Should we stay, if 
‘the Lord commands us to go, or should we go if the Lord comman 
‘us to stay; or having no command to stay, but being permitted to pas 
‘from hence, the pure power moving thereto, and we yet stay; or go 
‘ when as before commanded to stay; we should then be wanderers in 

deed: for such are wanderers, who wander out from the will an 
‘power of God, abroad, at large, in their own wills and earthly minds 
‘ And so, in the fear of the Lord God, well weigh and consider, with th 
‘just weight and just balance, that justice thou mayest do to the just an 
‘innocent in prison. Edward Pyot.’ — 


Some time having passed after the foregoing was delivered him, an 
he not giviig any order for our discharge, I also wrote to him as fo 
loweth: . 


= 656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 235 


‘To major general Desborow. 
‘ Frierd, 

‘We who are in the power of God, the ruler of all, the upholder of a. 
things, and know and dwell in his power, to it we must be obedient; 
~) which brings us to stand out of all men’s wills, unlimited. To say, 
‘We will if the Lord permit,” in a case of buying and selling to get 
* gain, if the intent be so to do, may be done; but we standing in the 
_ *pewer of God to do his will, and to stand out of man’s will, if man pro- 
pose, “ We shall have our liberty if we will say, we wil] go to our out- 
“ward being, if the Lord permit, or if it be the will of God;” and be- 
* cause we cannot say these words in this case, shall not have our liberty, 
‘when we know that the will of God is, we shall, “ go to speak at some 
“ other place:” here we cannot say these words truly. For to say, 
* We will go to our outward habitation, if it be according to the will of 
“ God,” when we know the will of God is otherwise; we cannot speak 
‘so, truly and clearly. Neither can any man say so to him, that requires 
‘it of him; who stands in the power, and knows the power of God to 
‘lead him according to God’s will, and it leads him to another place than 
‘his outward home. But the Son of God, who came to do and did the 
‘will of God, had no place whereon to lay his head: and the apostles, 
“and many of the followers of Christ, had no certain dwelling-place. 
‘ Now if these should have been restrained, because they could not say 
‘they would go to their outward homes, if it were the will of God, when 
‘they knew it was the will of God they should not, and they could not 
‘do the will of God in doing so, and therefore could not speak those 
‘words to satisfy man’s mind and will, would not such restraint have 
‘been evil? Abraham could not do the will of God, but in going from his 
‘native country ; and who are of faith are of Abraham, of whom Christ 
caine according to the flesh. Now, if you allege, “ This is to let all 
* loose and at liberty to idleness,” I say, No: such as are in the power 
‘ of God, who do the will of God, come to receive his wisdom, by which 
*all his creatures were created, and by which they are used to his glory. 
‘This I shall say, whoever are moved by the Lord God of glory and 
‘power to go to their outward habitations, such of us may go to our out- 
‘ward homes; and there be diligent in serving the Lord, that they may 
‘bea blessing from God in their generation; diligently serving him in 
‘life and doctrine, in manners, in conversation, in all things. And who 
*are moved of the Lord to go to any other place, we standing in his 
will, and being moved by his power, which comprehends all things, 
and is not to be limited, we shall do his will which we are commanded 
“*to do. So the Lord God open your understandings, that you may see 
*this great power of the Lord, which he is now manifesting among his 
| ‘children in this his day; that ye may not withstand it in our friends, that 
| are come into the power of God, and to God, and know him by whuia 
| ‘the world was made, by whom all things were created that were cre- 
“ated, and there was not any thing made but what was made for him, 
“and to him, and by him; who is the power of God, and doth enlighten 
“every man that cometh into the world. Friends being come to this 
“light which cometh from Christ, and having received power from him 
“by wiom all things were created, to whom all power in heaven ana 
‘earth is given, who is the wisdom of God; we have received wisdom 
" and power from him, by which the Lord doth give us to know how to 


be 


3 


236 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 11654 


‘use and order the creatures to the glory of him, the Creator of all things. 
‘Friends here are taught of the Lord to be diligent, serving him; and 
‘who come into-the life. the scriptures were given forth from; are given 
‘up to serve the Lord. ‘Of this I have in all your consciences a witness. 
‘So, if thou open the prison-door, we shall not stay there. If thou send 
‘a liberate, and set us free, we shall not stay in prison; for Israel is to 

‘go out free, whose freedom is purchased by the power of God and 
‘the blood of Jesus. But who goeth out of the power of God loseth his 
‘freedom. 


The 18th of the 6th ‘George Fox, and the rest 
‘month, 1656.’ ‘who are sufferers for 
‘ the truth in Lanceston- 

‘ gaol.’ 


After this major Desborow came to the Castle-green, and played at 
powls with the justices and others. Several friends were moved to go, 
and admonish them against ‘ spending time so vainly; desiring them to 
consider, ‘That though they professed themselves to be Christians, yet 

they gave themselves up to their pleasures, and kept the servants of 

‘God mean-while in prison;’ and also told them, ‘The Lord would plead 
‘with them, and visit them for such things.’ But notwithstanding what 
was wrote or said to him, he went away, and left us in prison. We un- 
derstood afterwards that he left the business to colonel Bennet, who had 
the command of the gaol. For some time after Bennet would have set 
us at liberty, if we would have paid his gaoler’s fees. But we answered, 

‘We could give the gaoler no fees, for we were innocent sufferers; how 
‘could they expect fees of us, who had suffered so long wrongfully’ Ls 
After awhile colonel Bennet coming to town sent for us to an inn, and 
ir sisted again upon fees, which we refused. At last the power of the 
“Lord came so over him, that the thirteenth of the seventh month, 1656, 
we were set at liberty. We had been prisoners nine weeks at the first 
assize, called the Lent-assize, in the spring of the year. 

Observing while I was here prisoner how much the people (they es: 
pecially who were called gentry) were addicted to pleasures and vain 
recreations, | was moved, before I left the place, to give forth mae 
papers as a warning to them, and to all that so mispend their time. One 
of which was thus: 


‘This to go abroad among those, who are given to pleasures and wan- 
*‘ tonness. 


‘Tue sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were pride, fulness of bread, and 
‘abundance of idleness. Their filthy conversation vexed the righteous 
‘soul of just Lot day by day, and they would not take warning; on 
‘whom God therefore sent fire, and turned them into ashes. And in 
‘ spiritual Sodom and Egypt was our Lord Jesus Christ crucified; and 
‘it is written, “ The people sate down to eat and to drink, and rose up 
“to play; with whom God was not well pleased, and there fell three and 
“twenty thousand in one day.” These the apostle commanded the saints 

they should not follow; for these things happened to them for exam- 
‘ples, and are written for our admonition. God spared not the old world; 
but reserving Noah, a preacher of righteousness, brought the flood upon 
the world of the ungodly, making them an example to all that after 
should live ungcdly. Mark, ye ungodly ones, who are as natural brute 


656) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 237 


beasts, who speak great swelling words of vanity, alluring through the 
‘lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, as they that count it plea- 
‘sure to riot in the day-time, sporting yourselves with your own deceiv- 
‘ings; ye shall receive the reward of unrighteousness. Ye are as dogs 
‘and swine turned to the vomit, and wallowing in the mire, speaking 
‘evil of things that ye know not; and unless ye repent, ye shall ut- 
‘terly perish in your own corruptions. Ye have lived in pleasure on tne 
‘earth, and been wanton. Ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day 
‘of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not 
‘resist you. Go to, weep and howl for the misery that is coming upon 
‘you. She that liveth in pleasures, is dead while she liveth. God con- 
‘demned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, making them an example 
‘to all those that after should live ungodly, in the wicked, filthy conver- 
sation: mark, here is your example. Hear this, ye that are given to 
‘pleasures, and read your examples. G. FY 


Another, upon my taking notice of the bowlers that came to sport in 
the Castle-green, was as iolloweth: 


‘ Tue word of the Lord to all you vain and idle minded people, who 
‘ are lovers of sports, pleasures, foolish exercises, and recreations, as you 
‘call them; consider of your ways, what it is you are doing. Was this 
‘the end of your creation? Did God make all things for you, and you to 
‘serve your lusts and pleasures? Did not the Lord make all things for 
‘you, and you for himself, to fear and worship him in spirit and in truth, 
‘in righteousness and true holiness? But where is your service of God, 
‘so long as your hearts run after lusts and-pleasures? ye cannot serve 
‘God and the foolish pleasures of the world, as bowling, drinking, hunt- 
‘ing, hawking, and the-like. If these have your hearts, God will not 
‘have your lips. Consider, for it is true. Therefore from the Lord must 
‘you all witness wo and misery, tribulation and wrath, who continue in 
‘the love and practice of your vain sports, lusts, and pleasures. Now is 
‘the day, when all every where are exhorted to repentance. O foolish 
‘people, wicked and slow of heart to believe the threatenings of the great 
‘ Jehovah against the wicked! What will you do in the day of the Lord’s 
‘ fierce wrath, that makes haste to come upon the world of ungodly men! 
‘What good have your foolish sports and delights done you, now they 
‘are past? Or what good will they do you, when the Lord calls for your 
‘souls? Therefore all now awake from sleep, and see where you are; 
‘and let the light of Jesus Christ, that shines in every one of your con- 
‘sciences, search you thoroughly, and it will let you clearly see, for all 
‘your profession of God, Christ, and the scriptures, you are ignorant of 
‘them, and enemies to them all, and your own souls also; and being 
found living in pleasures, you are dead while you live. Therefore doth 
the Lord by many messengers forewarn you; and calls you to repent- 
ance and deep humiliation; that you may forsake the evil of your do- 
‘ings, own this day of your visitation, and while you have time prize it; 
lest the things which belong to your peace be hid from your eyes for 
your disobedience and rebellion against the Holy One. And then it had 
been good that you never had been born: repent, for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand. Again I say, Repent! 


To the bowlers ¢ Given forth in Lanceston- 
in the green.’ ‘ gaol, in Cornwall.’ 


238 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ‘1656 
Being released, we got horses, rid towards Humphry Lower’s, and 
met him upon oe road. He told us, ‘He was much troubled in his mind 
‘ concerning us, and could not rest at home; but was going to colonel 
‘Bennet to seek our liberty.’ When we told him, ‘ We were set at lib- 
‘erty, and were going to his house;’ he was exceeding glad. To his 
nouse we went, and had a fine, precious meeting ; many were convinced, 
and turned by the Spirit of the Lord to the Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching. 

From his house we went to Loveday Hambley’s; where we had a 
fine iarge meeting. The Lord’s power was over all; many were con- 
vinced there aicon and turned to the Lord Jesus Olvriail their teacher. 

After we had tarried there two or three days, we came to Thomas 
Mounce’s, where we had a genera] meeting for the whole county; which, 
being very large, was held in his orchard. Friends from Plymouth were 
there, and from many places. The Lord’s power was over all, and a 
great convincement there was in many parts of the county. Their 
watches were dow n, and all-was plain and open; for the Lord had let 
me see, before I was at liberty, that he would make all the country plain 
before us. Thomas and Ann Curtis, with an alderman of Reading who 
was convinced, had come to Lanceston to see us while I was prisoner; 
and when Ann and the other man returned, Thomas Curtis staid behind 
in Cornwall, and had good service for the Lord at that time. 

From Thomas Mounce’s we passed to Lanceston again, and visited 
the little remnant of friends that had been raised up there while we were 
in prison; and the Lord’s plants grew finely, and were established on 
Christ, their rock and foundation. As we were going out of town again, 
the constable of Lanceston came running to us with the cheese that had 
been taken from Edward Pyot; which they had kept from us all this 
while, and were troubled with it. But we, being now at liberty, would 
not receive it. 

From Lanceston we came to Okington; and lay at an inn, which the 

p 
mayor of the town kept. He had stopped and taken up several friends, 
but was very civil to us; and was convinced in his judgment. 

From thence we came to Exeter, where many friends were in prison i 
and amongst the rest James Nayler. For a little before we were set at. 
liberty, James had run out into imaginations, and a company with him, 
who raised up a great darkness in the nation.* He came to Bristol, an 
made a disturbance there. From thence he was coming to Lanceston, 
to see ine; but was stopped by the way, and imprisoned at Exeter; as 
were. several others, one of whorn, an honest, tender man, died in prison 
there ; whose blood lieth on the heads of his persecutors. 

The night that we came to Exeter, I spoke with James Nayler: for I 
saw he was out, and wrong, and so was his company. The next day, 
being first-day, we went to ) visit the prisoners, and had a meeting with 
them in the prison; but James Nayler, and some of them could not stay 
the meeting. There came a corporal of horse into the meeting, wh 
was convinced, and remained a very good friend. The next day I spoke 
to James Nayler again; and he slighted what I said, was dark, and much 
out; yet he would have come and kissed me. But I said, ‘Since he ie 


* James Nayler was a monument of human frailty. His gift in the ministry was eminent; 
his experience in divine things truly great. He fell through unwatchfulness, but was restored 
through deep suflerings and unfeigned repentance. His own writings are the most clear an 
lively description of the various dispensations he underwent: some of them deserve to 
transmitted to the latest posterity. 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 239 


‘turned against the power of God, I could not receive his shew of kind- 
‘ness.’ The Lord moved me to slight him, and to ‘ set the power of God 
- fover uim.’ So after I had been warring with the world, there was now 

a wicked spirit risen amongst friends to war against. I] admonished him 

and his company. When he was come to London, his resisting the 
_ power of God in me, and the truth that was declared to him by me, be- 
_ came one of his greatest burdens. But he came to see his out-going, 

and to condemn it; and after some time he returned to truth again: as 
in the printed relation of his repentance, condemnation, and recovery 
may be more fully seen. 

We passed from Exeter through Cullumpton and Taunton, visiting 
friends;.and had meetings amongst them. From thence we came to 
Puddimoor, to William Beaton’s; where on a first-day we had a very 
large meeting. A great convincement there was up and down that 
country; many meetings we had, and the Lord’s power was over all; 
many were turned, by the power and Spirit of God, to the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who died for them, and came to sit under his free teaching. 

From thence we went to John Dando’s, where we had another pre- 
cious meeting. The Lord’s power was over all, and many were con- 
vinced of God’s eternal truth. Some contention was raised by profes- 

‘\sors and Baptists, in some places; but the Lord’s power came over them. 
From thence we came to Edward Pyot’s near Bristol. It was the sev- 
enth-day at night that we came thither. It was quickly noised over the 
town that I was come. I had never been there before. 

On first-day morning I went to the meeting in Broadmead at Bristol; 
which was large and quiet. Notice was given of a meeting to be in the 
afternoon in the orchard. There was at Bristol a rude Baptist, named 
Paul Gwin, who had used before to make great disturbance in our meet- 
ings; being encouraged by the mayor, who, as was reported, would 
sometimes give him his dinner to encourage him. Such multitudes of 
rude people would he gather after him, that it was thought there had 
been sometimes ten thousand people at our meeting in the orchard. As 
I was going into the orchard, the people told me, That Paul Gwin, the 
rude, jangling Baptist, was going to the meeting. I bid them, ‘Never 
‘heed; it was nothing to me, who went to it.” When I was come into 
the orchard, I stood upon the stone that friends used to stand on when 
| they spoke: and was moved of the Lord to put off my hat, and to stand 
ja pretty while; and let thé people look at me; for some thousands of 
| people were there>— While I thus stood silent, this rude Baptist began to 
_ find fault-with my hair; but I said nothing to him. Then he ran on into 
words; and at last, ‘ Ye wise men of Bristol,’ said he, ‘I strange at you 
‘that you will stand here, and hear a man speak and affirm that which 
‘he cannot make good.’’ Then the Lord opened my mouth (for as yet I 
had not spoken a word) and J asked the people, ‘ Whether they ever 
‘heard me speak: or ever saw me before?’ And bid them ‘take notice 
_ ‘what kind of man this was that should so impudently say amongst them, 
| *that I spoke and affirmed that which I could not make good; and yet 
‘neither he nor they ever heard me or saw me before. Therefore that 
‘was a lying, envious, malicious spirit that spoke in him; and it was of 
‘the devil, and not of God. I charged him in the dread and power of 
‘the Lord to be silent; and the mighty power of God came over him, 
and all his company. A glorious, peaceable meeting we had ; the word 
_ of life was d‘vided amongst them; and they were turned from darkness 


240 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1656 


to light, and to Jesus their Saviour. The scriptures were largely open- 
‘ed to them; and the traditions, rudiments, ways, and doctrines of men 
‘ were laid open before the people, and they were turned to the light of 
‘Christ, that with it they might see them, and see him to lead them out 
‘of them. I opened also to them the types, figures, and shadows of 
‘Christ in the time of the law; and shewed them, That Christ was come 
‘and had ended the types, shadows, tythes, and oaths, and put down 
“swearing, and had set yea and nay instead of it, and a free ministry 
‘for he was now come to teach people himself, and his heavenly day 
‘was springing from on high.’ For many hours did I declare the word 
of life amorngst-them in the eternal power of God; that by him they 
might come up into the beginning and be reconciled to him. And having 
turned them to the Spirit of God in themselves, that would lead into all 
truth, I was moved to pray in the mighty power of God; and the Lord’s 
power came over all. When I had done, this fellow began to babble 
again; and John Audland was moved to bid him repent, and fear God. 
So his own people and followers being ashamed of him, he passed away, 
and never came again to disturb the meeting. The meeting broke up— 
quietly, and the Lord’s power and glory shined over all: a blessed day 
it was, and the Lord had the praise. After awhile this Paul Gwin went 
beyond sea; and many years after, | met with him again at Barbadoes: 
of which in its place. 

From Bristol we returned to Edward Pyot’s, where we had a great 
meeting. The Lord’s power was over all, truth was declared and spread ~ 
abroad, and many were turned to Christ Jesus, their life, their Prophet — 
to teach them, their Shepherd to feed them, and their Bishop to oversee © 
them. After he meeting I had reasoning with some professors ; and the 
Lord’s truth and power came over them. 

From Edward Pyot’s we passed to Slattenford, where we had a very 
large meeting (Edward Pyot and another friend being still with me ;) and 
a great turning of people there was to the Lord Jesus Christ their teacher. 
People were glad that they were brought to know their way, their free | 
teacher, and their Saviour Christ Jesus. 

The first-day following we went to Nathaniel Crips’s house, who had 
been a justice of peace in Wiltshire; where it was supposed between — 
two and three thousand people were at a meeting, and all was quiet. 
‘ The mighty power of God was manifest, and people were turned to the - 
‘ grace and truth in their hearts, that came by Jesus Christ, which would 
‘teach them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live sober- 
‘ly and godly in this present world. So that every man and woman 
‘might know the grace of God, which had appeared to all men, which 
‘was saving, and sufficient to bring their salvation. This teacher, the 
‘grace of God, would teach them how to live, what to do, and what to 
‘deny: it would season their words, and establish.their hearts. This 
‘was a free teacher to every one of them: so that they might come to 
‘be heirs of this grace, and of Christ, by whom it came ; who hath end- 
“ed the prophets, and the priests that took tythes, and the Jewish temple. 
‘ And as for these hireling priests that take tythes now, and their temples 

(which priests were made at schools and colleges of man’s setting up, 
and not by Christ) they, with all their inventions, were to be denied. 
‘ For the apostles denied the true priesthood and temple, which God had 
‘commanded, after Christ had put an end thereto. The scriptures, and 
‘the truths therein contained, were largely opened, and the people turned 


ee 


a 
r 


[2656 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 241 


to the Spirit of God in their hearts: that by it they might be led into 

all truth, understand the sc~iptures, know God and Christ, and come to 
* have unity with them, and one with another in the same Spirit.’ The 
people went away generally satisfied, and were glad that they were 
turned to Christ Jesus, their Teacher and Saviour. 

The next day we went to Marlborough, where we had a little meeting. 
The sessions being held that day, they were granting a warrant to send 
for me; but justice Stooks, being at the sessions, stopped them, telling 
them there was a meeting at his house yesterday, at which were several 
thousands. So the warrant was stopped, our meeting was quiet, and 
several received Christ Jesus their teacher, and came into the new cov 
enant, and abode in it. sve 

From hence we went to Newbury, where we had a large blessed 
meeting ; several were convinced. Thence we passed to Reading, where 
we had a large, precious meeting in the Lord’s power amongst the 
plants of God. Many of other professions came in, were reached, and 
added to the meeting. All was quiet, and the Lord’s power was over 
all. We went from Reading to Kingston upon Thames, where a few 
came to us that were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ: but since it is be- 
come a large meeting. 

Leaving Kingston, we rode to London. When we came near Hyde 
Park, we saw a great concourse of people, and looking towards them, 
espied the protector coming in his coach. Whereupon I rode to his 
coach side. Some of his life-guard would have put me away; but he 
forbad them. So I rode by his coach side with him, ‘declaring what 
‘the Lord gave me to say to him, of his condition, and of the sufferings 
‘of friends in the nation; shewing him, how contrary this persecution 
‘was to Christ and his apostles, and to christianity... When we were 
come to James’s Park Gate, I left him; and at parting he desired me to 
come to his house. The next day, one of his wife’s maids, whose name 
was Mary Sanders, came to me at my lodging, and told me, Her master 
came to her, and said, he would tell her some good news. When she 
asked him, What it was? He told her, George Fox was come to town. 
She replied, That was good news indeed (for she had received truth) but 
she said, she could hardly believe him; till he told her how I met him 
and rode from Hyde Park to James’s Park with him. 

After a little time Edward Pyot and I went to Whitehall; and when 


- we came before him, Dr. Owen, vice-chancellor of Oxford, was with 


him. We were moved to ‘speak to Oliver Cromwell concerning the 
‘ sufferings of friends, and laid them before him: and directed him to the 
‘light of Christ, who had enlightened every man that cometh into the 
‘world. He said, It was a natural light; but we shewed him he con- 
‘trary; and manifested that it was divine and spiritual, proceeding from 
‘Christ the spiritual and heavenly man; and that which was called the 
‘life in Christ the Word, was called the light in us. The power of the 
* Lord God arose in me, and I was moved in it to bid him lay down his 


* crown at the feet of Jesus.’ Several times I spoke to him to the same 


effect. I was standing by the table, and he came and sat upon the table’s 
side by me, saying, he would be as high as 1 was: and so continued 
speaking against the light of Christ Jesus; and went his way in a light 
manner. But the Lord’s power came over him, so that when he came 
to his wife and other company, he said, ‘I never pated so from them 
*hefore ’ for he was judged in himself. 

2F 


242 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1656 


After he had left us, as we were going out, many great persons came 
about us; one of them began to speak against the light, and against the 
truth; and I was made to slight him, for speaking so lightly of the things 
of God. Whereupon one of them told me he was the major-general of 
Northamptonshire. ‘ What!’ said I, ‘our old persecutor, that has per- 
‘secuted and sent so many of our friends to prison, and is a shame to 
‘christianity and religion! I am glad | have met with thee,’ said 1. So 
I was moved to speak sharply to him of his unchristian carriages ; and 
he slunk away: for he had been a cruel persecutor in Northamptonshire. 

After I had visited the meetings of friends in and about London, I 
went into Buckinghamshire, and Edward Pyot was with me; and in 
several places in that county many received the truth. Great meetings 
we had, and the Lord’s power was eminently manifested. I passed 
through Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire into Lincolnshire. After 
several meetings in Lincolnshire, I had at last a meeting, where twe 
knights, one called Sir Richard Wrey, the other Sir John Wrey, with 
their wives, were at the meeting. One of their wives was convinced, 
received the truth, and died in it. When the meeting was done, we 
passed away; and it being in the evening, and dark, a company of wild 
serving men encompassed me about, with intent, as | apprehended, to 
have done me some mischief. But I spoke aloud to them, and asked, 
‘What are ye? highwaymen” Whereupon some friends and friendly 
people behind came up to us, and knew some of them. So I reproved 
them for their uncivil and rude carriage, exhorted them to fear God, and 
the Lord’s power came over them, and stopped their mischievous design ; 
blessed be his name for ever. 

Then I turned into Huntingdonshire. The mayor of Huntingdon came 
to visit me, and was very loving, and his wife received the truth. 

Thence I passed into Cambridgeshire, and into the Fen Country ; 
where I had many meetings, and the Lord’s truth spread. Robert Craven 
(who had been sheriff of Lincoln) Amor Stoddart, and Alexander Parker 
were with me. We went to Crowland, a very rude place; for the town’s 
people were got together at the inn we went to, and were half drunk, 
both priests and people. ‘I reproved them for their drunkenness, and 
‘ warned them of the day of the Lord that was coming upon all the wick- 
‘ed; exhorting them to leave their drunkenness, and turn to the Lord in 
‘time.’ Whilst I was thus speaking to them, and shewing the priest the 
fruits of his ministry, the priest and the clerk broke out into a rage, 
and got up the tongs and fire-shovel at us; so that had not the Lord’s. 
power preserved us, we might have been murdered amongst them. Yet, 
for all their rudeness and violence, some received the truth then ; and 
have stood in it ever since. . 

From thence we passed to Boston, where most of the chief of the 
town came to our inn, and the people seemed to be much satisfied. But 
there was a raging man in the yard; and Robert Craven was moved to 
speak to him, and told him, he shamed christianity; which, with some 
few other words, so stopped the man, that he went away quiet. Se 
were convinced there also. 

Thus we had.large meetings up and down; for I travelled into York 
shire, and returned out of Holderness, over Humber, visiting friends, 
and then going into Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Worcestersnire, and 
Warwickshire, among friends. I had a meeting at Edge-hill. There 
came to it Ranters, Baptists, and several sorts of rude people; for I had 


1656) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 243 


sent word about three weeks bef sre, to have a meeting there; so that 
hundreds of people were gathered, and many friends came from afar to 
it. The Lord’s everlasting truth and word of life reached over all; rude 
and unruly spirits were chained down; and many taat day were turned 
to the Lord Jesus Christ, by his power and Spirit, who came to sit under 
his blessed free teaching, and to be fed with his eternal, heavenly food. 
Ail was peaceable; the people passed quietly away, and some of them 
said, It was a mighty, powerful meeting: for the presence of the Lord 
was felt, and his power and Spirit amongst them. / 

From hence I passed to Warwick, and to Bagley; having precious 
meetings. From, thence into Gloucestershire, and so to Oxford, where 
the scholars were very rude; but the Lord’s power came over them, and 
great meetings we had up and down, as we travelled. ‘Then I went to 
colonel Grimes’s, where was a very large meeting; and from thence to 
Nathaniel Crips’s, where came another justice to the meeting, who was 
also convinced. At Cirencester also we had a meeting, which is much 
increased; so we came to Evesham again, where I met John Camm. 

- Thus having travelled over most part of the nation, I returned to Lon- 
don, having cleared myself of that which lay upon me from the Lord. 
For after I was released out of Lanceston gaol, [ was moved of the Lord 
to travel over most parts of the nation (the truth being now spread, and 
finely planted in most places) that I might answer, and remove out of the 
minds of people some objections, which envious priests and professors 
had raised and spread concerning us. For, what Christ said of false 
prophets and antichrists coming in the last days, that they applied to us, 
and said, we were they. 

Therefore was I moved to open this through the nation, and to shew, 
‘That they, who said we were the false prophets, antichrists, and de- 
‘ ceivers, that should come in the last days, were indeed themselves they. 
‘For when Christ told his disciples in the viith and xxivth of Matthew, 
‘that false prophets and antichrists should come in the last times, and, if 
*it were possible, should deceive the very elect, he said, “ By their fruits 
“ve shall know them: for they should be inwardly ravening wolves, 
“having the sheep’s cloathing.” “ And,” said he, “do men gather grapes 
“of thorns, or figs of thistles?” as much as to say, Their nature and 
‘spirit should be like a thorn, or like a thistle; and he bids his disciples 
“not go after them. But before the disciples were deceased, the anti- 
“christs, false prophets, and deceivers were come. For John in his first 
“epistle said, “Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard 
“that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, where- 
“by we know that it is the last time.” So here, as Christ said to his dis- 
‘ciples, They should come; the disciples saw they were come: as may 
‘be seen at large in Peter, Jude, John, and other places of scripture; 
« whereby,” says John, we know it is the last time:” and this last time 
‘began above sixteen hundred years since. John said “They went out 
“from us;” the false prophets, antichrists, seducers, and deceivers, went 
‘out from the church; “But you,” said he to the church, “have an 
“anointing which abideth in you: and you need not that any man teach 
“you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things: and as it 
“hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” Christ said to his disciples, 
“Go not after them, for they are inwardly ravening wolves;” and John 


“exhorts the saints to the anointing within them; and the rest of the 
_ apostles exhort the churches to the grace, the light, the trut the Spirit, 


244 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL [1656 


the word of faith, and to Christ in their hearts, the hope of glory. Christ 
‘told the saints, that the Spirit of truth, the Holy Ghost, should be thei: 
‘ leader into all truth; and Jude exhorts the church to “ pray in the Holy 
“ Ghost,” and “to be built up in their most holy faith, wh’ch Christ was 
“the author of.” Christ, by his servant John, exhorted the seven 
‘churches to “ hear what tne Spirit said to the churches;” and this was 
‘an inward spiritual hearing. Christ says, the inwardly ravening wolves 
‘should have the sheep’s cloathing. Paul speaks of some in his time that 
had a form of godliness, but denied the power. John said, “ They went 
“out from us.” Jude said, “They go in Cain’s way, and in Balaam’s 
“ and Corah’s way.” By all which it may be clearly seen, that the false 
‘prophets and antichrists, which Christ foretold should come, the apos- 
‘tles saw were come; and in their day the last time was begun. These 
‘ went from them into the world, and the world went after them! These 
‘ were the fore-men, the leaders of the world, that brought them into a 
‘form of godliness, but inwardly ravened from the power and Spirit! 
‘ These have the sheep’s cloathing, the words of Christ, of the propheis, 
‘and of the apostles; but are inwardly ravened from the power and 
‘Spirit that they were in who gave forth the scriptures. These have - 
‘made up the beast, and the whore! These have gotten the dragon’s 
‘power, the murdering, destroying, persecuting power! And these are 
‘they that the world wonders after! These have drunk the blood of the 
‘martyrs, prophets, and saints, and persecuted the true church into the 
wilderness! These have set up the false, compelling worships, and 
‘have drunk the blood of the saints, that will not drink of their cup! 
‘These have made the cage for the unclean birds, that have their seve- 
‘ral unclean notes in their cage; which cage is made up by the power 
‘of darkness, and unclean ghost: and the birds of the cage deny the 
‘ Holy Ghost, and the power of God, which the apostles were in, to be 
“now manifested in the saints! Thus since Christ said, the false proph- 
‘ets and antichrists should come, and the apostles said, they were come, — 
‘the beast’s and the dragon’s worship hath been set up; the whore is got 
‘up with her false prophets, her cage hath been made, all nations have ~ 
‘drunk of her cup of fornication, the blood of the martyrs and saints 
‘they have drunk, and the true church hath fled into the wilderness. All — 
‘this since the apostles’ days. Yet the blind deceivers of all sorts, the 
‘antichrists and false prophets of our agé, would make us and people be- 
‘lieve that the false prophets. antichrists, and deceivers are come but 
“now; though John and other of the apostles tell us, they began to come ~ 
‘above sixteen hundred years ago. And ye may see what work and — 
‘confusion they have made in the world; how much blood these Cains _ 
‘have drunk, that went in Cain’s way: which blood cries to God for 
‘vengeance upon Christendom! And how these Balaams, who have 
erred from the power of the Spirit which the apostles were in, 
have coveted after other men’s estates, the many gaols, courts, and — 
‘spoiling of goods will bear witness. And how these Corahs have 
gainsayed the life, power, and Spirit which the apostles and true churcn — 
were in, and the free teaching of Christ and of his apostles, and tne 
work of their ministry, which was “to present every man perfect in 
Christ Jesus,” hath been evident. 
‘ Therefore in the name and power of the Lord Jesus was I sent to 
preach again the everlasting gospel, which had been preached before 
unto Abraham, and in the apostles’ days; and was to go over all na- 


ee 


656) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 248 


‘ tions, and to be preached to every creature. For as the apostacy hath 
gone over all nations since the apostles’ days, so that the nations are 
become as waters, unstable, being gone from Christ the foundation; so 

‘must the gospel, the power of God, go over all nations again. We find 

‘the false prophets, anti-christs, deceivers, whore, false church, beast, and 
his worship in the dragon’s power, have got up in the times betwixt the 
apostles and us. For Christ said, “ They should come :” and the apos 

‘tes saw, “They were come,” and coming in their days; and that they 

* went forth from them, and the world went after them. And now hath the 
Lord raised us up beyond them, and set us over them in the everlasting 

« gospel, the power of God: that as all have been darkened by the beasts, 

‘whore, false prophets, and anti-christs, so the everlasting gospel may 

‘be preached again by us to all nations, and to every creature, which 

‘ will bring life and immortality to light in them, that they may see over 

‘the devil and his false prophets, anti-christs, seducers and deceivers, 

‘and over the whore and beast, and to that which was before they 

‘were. This message of the glorious, everlasting gospel was I sent 

‘forth to declare and publish, and thousands by it are turned to God, 

‘having received it; and are come into subjection to it, and into the holy 


/ ‘order of it. And since I have declared this message in this part of the 


‘world and in America, and have written books of the same, to spread 
‘it universally abroad, the blind prophets, preachers, and deceivers have 
‘ given over telling us, the false prophets should “ come in the last times ;” 
‘for a great light is sprung up and shines over their heads: so that every 
‘child in truth sees the folly of their sayings. 

‘Then they got other cbjections against us, and invented shifts to 
‘save themselves from truth’s stroke. For when we blamed them for 
‘taking tythes, which came from the tribe of Levi, and were set up here 
/‘by the Romish church, they would plead, “ That Christtold the scribes 
5: and pharisees, they ought-to~pay-tythes-of mint, anise, and cummin, 
sy though they neglected the-weightier matters:” and that Christ said, 
« the scribes and pharisees sat in Moses’s seat, therefore all that they bid 
“ you do, that do and observe.” And when we told them they were 
‘envious persecuting priests, they would reply, “ That some preached 
“Christ of envy, and some of contention, and some of good-will.” 
‘ Now these scriptures and others such-like they would bring to darken 
‘the minds of their hearers, and to persuade them and us, “ That we 
“ought to do as they say, though they themselves were like the phari- 
“sees; and that we should rejoice when envious men and men of strife 
“ preached Christ ; and that we should give them the tythes as the Jews 
“ did to the tribe of Levi.” These were fair glosses; here was a great 
‘heap of husks, but no kernel. Now this was their blindness: for the 
‘ Levitical priesthood Christ hath ended, and disannulled the command- 
‘ment that gave them tythes, and the law by which those priests were 
‘made. Christ did not come after that order, neither did he send forth 

his ministers after that order; for those of that order were to take 
‘tythes for their maintenance, but his ministers he sent forth freely. And 
as for hearing the pharisees and the Jews paying tythes of mint, anise 
“and cummin, that was before Christ was sacrificed and offered up: the 
‘Jews were then to do the law, and perform their offerings and sacri- 


_ *fices which the Jewish priests did teach them. But after Christ was of- 


“fered up, he bid them then, “ Go into all nations and preach the gos- 
“pel; and 'o,” said he, “I will be with you to the end of the world ;* 


~ 


246 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 165t 


‘and in another place he saith, “I will be in you.” He did not bid theia 
go to hear the pharisees thén, and pay tythe of mint, anise, and cum- 
min then; but “Go, preach the gospel, and believe in the Lord Jesus 
‘and be saved, and receive the gospel,” which would bring people off 
from the Jews, the tythes, the Levitical law, and the offerings thereof 
to Christ, the one Offering, made once for all. O what work had the 

‘apostle both with the Galatians and the Romans to bring them off the 

‘ Jaw to the faith in Christ! 

‘ And as for the apostle’s saying, “‘ Some preached Christ of envy and 
“strife,” &c. That was at the first spreading of Christ’s name abroad, 
‘when they were in danger not only to be cast out of the synagogues, 
‘but to be stoned to death, that confessed to the name of Jesus; as may 
‘be seen by the uproars that were among the Jews and Diana’s wor- 
‘ shippers at the preaching of Christ. So the apostle might well rejoice 
‘if the envious, and men of strife and contention did preach Christ at 
‘that time; though they thought thereby to add affliction to his bonds. 
‘ But afterward, when Christ’s name was spread abroad, and many had 
‘got a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof, “ Envious, 
“proud, contentious men, men of strife, covetous men, teachers for 
“ filthy lucre,” the apostle commanded the saints to turn from, and not 
‘to have any fellowship with them. And the deacons and ministers 
* were first to be proved, to see if they were in the power of godliness, 
‘and the Holy Ghost made them overseers and preachers. So it may 
‘he seen how the priests have abused these scriptures for their own 
‘ends, and have wrested them to their own destruction, to justify envi- 
‘ous, contentious men, and men of strife. Whereas the apostle says, 
“ The man of God must be patient, and apt to teach;” and they were 

to follow Christ, as they had them for their examples. The-apostle in- 

‘deed was very tender to people,.while he saw them walk in simplicity, 

‘as in the case of-those that were scrupulous about meats and days; 

‘but when the apostle saw, that some drew them into the observation of 

‘ days, and to settle in such things, he then reproves them sharply, and 


‘asks them, “ Who had bewitched them?” So in the case of marrying — 
, * he was tender, lest their minds should be drawn from thesord’s join- — 


‘ing; but when they came to forbid marriage, and to set up rules for 
‘meats and drinks, he called it a “doctrine of devils,” and an “ erring 
‘from the true faith.” So also he was tender concerning circumcision, 
‘and in tenderness suffered some to be circumcised ; but when he saw 
‘they went to make a sect of it, and to set up circumcision as a stand- 
‘ing practice, he told them plainly, “If they were circumcised, Christ 
“ would profit them nothing.” In like manner he was tender concerning 
‘the baptizing with water; but when he saw they began to make sects 
‘about it, some crying up Paul, others Apollos, he judged them, and 
‘called them carnal, and thanks God he had baptized no more but such 
‘and such; declaring plainly, that he was sent to preach the gospel, 
“and not to baptize; and brought them to the one baptism by the one 


‘ Spirit, into the one body which Christ, the spiritual man, is the head 


‘of; and exhorted the church, “all to drink into that one Spirit.” For 


| 


—— a 


he asserted in'the church the one faith, which Christ was the author — 


of; and one baptism, which was that of the Spirit into the one body ; 
‘and one Lord Jesus Christ, who was the spiritual baptizer, who John 
said should come after him. And further the apostle declared, that 
‘they, who worshipped and served God in the Spirit, were of the cir” 


) 
—:1656) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 247 


-*cumcision of the Spirit, which was “ not made with hands;” by which 
“the body of the sins of the flesh was put off?’ which circumcision 
Christ is the minister of. 
‘Another great objection they had, “ That the Quaker’s denied 
“the sacrament,” as they called it, “ of bread and wine, which,” they 
_*said, “they were to take, and do in remembrance of Christ to the end 
“of the world.” A great deal of work we had with the priests and pro- 
‘fzssors about this, and about the several modes of receiving it in Chris- 
_‘tendem, so called: for some of them take it kneeling, some sitting; but 
‘none of them all, that ever I could find, take it as the disciples took it. 
‘For they took it in a chamber-after supper; but these generally take it 
‘before dinner ; and some say, after the priest hath blessed it, it is ‘‘ Christ’s 
“body.” But as to the matter, Christ said, “Do this in remembrance 
“of me.” He did not tell them how oft they should do it, or how long: 
‘neither did he enjoin them to do it always as long as they lived, or that 
‘all believers in him should do it to the world’s end. The aposile Paul, 
‘who was not converted till after Christ’s death, tells the Corinthians, 
‘that he had received of the Lord that which he delivered unto them 
‘concerning this matter, and relates Christ’s words concerning the cup 
‘thus; “This do ye,” as oft as ye drink it, “in remembrance of me :” 
\ ‘and himself adds, “ For [as often as] ye do eat this bread, and drink 
. * this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” So according to 
‘what the apostle here delivers, neither Christ nor he did enjoin people to 
‘do this always, but leaves it to their liberty, [‘ as ofi as ye drink it,” 
‘&c.] The Jews did use to take a cup, and to break bread and divide 
‘it among them in their feasts; as may be seen in the Jewish Antiqui- 
‘ties; so the breaking of bread and drinking of wine were Jewish rites, 
‘which were not to last always. They did also baptize with water, which 
‘made it not seem a strange thing to them, when John the Baptist came 
‘with his decreasing ministration of water-baptism. But as to the bread 
‘and wine, after the disciples had taken it, some of them questioned 
‘whether Jesus was the Christ? For some of them said, afier he was 
* crucified, “ We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed 
“ Israel,” &c. And though the Corinthians had the bread and wine, and 
“were baptized in water, the apostle told them they were “ reprobates, 
“if Christ was not in ihem;” and bid them “ examine themselves.” And 
‘as the apostle said, “ As oft as ye do eat this bread, and drink this cup, 
“ye do shew forth the Lord’s death [till he come;”] so Christ had said 
_* before that he was the “ bread of life,” which “came down from hea- 
ven;” and that “he would come, and dwell in them ;” which the apos- 
‘tiles did witness fulfilled; and exhorted others to seek for that which 
-*comes down from above:” but the outward bread and wine, and wa- 
‘ter, are not from above, but from below. Now ye that eat and drink 
‘this outward bread and wine in remembrance of Christ’s death, and 
have your fellowships in that, will ye come no nearer to Christ’s death 
_ than to take bread and wine in remembrance of it? After ye have 
eaten in remembrance of his death, ye must come into his death, and 
die with him, as the apostles did, if ye will live with him. This is a 
‘nearer and further advanced state, to be with him in the fellowship of 
‘his death, than only to take bread and wine in remembrance of it. 
*You must have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings; if ye will reign 
|‘ with him, ye must suffer with him; if ye will live with him, ye mus’ 
‘die with him; and if ye die with him, ye must be buried with him 


| 


et: 


248 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1656 


and being buried with him in the true baptism, ye also rise with him. 

| Then having suffered with him, died with him, “and been buried with 

him, if ye are risen with Christ, “seek those things which are above, 
“ where Christ sitteth on the right hand of Goa.’ Eat the bread which 
“comes down from above, which is not outward bread; and drink the 
‘cup of salvation which he gives in his kingdom, which is not outward 
‘wine. And then there will not be a looking at the things that are seen 
‘(as outward bread and wine and water are:) for, as says the apostle, 

‘ The things that-are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen 
“are eternal.” So here are many states and condilions to be gone 

‘through before people come to see that, and partake of that which 

‘cometh down from above.” For first, there was “a taking of the 
“outward bread and wine in remembrance of Christ’s death.” This 
‘was temporary, and not of necessity; but at their liberty, “ As oft as 
“ye do it,” &c. Secondly, there must be “a coming into his death, a 
ts suffering with Christ ;” and this is of necessity to salvation; and not 
‘ temporary, but continual: there must be “a dying daily.” Thirdly, 
“a being buried with Christ.” Fourthly, “a rising with Christ.” Fifthly, 
‘ After they are risen with Christ, then “a seeking those things which 
“are above, a seeking the bread that comes down from heaven,” and a 
“feeding on that and “having fellowship in that.” For outward bread, 
‘ wine, and water are from below, and are visible and temporal; but, 
‘saith the apostle, “We look not at things that are seen, for the 
“things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are 
“eternal.” So the fellowship that stands in the use of bread, wine, wa- 
‘ter, circumcision, outward temple, and things seen will have an end: 
‘but the fellowship which stands inthe gospel, the power of God, which 
‘was before the devil was, and which_brings life and immortality to light, 
‘hy which people may see over the devil that has darkened them, this 
‘fellowship is eternal, and will stand. And all that are in it seek that’ 
‘which is heavenly and eternal, which comes down from above, and are’ 
‘settled in the eternal mystery of the fellowship of the gospel, which is 
‘hid from all eyes that look only at visible things. ‘The apostle told the 
‘Corinthians, who were in disorder about water, bread and wine, that 
‘he “desired to know nothing amongst them, but Jesus Christ, and him 
‘ crucified.” 


Thus were the objections which the priests and professors had aie 
against friends answered, and the stumbling-blocks they had laid in the 
way of the weak removed. And as things were thus opened, people 
came to see over them and through them, and to have their minds set- 
tled upon the Lord Jesus Christ, their free teacher: which was the ser- 
vice for which I was moved to travel over the nation afier my imprison: 
ment in Lanceston gaol. In this year the Lord’s truth was finely planted 
over the nation, and many thousands were turned to the Lord; insomuch 
that there were seldom fewer than one thousand in prison in this nation” 
for truth’s testimony; some for tythes, some for going to the steeple- 
houses, some for contempts, as they called them, some for not swearing 
and others for, not putting off their hats, &c. 

After I had visited most parts of the nation, and was come to London 
again, finding that evil spirit at work which had drawn J. N. and his fol- 
towers out of the truth, to run friends into heats about him, I wrote a short 
epistle to friends, as followeth: 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 249 


* To all the elect seed of God called Quakers, where the death ‘s brought 
‘into death, and the elder is servant to the younger, and the elect is 
‘known, which cannot be deceived, but obtains victory. This is the word 
‘of the Lord God to you all, Go not forth to the aggravating part, te 
‘strive with it out of the power of God, lest ye hurt yourselves, and run 
‘into the same nature, out of the life. For patience must get the vic- 
‘tory, and to answer that of God in every one, which must bring every 
‘one to it to bring them from the contrary. Let your moderation, tem- 
* perance, and patience be known unto all men in the seed of God. For 
‘that which reacheth to the aggravating part without life, sets up the ag 
‘ gravating part and breeds confusion; and hath a life in outward strife 
‘but reacheth not to the witness of God in every one, through which they 
‘might come into peace and covenant with God, and fellowship one with 
‘another. Therefore that which reacheth this witness of God in your- 
‘selves, and in others, is the life and light; which will out-last all, is over 


all, and will overcome all. Therefore in the seed of life live, which 


© bruiseth the seed of death. G. FY’ 


I wrote another short epistle to friends, to encourage them to keep up 
their meetings in the Lord’s power; which here followeth: 


‘ Dear friends, 

Keep your meetings in the power of the Lord; which power is over 
‘all that which is in the fall and must have anend. Therefore be wise 
‘in the wisdom of God, which is from above, by which all things were 
“made and created ; that that may be justified among you, and you all! 
‘kept in the solid life, which was before death was: and in the light 
‘which was before darkness was with all its works. In which light 
‘and life ye all may feel and have heavenly unity and peace, possessing 
‘the gospel-fellowship that is everlasting; which was before that which 
‘doth not last for ever, and will remain when that is gone. For the 
* gospel being the power of God, is pure and everlasting. Know it to 
‘be your pertion; in which is stability, life, and immortality, shining 
* over that which darkens the mortal. So be faithful every one to God 
‘im your measures of his power and life, that ye may answer God’s love 
‘and mercy to you, as obedient children of the Most High; dwelling in 
‘love, unity, peace, and innocency of heart towards one another; that 
‘God may be glorified in you, and you kept faithful witnesses for him, 
‘and valiant for the truth on earth. God Almighty preserve you all to 
‘his glory, that ye nay feel his blessing among you, and that ye may be 
‘ possessors thereof. Gh 


About this time many mouths being opened in our meetings to de- 
clare the goodness of the Lord, some that were young and tender in the 
truth would sometimes utter a few words in thanksgiving and praises 
to God; that no disorder might arise from thence in our meetings, | 
was moved to write an epistle to friends by way of advice in that 


matter: 


‘ Att my dear friends in the noble seed of God, who have known his 
‘ power, life, and presence among you, let it be your joy to hear or see 


_ ‘the springs of life break forth in any; through which ye have all unity 


a ae 


in the same, feeling life and power. And above all things take heed of 

‘judging any one openly in your meetings, except they be openly pro- 

‘phane or rebellious, such as are out of the truth; that by the power 
2G 


250 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1636 


life, and wisdom ye may stand over them, and by it answer the witness 
of God in the world, that such, whom ye bear your testimony against, 
‘are none of you: that therein the truth may stand clear and single, 
hut such as are tender, if they should be moved to bubble forth a few 
words, and speak in the seed and Lamb’s power, suffer and bear that: 
that is, the tender. -And if they should go beyond their measure, bear 
it in the meeting for peace and ordey’s sake, and that the spirits of the 
world be not moved against you. But when the meeting is done, if any 
be moved to speak te them, between you and them, one or two of you 
‘that feel it in the life, do it in the love and wisdom that is pure and 
gentle from above, for love is that which edifies, bears all things, suffers 
long, and fulfils the law. In this ye have order and edification, ye 
‘have wisdom to preserve you all wise and in patience; which takes 
‘away the occasion of stumbling the weak, and the occasion of the 
‘spirits of the world to get up: but in the royal seed, the heavy stone, 
‘ye keep down all that is wrong, and by it answer that of God in all. 
‘For ye will hear, see, and feel the power of God preaching, as your 
‘faith is wholly in it (when ye do not hear words) tv bind, to chain, to 
‘limit, to frustrate, that nothing shall rise nor come forth but what is in 
‘the power; with that ye will hold back, with that ye will let up and 
‘open every spring, plant, and spark; in which will be your joy and re- 
‘freshment in the power of God. Ye that know the power of God and 
‘are come to it, which is the cross of Christ, that crucifies you to the 
‘state that Adam and Eve were in in the fall, and so to the world, by 
‘this power of God ye come to see the state that Adam and Eve were 
‘in before they fell: which power of God is the cross, in which stands 
‘the everlasting glory, which brings up into righteousness and holiness, 
‘the image of God, and crucifies to unrighteousness and unholiness, the 
‘image of satan, that Adam and Eve and their sons and daughters are 
‘in under the fall. Through this power of God ye come to see the state 
‘they were in before they fell; yea, and I say, to an higher state, to the 
* Seed Christ, the Second Adam, by whom all things were made. For 
‘man hath been driven from God. All Adam and Eve’s sons and 
‘daughters, being in the state of the fall in the earth, are driven from 
God. But it is said, “ The church is in God, the Father of our Lord 
‘ Jesus Christ: so who come to the church, which is in God the Father 
‘of Christ, they must come to God again, out of the state that Adam 
‘and his children are in in the fall, out of the image of God, out of 
‘ righteousness and holiness; and they must come into the righteousness, 
‘into the true holiness, the image of God, and out of the earth whither 
‘man hath been driven, when they come to the church which is in God. 
‘The way to this is Christ, the Light, the Life, the Truth, the Saviour, 


‘ the Redeemer, the Sanctifier, and the Justifier, in and through whose pow- — 


er, light, and life, conversion, regeneration, and translation is known 
from death to life, from darkness to light, and from the power of satan 
to God again. These are members of the true church, who know the 
‘work of regeneration in the operation and feeling of it; and being 
‘come to be members of the church of God, they are indeed members 
‘one of another in the power of God, which was before the power of 
‘darkness was. So they that come to the church that is in God and 
‘ Christ, must come out of the state that Adam was in in the fall, driven 
from God, to know the state that he was in before he fell. But they 


that live in the state that Adam was in in the fall, and cannot believe a- 


| 


@ GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 251 


_ * possibility of coming into the state he was in before he fell, come not 
_ ‘to the church which is in God; but ‘re far from that, are not passed 
-from death to life, but are enemies to the cross of Christ, which is the 
_ *power of God. For they mind earthly things, and serve not Christ ; 
nor love the power which should bring them up to the state that Adam 
was in before he fell, and crucify them to the state that man is in in the 
fall; that through this power they might see to the beginning, the puw- 
er that man was in before the heavenly image, holiness and righteovus- 
_ $ness was iost: by which vowe hey might come to know the Seed, 
‘ Christ, which brings out of the .. things, and makes all things new; 
‘in which life eternal is felt. For all the poorness, emptiness, and barren- 
‘ness is in the state that man is in in the fall, out of God’s power; by 
*which power he is made rich aw in, and in which power he hath 
* strength again: which power ist! cross, in which the mystery of the 
‘fellowship stands; and in which i: .he true glorying, which crucifies to 
‘all other gloryings. And friends. inough ye may have been convinced, 
‘ and have tasted of the power. and felt the light, yet afterwards ye may 
‘ fee] a winter-storm, tempest and hail, frost and cold, and temptation in 
‘the wilderness. Be patient and still in the power and in the light that 
‘ doth convince you, io keep your minds to God; in that be quiet, that ye 
‘may come to the summer ; that your flight be not in the winter. For 
‘if ye sit still in the patience which overcomes in the power of God, 
‘there will be no flying. The husbandman, after he hath sown his seed, 
_*is patient. And ye by the power being kept in the patience, will come 
‘by the light to see through and feel over winter-storms and tempests, 
‘and all the coldness, barrenness, and emptiness : and the same light and 
power will go over the tempter’s head; which power and light was be- 
fore he was. ( So in the light standing still, ye will see your salvation, 
‘ye will see the Lord’s strength, ye will feel the small rain, ye will feel 
‘the fresh springs, your minds being kept low in the power and light: 
‘for that which is out of the power lifts up. But in the power and light 
_ tye will feel God revealing his secrets, inspiring your minds, and his 
‘ gifts coming in unto you; through which your hearts will be filled with 
* God’s love, and praises to him that lives for evermore ; for in his light 
‘and power his blessing is received. So in that, the eternal power of 
‘the Lord Jesus Christ preserve and keep you! Live every one in the 
‘power of God, that ye may all come to be heirs of that, and know that 
‘to be your portion; even the kingdom that hath no end, and the endless 
‘life which the Seed is heir of. Feel that set over all, which hath the 

‘ promise, and blessing of God for ever. } Ge 


About this time I received some lines from a high-flown professor, 
concerning the way of Christ; to which I returned the following 
answer : 


Friend, 


‘Ir is not circumstances we contend about; but the way of Christ and 
‘his light, which are but one; though the world hath imagined many 
‘ways, and all out of the light, which by the light are condemned. He 
‘who preached this light, said, “ He that knoweth God, heareth us; he 
“ that is not of God, heareth us not: hereby know we the Spirit of truth, 
‘and the spirit of error.” It is the same now with them that know the 
*truth; though the whole world lies in wickedness. All _dispensations 

__ and differences that are not one in the light we deny ; and by the light, 


i 


‘that was before separation, do we see them to be self-separations in the 
sensual, having not the Spirit. Their fruits and end are weighed in the 


252 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1656 
; 


even balance, and found to be in the dark, the lo-here, and lo-there — 
thou tellest of; and the presence of Christ is not with them, though the 


‘blind see it not; who see not with the pure eye, which is single; but 


‘with the many eyes, which Jead into the many ways. Nor are any the ~ 


‘ people of God, but who are baptized into this principle of light; wh ch 
‘all the faithful servants of the Lord were ever guided by in all ages, 


* since the apostacy and before. For the apostacy was and is from the ~ 


‘light ; and all that oppose the light are apostates. Who contest against 


‘ the truth, are enemies to it, and are not actuated by the Spirit; but have ~ 


‘another way than the light. All such are in the world, its words, fash- 
‘ions, and customs, though of several forms, as to their worship; yet all 
‘under the god of tuis world, opposing the light and appearance of Christ, 
* which should lead out from under his power, of what form soever they 
‘are; yet are they all joined against the light. All these are of the world; 


‘and fighting against them who are not of the world; but are gathered — 


‘and gathering out of the world: so it ever was against the people of 
‘God, under what name soever. They only are saints by calling, who 


‘are called into the light; and sons of Sion, which vary not from the 


‘light, to which the Spirit is promised, which is not tied to any forms out 


‘of the light; wherein all inherit, who are co-heirs with Christ; which ~ 


‘many talk of, who inherit the earthly, instead of the heavenly. And ~ 
‘ whereas thou speakest of Christ and his apostles cloathing themselves 
‘ with the sayings and words of the prophets; and of their being your 


‘example in so doing; I say, wolves will take the sheep’s cloathing; but — 


‘the light and life finds them out, and judges not by their stolen words, 
‘but by their works. Nor did Christ cover himself with any words, but 
‘what were fulfilled in him: neither do any of Christ’s boast in other 


‘men’s lines made ready without them; to which rule if ye be obedient, © 


‘fewer words and more life will be seen among you. ‘Then ye will not 
‘count it straitness to silence the flesh; and hear what he saith, who 


‘speaks peace, “that his people turn no more to folly.” If ye once know, © 


‘that what is stolen must be restored fourfold; the mouth of the false 


‘ prophet will be stopped, which builds up in deceit, but not in righteous. 


‘ness. And whereas thou sayest, “The Spirit of truth affords nothing 
“ but endless varieties ;” I say, the Spirit of truth thou knowest not: for 
‘the Spirit of truth said, “ There is but one thing needful ;” and to speak — 
‘the same thing again is safe for the hearers; but that spirit which af- 
‘fords nothing but endless varieties, is not the Spirit of truth, but is gone 
‘out into curious notions; and the number of his names and colours 1s 
‘read no-where but in the unity of the Spirit of truth. All others call 
‘truth deceit, and deceit truth, as the blind that opposed the light ever 
‘did, who are ever learning endless varieties, but never able to come to 
‘the knowledge of the truth, nor to an end of their labours: but when 
‘they are out of one form get into another, so long as they can find a 
‘green tree without. Thus ye are kept at work all your life, and to the. 
‘ grave in sorrow, as the dumb priests, thou tellest of, have been before 
you; only ye have got a finer image, but less life. And thou, whose 
teaching hath no end, art in the horse-mill thou speakest of. I have 
read the epistles to Timothy, and to the Hebrews; and there I find, the 
‘auty of all believers is to see the law of the new ccvenant written in 
‘the heart, whereby all may know God, from the least to the greatest 


a, 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 253 


I know the holy scriptures are profitable for tie man of God; but what 
‘is that to the man of sin, to the first-born, who is cut of the light, and 


- being unstable and unlearned, wrest them to their own destruction; but 


‘to the life cannot come? And for your two ordinances thou speakest of, 
‘I say, upon the same account ye deny the priests of the world therein, 
‘we deny you; being both of you not only out of the life, but out of the 
‘form too. That command, Matt. xxviii. 19, ye never had, nor its power; 
‘ which was, “To baptize into the name of the Father, Son, and He v 
“ Ghost.” What Paul received of the Lord, that body and that bread, 
‘ ye mow as litile of, but what ye have found in the chapter; nor of the 
‘coming of Christ neither, who cannot believe his light. And whereas 
‘thou speakest of preaching Christ of envy, and pleadest for it; I say, 
‘such preachers we have enough of in these days. What else art thou 
‘doing, who sayest, Paul was sent to baptize; though Paul says, he was 
‘not: so thou wouldest prove him a liar, if any would believe thee be- 
‘fore him. Thou sayest also, “ For aught thou knowest, he might bap- 
“ tize thousands.” ‘Thou mightest as easily have said millions, and as 
‘soon have proved it. Thou mayest say the same of circumcision also, 
‘and on the same ground. As for the signs that followed those that be- 
‘lieved, which thou sayest are ceased; I say, they who cannot receive 
‘the light cannot see the signs, nor could believe them, if they should see 
‘them to carp at; no more than formerly they could do, who opposed 
‘the light in former ages. ‘They cannot properly be said to cease to 
‘such. who never had them; but have only heard or read that others 
‘long ago had them. But that the power, and signs, and presence of 
‘God is not the same that ever it was, in the measure wherein he is re- 
‘ceived in the light, that I deny; and declare it to be false, and from a 
‘spirit that knows not God, nor his power. And as for the gospel-foun- 
‘ dation thou speakest of, I say, it is to be laid again in all the world. Ye 
‘never were on it, since the man of sin set up his forms without power. 
‘ Till ye can own the light of Christ, which the saints preached, and their 
‘life and practice; for shame, cease to talk of their foundation, or glori- 
‘ous work, or quakings and tremblings, the saints’ experiences, which the 
‘world knows not, nor can own: though ye cannot read that ever any 
‘came aright to declare how they knew God, or received his word, with- 
‘out them. In thy exhortation thou biddest me, “ Love Christ whereso- 
“ever | see him.” But hadst thou told me where one might come to see 
‘him, or how one might know him, thou hadst shewn more of a christian 
‘in that than in all thou hast spoken. But it seems, ye are not all of one 


‘mind. Some of you say, “He is gone, and will be no more seen till 


“doomsday.” But if ever ye come to see Christ to your comfort, while 


‘ye oppose his light, then God hath not spoken by me. This thou shalt 
‘remember, when thy time thou hast spent. G. FY 


Great opposition did the priests and professors make about this time 
against the light of Christ Jesus,.denying it to be universally given; and 
against the pouring forth of the Spirit, and sons and daughters prophe- 
sying thereby. Much they laboured to darken the minds of people, 
that they might keep them still in a dependence on their teaching. Where- 


fore I was moved of the Lord to give forth the following lines, for the 


pening of the minds and understandings of people, and to :nanifest the 
blindness and darkness of their teachers. 


\ 


-*To you professors, priests, and teachers, who are in darkness, and 


254 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [lG5e 


‘know not the Spirit in prison, nor the light that shines in tarkness, which 
‘the darkness doth not comprehend; but are as infidels, whom the god 
“of the world hath blinded, and to whom the gospel is hid. For though 
ye have the four books, the gospel is hid to you; who are now strangin 
‘at the work of God, and do not believe that Christ hath enlightene 
‘every one that cometh into the world. To you I offer some scriptures 
‘to read, which will prove your spirits, and try them, how contrary they 
‘are to the apostles’ spirit, the Spirit of Christ and of the saints. “ Christ 
“went, and preached to the spirits in prison,” 1 Pet. iii. 19. He that 
‘ readeth, let him understand whether this was a measure of the Spirit, 
‘yea or nay, or the Spirit without measure, which he ministered to? 
“For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God; for God 
“ giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him,” Joh. iii. 34. Here Christ 
‘had not the Spirit given unto him by measure. The apostle said, “ We 
“will not boast of things without (or beyond) our measure,” 2 Cor. x. 
‘13. So here was measure, and not by measure. Christ, who received 
‘not the Spirit by measure, told his disciples he would “send them the 
“Comforter, the Spirit of truth, that he should guide them into all truth: 
“ for he should not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that 
“ shall he speak, and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify 
“me: for he shall receive of mine, and shew it unto you,” Joh. xvi. 13, 
‘14, Mind, read, and learn; the Comforter shall receive of mine, saith 
‘Christ, and shall shew it unto you: who hath the measure, receives of | 
‘his who hath not by measure. The Comforter, when he comes, is to 
‘reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, ver. 8. 
‘ Now mind the great work of God: the Spirit of truth, which leads the 
‘ saints into all truth, which receives of Christ’s, and shews it unto the 
‘ disciples, who are in the measure, he shall reprove the world of sin 
‘because they do not believe, &c. - The Comforter, whom Christ will 
‘send, takes of his, and shews it to the disciples ; the same reproves the - 
scpotids Mind now, whether this be a measure, yea or nay, which comes - 
‘from him who received not the Spirit by measure? He that leads the 
‘ believer into all truth, reproves the unbeliever in the world, of sin, of 
‘ righteousness, and of judgment. He that is led into all truth, sees that 
‘ which is reproved, by the Spirit of truth that leads him. Christ saith, 
“ He shall take of mine, and shew it unto you.” Is this a measure, yea ~ 
‘or nay, from him whom God gave the Spirit not by measure unto ? 
‘Again the Lord said, both by his prophet, Joel 11. 28, and his apos- 
‘tle, Acts ii. 17, 18. “Jt shall come to pass in the last days, I will pour 
“out of my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall 
“ prophesy, your young men shail see visions, and your old men shall 
“dream dreams: and on my servants and on my hand-maidens I will 
‘pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” Look, 
ye deceivers; here the Lord saith, he will pour of his Spirit: mark the 
‘word of the Lord’s Spirit upon all flesh. What! young men, old men 
sons and daughters, and maids, all these to have the Spirit of God pour- 
ed upon them? Here, say they, these deny the means then. Nay, 
that’s the means. And the great and notable day of the Lord is com- 
ing, wherein it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the 
name of the Lord shall be saved. The God of the spirits of all flesh is 
known: and, saith the apostle, who would not boast of things beyond 
his measure, “ That which may be known of God, is manifest in them; 
for God hath shewed it unto them,” Rom. i. 19. By this which was of 


656] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 255 


God mazu.ifest in them, they knew covetousness, malice, murder, deceit, 
and ungodliness; knew that the judgments of God were upon such 
‘things; and that they were worthy of death; not only that did the 
‘same, but who had pleasure in them that did them. Therefore, said the 
‘apostle, “ the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungod- 
“ liness and unrighteousness of men,” &c. Now this of God manifest in 
‘them, which God shewed unto them, by which they know unrighteous- 

ness, and God’s judgments thereupon, and that they which commit such 
‘things are worthy of death; whether this be a measure, yea or nay 
‘which is of God, and which he hath shewed to them? What was that 
‘in them, that “did by nature the things contained in the law, which 
* shewed the work of the law written in their hearts,” Rom. ii. 14, 15. 
‘ Mark, “ written:” shall not this judge them that have the outward law, 
‘ but are out of the life of it? The apostle saith, “ The manifestation of the 
“ Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,” 1 Cor. xii. 7. There are 
‘ diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; the manifestation of it is given 
‘to “every man,” to profit withal. Mark, “To one is given by the 
“ Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the 
“same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts 
“of healing by the same Spirit: to another the working of miracles; 
“to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another 
“divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but 

‘all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every 
“ man severally as he will.” Mark that, To every man severally as he 
‘will. 

‘ Again the apostle saith, “ The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, 
‘ hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and 
“worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this 
“present world,” Tit. ii. 11,12. Now ye that turn from this grace, 
‘which brings salvation, into lasciviousness, ye deny it, and say, that 
‘which teacheth the saints, who by grace are saved, hath not appeared 
‘to all men. Jude saith, “ Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands 
« of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are 
‘ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have un- 
“godly committed, and of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sin- 
“ners have spoken against him,” ver.15. Here mark again; him that 
‘ cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to convince all of their ungodly 
‘deeds »nd hard speeches: here it is, att of their ungodly deeds; and 
‘att of their hard speeches; none left out, but atx to be convinced and 
‘judged. the world reproved, by him who comes with ten thousands of 
‘his saints, and will reign, and be king and judge. And have not ye all 
‘something in you, that doth reprove you for your hard speeches, and 

your ungodly deeds, the ungodliest of you all, who live in your hard 

speeches against him, and against his light and spiritual appearance in 
‘his people? 

‘ Again, the apostle, writing to the Gentiles, saith, “ But unto every 
“one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of 
“Christ,” Ephes. iv. 7. Now mark, Here is the measure of the gift of 
‘Christ. “who lighteth every man that cometh into the world,” Joh. i. 9. 
“that all men through him might believe. He that believeth on him is not 
' “condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned, &c. And this is 
“the condemnation, that light is come into the world,” &c. Joh. iii. 18 

19. Now every man that cometh into the world being enlightened 


256 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. (1656 


‘one loveth it, and brings his deeds to the light, that with the light he 
‘may see whether they be wrought in God: the other hates the ligh., 
“ because his deeds are evil;’” he will not bring his deeds to the light, be- 
“cause he knows the light will reprove him. So he that hates the light, 
‘wherewith Christ hath enlightened him, knows the light will reprove 
‘him for his evil deeds; and therefore he will not come to the light. 

‘ Again, the Lord by his prophet saith concerning Christ, “ I will give 
“him for a light to the Gentiles, that he may be my salvation to the ends 
“of the earth,” Isa. xlix. 6. And what is that which the children, that 
‘ walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of 
‘the power of the air, the “spirit that now worketh in the children of 
* disobedience,” Ephes. ii. 2. are disobedient to? Mark, and read your- 
‘selves, who, being disobedient, walk according to the course of this 
‘ world, according to the prince of the power of the air; Mark, I say, 
‘ what it is that all such are disobedient to? He that hath an ear, let 
‘him hear. The apostle saith to the Colossians, “ The wrath of God 
“cometh upon the children of disobedience,” Col. iii. 6. Come, ye pro- 
‘ fessors, let us see, Is not this something of God that is disobeyed? Is it 
‘not that which is of God manifest in them, which God hath shewed 
‘them, which lets them see God’s judgments are upon such, when they 
‘act unrighteously! Is not this the measure of God, the Spirit that is in 
‘prison? and the Spirit of God that is grieved? 

‘ And ye professors, come, let us read the parable of the talents, and 
‘reckon with you, and see who it is that hath hid the Lord’s money in 
‘the earth? Come, ye that have gained, enter ye into your master’s joy. 
‘Go, thou that hast hid the Lord’s money in the earth, into utter dark- 
‘ness; take it from him, and give it to him that hath:” every man shall 
‘have his reward. For the Lord hath given to “every man according 
“to his several ability,” Mat. xxv. 15. Mark that, “ To every man ac- 
“cording to his several ability:” Read this, if you can. Now is the 
‘Lord coming to call every man severally to account, to whom he hath 
‘ given severally, according to their ability. Now the wicked and sloth- 
‘ful servant, who hid the Lord’s money in the earth, will be found out 5 
‘and the Lord’s money will be taken from him, although he hath hidden’ 
‘it. To nim the Lord’s commands have been grievous; but to us they 
‘ are not, who love God and keep his commandments. “ And,” saith the 
‘apostle to the Romans, “I say, through the grace given unto me, to 
“every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than 
‘ ae ought to think: but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to. 
“every man the measure of faith,” Rom. xii. 3. Read and mark, here 
‘is a measure of faith. i 

“ And,” saith another apostle, “as every man hath received the gift, 
“even so minister the same one to another, as stewards of the manifold 
“ grace of God,” 1 Pet. iv. 10. “For the grace of God hath appeared 
“to all men.” The good stewards can give their account with joy: but 
‘ye bad stewards, that turn from the grace of God into lasciviousness, 
‘ye will be reckoned withal; ye shall have your reward. “ But,” sa 
‘the world, “ must every one minister as he hath received the gift!” 
* Yea, say I, “ but let him speak as the oracles of God; and let him d 
“it as of the ability which God giveth,” ver. 11. John in the Revela- 

tion saith, “ They were judged every man according to their works,’ 
Rev. xx. 13. Christ saith, “ Every idle word that men shall speak, the 
“shall give account thereof in the day of judgment,” Matt. xii. 36 


So ee 


165* GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 257 


“ Ye that name the name of Christ, depart from iniquity,” 2 Tim. i. 19 
“The Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his an- 
“ gels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works,” 
‘ Matt. xvi. He who is gone into a far country, and hath given talents 

to every one of you, according to your several ability, “ will render to 
“every man according to his deeds,” Rom. ii. 6. ‘“ And further I say 
“unto you, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his: 
‘ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit 
‘is life, because of righteousness,” Rom. vill. 9,10. So let the light, 

which cometh from Christ, examine; for the Lord is appearing. Ye 
‘that have received according to your ability, smite not your fellow- 
‘servant. Think not that the Lord delayeth the time of his coming. 
* Be not as they that said, “ Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall 
Bac. 

‘The apostle tells the Ephesians, that unto him “this grace was given 
‘—to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from 
“the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all 
“things by Jesus Christ,” Eph. ii. 9, Read and understand every one 
‘with the light which comes from Christ, the mystery; which will be 
* your condemnation, if ye believe not in it. This is to all who stumble 
‘at the work of the Spirit of God, the manifestation of it, “which is 
“ siven to every man to profit withal.” Come, ye professors, who stum- 
‘ble at it; let us read the parables. “A sower went forth to sow; and 
“some seed fell on the highway ground, and some on stony ground, and 
“some on thorny ground: the seed is the Word, the Son of Man is the 
“seedsman. He that hath an ear, let him hear,” Mat. xiii. Now look, 
‘all ye professors, what ground ye are? And what ye nave brought 
‘forth? And whether the wicked seedsman hath not got his seed into 
*your ground? “ He that hath an ear, let him hear it.” And come, 
*read another parable of the householder hiring labourers to go into the 
“vineyard, and agreeing with every man for a penny, Mat. xx. Every 
‘man is to have his penny; the last that went in, as well as the first: 
“ and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last; for many are call- 
“ed, but few are chosen. He that hath an ear, let him hear.” There 

_* was a query put to Cain. “If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accept- 
“ed?” Gen. iv. 7. And Esau had a birthright, but despised it. Yet it 
‘is not “ of him that willeth,” Rom. ix. 16. but “by grace ye are saved,” 
«Ephes. ii. 8. And stand still, and see your salvation. Exod. xiv. 13. 
*And ye that are children of light, put on the armour of light, that ye 
‘may come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son 
*uf God ; unto a “ perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the ful- 
“ness of Christ: that henceforth ye be no more children tossed to and 
_ fro,” Eph. iv. 13. 

‘The Lord said, he would make a new covenant, by “ writing his law 
| “in people’s hearts, and putting his Spirit in their inward parts,” where- 
| *by they should all come to know the Lord, by whom the world was 
*made. Now every one of you mind the law written in your hearts, 
| ‘and this Spirit put in your inward parts, that it need not be said to you, 
“ Know the Lord :” but that ye may witness the promise of God fulfilled 
fin you. But, say the world and professors, “If every one must come 
* to witness the law of God written in their hearts, and the Spirit put in 
‘the inward parts, “ what must we do with all our teachers!” As we 


rr come to witness that, we need not any man to teach us to know the 
ms VAG 5 | 
es 


258 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL : [1686 | 


‘Lord, having his law written in our hearts, and his Spirit put in our 
‘inward parts. ‘This is the covenant of life, the everlasting covenant, 
‘which decays not, nor changes not: and here is the way to the Father, 
‘ without which no man cometh unto the Father. Here is the everlasting 
‘ priesthood, the end of the old priesthood, whose lips were to preserve 
‘ knowledge ; but now, saith Christ, “ Learn of me :” who is the high-priest 
‘of the new priesthood. And, saith the apostle, “That ye may grow up 
“in the knowledge of Tesi Christ, in whom are hid the treasures of 
« wisdom and know ledge.” So we are brought off from the old priest 
*hood that did change, to Christ, to the new priesthood that doth not 
‘change; off from the first covenant that doth decay, to the everlasting 
‘covenant that doth not decay, Christ Jesus, the Covenant of Light, 
‘from whom every one of you have a light, that ye might believe in the 
‘Covenant of Light. If ye do not believe, ye are condemned ; for light 
‘is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, be-_ 
‘cause their deeds are evil. “Iam come a light into the world,” saith 
‘ Christ, “ that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darkness, — 
“ but have the light of life,” John xii. 46. “ Believe in the light, that ye 
“may be children of the light.” Ye who do not believe in the light. but 
‘hate it because it manifests your deeds to be evil, ye are condemned by 
‘the light. Therefore while ye have time, prize it. Seek the Lord 
‘while he may be found, and call upon him while he is nigh; lest ye 
‘say, “ Time is past:” for the rich glutton’s time was past. Therefore, 
‘ while time is not quite past, consider, search yourselves, and see if you 
‘be not they that hate the light, and so are builders that stumble at the 
‘corner-stone; for they that hated the light, and did not believe in the 
‘light, did so in ages past. “I am the light of the world,” saith Christ, 
“ who,” the apostle saith, “ doth enlighten every man that cometh into 
“the world.” Christ tie saith, “ Learn of me;” and of him God saith, 
“This is my beloved Son, hear ye him.” Here is your Teacher. But 
‘ye that hate the light do not learn of Christ, will not have him to be 
‘your king to reign over you; him to whom all power in heaven and 
‘earth is given, who bears his government upon his shoulders, who is 
‘now come to reign, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, 
‘who will give to every man a reward according to his works, whether 
‘they be good or evil. So every man, with the light that comes from 
‘Christ, will see his deeds, both he that hates it and he that loves it. And 
‘he that will not bring his deeds to the light, because the light will re- 
*nrove him, that is his condemnation; and he shall have a reward ac- 
‘cording to his deeds. For the Lord is come to reckon with you. He 
‘looks for fruits; the axe is laid to your root; and every tree of you, 
that bears not good fruit, must be hewn down and cast into the fire. 


°G. ES 


- 4 

Having staid some time in London, and visited the meetings of friends 
' in and about the city, and cleared myself of what services the Lor 
had at that time laid upon me there, I left the town and travelled into 
Kent, Sussex, and Surry, visiting friends; amongst whom I had greai 
meetings, and often met ‘with opposition from Baptists and other jangling 
professors ; but the Lord’s power went over them. 4 

We lay one night at Farnham, where we had a little meeting. TI 

people were exceeding rude; but at last the Lord’s power came ove 
them. After meeting we went to our inn, and gave notice, ‘ That 


| nay 


1656] GEORGE FOX’S JOUNAL. 259 


‘who feared God might come to our inn to us.’. There came abundance 
of rude people, the magistrates of the town, and some professors. J 
declared the truth to them; and those of the people taat behaved them- 
selves rudely, the magistrates put out of the room. When they were 
gone, another rude company of professors came up, and some of the 
chief of the town. They called for faggots and drink, though we for- 
bad them, and were as rude a people as ever I met withal. The Lord’s 
power chained them, that they had not power to do us any mischief; 

_ but when they went away they left all the faggots and beer, which they 
had ealled for into the room, for us to pay for in the morning. We 
shewed the innkeeper what an unworthy thing it was; but he told us, 
“ We must pay it;” and pay it we did. Before we left the town, I 
wrote to the magistrates and heads of the town, and to the priest, 
shewing them how he had taught his people, and laying before them 
their rude and uncivil carriage to strangers that sought their good. 

Leaving that place we came to Basingstoke, a very rude town; where 
they had formerly very much abused friends. There I had a meeting 
in the evening, which was quiet; for the Lord’s power chained the un- 
truly. At the close of the meeting I was moved to put off my hat, and 
to pray to the Lord to open their understandings; upon which they raised 
a report, ‘ That I put off my hat to them, and bid them good night,’ 
which was never in my heart. After the meeting, when we came to our 
inn, I sent for the innkeeper, as I used to do; and he came into the 
room to us, and shewed himself a very rude man. I admonished him 
to be sober, and fear the Lord; but he called for faggots and a pint of 
wine, and drank it off himself; then called for another, and called up 
half a dozen men into our chamber. Thereupon I bid him go out of 
the chamber, and told him he should not drink there; for we sent for 
him up to speak to him concerning his eternal good. He was exceeding 
mad, rude, and drunk. When he continued his rudeness and would not 
be gone, I told him, ‘The chamber was mine for the time I lodged-in it? 
and called for the key. Then he went away ina rage. In the morning 
he would not be seen; but I told his wife of his unchristian carriage to- 
wards us. 

After this we came to Bridport, having meetings in the way. .We 
went to an inn, and sent into the town for such as feared God; and 
there came a shopkeeper, a professor, and put off his hat to us: and see- 
ing we did not the like to him again, but said Thou and Thee to him, he 

_ told us, ‘ He was not of our religion ;’ and after some discourse he went 
away. After awhile he sent to the inn to us, to desire us ‘to come to 
- this house, for some would speak with us.’ Thomas Curtis went to his 
_ house; where when he came, the man had got the priest and magistrates 
thither, and they boasted much that they had catched George Fox, 
taking him for me. When they perceived their mistake they were very 
angry yet the Lord’s power came over them, so that they let him go 
again. Mean while I had an opportunity of speaking to some sober 
_ people that came to the inn. Wnen Thomas was returned, and we were 
passing out of the town, some came to us and said, ‘ The officers were 
‘coming to fetch me;’ but the Lord’s power was over them, so that they 
had not power to touch me. There were some convinced in the town 
who were turned to the Lord, and have stood faithful in their testimony 
to the truth ever since, and a fine meeting is settled there. 
_ Passing from hence we visited Portsrnouth and Pool, where we had 


260 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (165: 


glorious meetings; and many were turned to tne Lord. At Ring- 
wood we had a large general meeting, where the Lord’s power was — 
over all. At Weymouth we had a meeting: and from thence came 
through Dorchester to Lime, where the inn we went to was taken up — 
with mountebanks, so that there was hardly any room for us or our 
horses. In the evening we drew up some queries concerning the ground 
of all diseases, and the nature and virtues of medicinable creatures, and 
sent them to the mountebanks; letting them know, ‘If they would not 
answer them, we would stick them on the cross next day.’ This 
brought them down and made them cool, for they could not answer 
them; but in the morning they reasoned a little with us. We left the 
queries with some friendly people that were convinced in the town, to 
stick upon the market-cross. The Lord’s power reached some of the 
sober people in that place, who were turned by the Light and Spirit of — 
Christ to his free teaching. 

We then travelled to Exeter ; and at the Seven Stars, an inn at the - 
bridge foot, we had a general meeting of friends out of Cornwall and 
Devonshire; to which came Humphry Lower, Thomas Lower, and John 
Ellis from the Land’s-end, Henry Pollexfen, with friends from Plymouth, 
Elizabeth Trelawny, and divers other friends. A blessed heavenly meet- 
ing we had, and the Lord’s everlasting power came over all; in which 
I saw, and said, ‘ That the Lord’s power had surrounded this nation 
‘round about as with a wall and bulwark, and his seed reached from sea 
‘to sea.’ Friends were established in the everlasting seed of life, Christ — 
Jesus, their life, rock, teacher, and shepherd. 

The next morning, major Blackmore sent soldiers to apprehend me; 
but I was gone before they came. As I was riding up the street, I saw — 
the officers going down. So the Lord crossed their design, and friends 
passed away peaceably and quietly. The soldiers examined some friends _ 
after I was gone, ‘What they did there?’ but when they told them, 
‘ They were in their inn, and had business in the city,’ they passed away 
without meddling any further with them. 

From Exeter I took meetings as I went, till I came to Bristol; and 
was at the meeting there. After it was done I did not stay in the town, © 
but passed into Wales, and had a meeting at the Slone. Thence going ~ 
to Cardiff, a justice of peace sent to me, desiring, ‘1 would come with ; 
‘half a dozen of my friends to his house.’ So I took a friend or two and 
went to him, and he and his wife received us very civilly. The next day 
we had a meeting in Cardiff in the town-hall; to which that justice sent ~ 
about seventeen of his family. There came some disturbers, but the 
Lord’s power was over them; and many were turned to the Lord. To 
some who had run out with James Nayler, and forsook meetings, I h 
to send word, ‘ That the day of their visitation was over: and they 
never prospered after. - _ . 

We travelled from Cardiff to Swansea, where we had a blessed mzet- 
ing; and 1 meeting was settled there in the name of Jesus. In our way 
thither we passed over in a passage-boat with the high sheriff of the 
county. The next day I went to have spoken with him, but he refused. 

We went to another meeting in the country; where the Lord’s pres- 
ence was much with us. From thence we went to a great man’s house 
who received us very lovingly; but the next morning he would not be seen” 
one, that in the mean time came to him, had so estranged him, that we 
could not get to speak with him again. 


wee 


2 <u 


“So 


_— 


‘ 
; 


.657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 261 


We passed through the countries, having meetings, and gathering peo 
ple in the name of Christ, their heavenly teacher, till we came to Breck- 
nock; where we set up our horses at an inn. There went with me Tho- 
mas Holmes, and John-ap-John, who was moved of the Lord to ‘ speak 
‘in the streets.’ I walked out but a little into the fields; and when I re- 
turned the town was in an uproar. When I came into the chamber in 
the inn, it was full of people, and they were speaking in Welch. I de- 
sired them to speak in English, which they did; and much discourse we 
had. After awhile they went away. Towards night the magistrates 
gathered in the streets with a multitude of people, and they bid them 
shout, and gathered up the town; so that, for about two hours together, 
there was such a noise as the like we had not heard; and the magistrates 
set them on to shout again when they had given over. We thought it 
looked like the uproar, which we read was amougst Diana’s craftsmen. 
This tumult continued till it was within night, and if the Lord’s power 
had not limited them, they seemed likely to have pulled down the house, 
and us to pieces. 

At night the woman of the house would have’ had us go to supper in 
another room; but we, discerning her plot, refused. Then she would 
have had half a dozen men come into the room to us, under pretence of 
discoursing with us. We told her, ‘ No person should come into our 
“room that night, neither would we go to them. Then she said, we should 


“and to answer the objections which they stuck at in their profession (for 
‘I knew them very well;) and to turn them to Christ, who had enlight- 
‘ened them; with which light they might see the sins and trespasses they 
‘had been dead in, and their Saviour who came to redeem them out of 
‘them, who was to be their way to God, the truth and the life to them, 
‘and their priest made higher than the heavens; so that they might come 
“to sit under his teaching.’ A peaceable meeting we had: many were 
convinced, and settled in the truth that day. After the meeting, I went 
with Walter Jenkin to the other justices, who said to me, ‘ You have this 
‘day given great satisfaction to the people, and answered all the objec 
‘tious that were in their minds.’ For the people had the scriptures, but 
they were not turned to the Spirit, which should let them see that which 
gave them forth, the Spirit of God, which is the key to open them. 

From hence we passed to Richard Hamborow’s at Pontemoil, where 
was a great meeting; to which there came another justice, and several 
great people; whose understandings were opened by the Lord’s Spirit 
and power, and they were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, from whence 
it came. A great convincement there was; a large mezting is gathered 
in those parts, and settled in the name of Jesus. 


262 : GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 7165? 


After this returning to England, we came to Shrewsbury, where we 
had a great meeting; and visited friends up and down the country in 
their meetings, till we came to William Gandy’s, in Cheshire, where we 
had a meeting of between two and three thousand people, as it was 
thought; and the everlasting word of life was held forth, and received 
) that day. A blessed meeting it was; for friends were settled by the power 
of God upon Jesus Christ, the rock and foundation. 

At this time there was a great drought; and afier this general meet 
-ng was ended there fell so great a rain, that friends said, they thought 
we could not travel, the waters would be so risen. But I believed the 
rain had not gone so far as they had come that day to the meeting. The 
next day in the afternoon, when we turned back into some parts of Wales 
again, the ways were dusty, and no rain had fallen thereabouts. 

When Oliver Cromwell set forth a proclamation for a fast throughout 
the nation for rain, in a very great drought, it was observed, that as far 
as truth had spread in the north, there were pleasant showers and rain 
enough; yet the south, in many places, was almost spoiled for want of 
rain. At that time I was moved to write an answer to the Protector’s 
proclamation; wherein I told him: ‘If he had come to own God’s truth, 
‘he should have had rain; and that drought was to them a sign of their 
‘barrenness, and want of the water of life.’ 

About the same time was wrote the following paper to ‘distinguish 
‘betwixt the true and false fasts.’ 7 


Concerning the true Fasts and the false. 


‘To all you that are keeping fasts, who “ smite with the fist of wick- 
“ edness, and fast for strife and debate ;” against you hath the voice cried 
‘aloud, like a trumpet, that you may come to know the true fast which 
‘is accepted, and the fast which is in the strife and the debate, and 
“smiting with the fist of wickedness :” which fast is not required of the 
‘Lord. “ Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exac 
“all your labour: behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with 
“the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast, as ye do this day, to make 
“your voice known on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen,” saith 
‘the Lord,‘ a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his 
“head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth under him? Wilt thou call 
“ this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?” 

‘ Consider all you that fast, see if it be not “ hanging down the head 
“for a day like a bulrush,” and fasting for “ strife and debate,” and to 
‘smite with the fists of wickedness, to make your voice to be known on 
“high?” But this fast is not accepted with the Lord; but that which 
‘leads you from strife, from debate, from wickedness; which is not the 
“bowing down of the head as a bulrush for a day,” and yet live in ex 

acting and pleasure; this is not accepted with the Lord: but that which 
‘ separates from all these before-mentioned. That which separates fron: 
“ wickedness, debate, strife, pleasures, smiting with the fist of wicked 
“ ness,” brings to know the true fast, which “ breaks the bonds of iniquity, 
“and deals bread to the hungry; brings the poor that are cast out to his 
‘own house ; and when he sees any naked he covers them, and hides 
“not himself from his own flesh.” Here is the true fast which separates 
from them, where the bonds of iniquity are standing, the heavy bur 
thens of the oppressed remaining, and the yoke not broken; who ae 
not bread to the hungry, and bring not the poor to their own house 


1657) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 263 
‘and see the naked but let him go unclothed, and hide themselves from 


their own lesh. Yet such will make their voice to be heard on high 
as Christ speaks of the pharisees, who “ sounded a trumpet before them 
‘and disfigured their faces,” to appear to men to fast; but the bonds of 
iniquity were standing, strife and debaie was standing, striking with the 
fists of wickedness standing; those made their voice heard on high, 
who had their reward.’ 

‘ But that which brings to the true fast, which appears not to men to 

fast, but unto the Father, “ who sees in secret; the Father that seeth in 
' secret shall reward this openly.” This fast separates from the phari- 
sees’ fast, and them that “ bow the head for a day like a bulrush.” This 
is it which brings “to deal bread to the hungry, and to clothe thine 
‘own flesh when thou seest them naked, to bring the poor to thine 
- house, and to loose the bonds of wickedness:” mark, this is the fast; 
and “to undo every heavy burden (mark again) and to let the oppress- 
‘ed go free;” this is the fast: and “to break every yoke.” When thou 
observest this fast, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, 
“and thine health shall spring forth speedily, and thy righteousness shall 
* 90 before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rere-ward. Then 
“ shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall 
“say, Here 1 am: if thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, 
“the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity: and if thou draw 
“ out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted scul, then shall thy 
“ight arise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon-day.” The 
‘light brings to know this fast; and walking in it, this fast is kept: and 
‘he that believeth in the light, abides not in darkness. Aud again ; 
* The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, 
“and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and 
«like a spring of water, whose waters fail not,” Isa. lviii. 11. These are 
they that are guided with the light, which comes from Christ where 
the springs are. 

‘ And again: “ They that shall be of thee (that keep this fast) shall 
‘build the old waste places, and thou shalt raise up the foundation of 
‘many generations; and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, 
“ the restorer of paths to dwell in,” Isa. lviii. 12. Now that which gives 
‘to see the foundation of many generations, is the light which separates 
‘ from all that which is out of the light; and they that go out of the light, 


_ ‘though they may pretend a fast, and bowing down the head for a time: 


‘yet they are far from this fast, that doth raise up the foundation of 
‘many generations, and is the repairer of the breach, and restorer of 
‘the paths to dwell in. That which doth give to see this foundation of 
many generations, and these breaches that are to be repaired and re- 
‘stored, and paths to dwell in, is the light which brings to know the true 
‘fast; and where this fast is known, which is from wickedness, from 
‘ debate, from strife, from pleasures, from exacting, from the voice that 
is heard on high, from the speaking of vanity, from the bonds of ini- 
quity, which breaks every yoke, and lets the oppressed go free; here 
the health grows, here the morning is known, righteousness goes forth ; 
the glory of the Lord is the rere-ward, the light riseth, the soul is 
drawu out to the hungry, and satisfies the afflicted soul; and the springs 
of living water are known and felt. The waters fail not here; the 
Lord guides continually, and the foundation of many generat‘ons 


264 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [165" 


‘comes to be seen and raised up: the repairer of breaches is here wit- 


‘nessed, the restorer of paths to dwell in. 

‘ But all such as are out of the light which the prephets were in, with 
‘which they saw Christ, and such to be in fasts where was strife, where 
‘ was wickedness, where was debate, where was “ bowing the head like 
“a bulrush for a day,” lifting their voice on high, and the bonds of wick- 
‘edness yet standing, the burdens unloosed, the oppressed not let go free 
‘the yoke not broken, the nakedness not clothed, the bread not dealt to 
‘the hungry, and this foundation of many generations not raised up: 

until these things before-mentioned be broken down, on such the light 

breaks not forth as the morning, and the Lord hears them not. Such 
‘have their reward; their iniquities have separated them from their God, 
‘their sins have hid his face from them that he will not hear, their hands 
_ are defiled with blood, and their fingers with iniquity ; whose lips have 
‘spoken lies, and tongues have mutiered perverseness. “ None calleth 
“for justice, nor any plead for truth; they trust in vanity and speak lies, 
“they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. ‘They hatch cocka- 
“ trice eggs, and weave the spider’s web; he that eateth of their eggs, 
“dies, and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper; their webs 
“shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with 
“their works.” Mark and take notice: “ Their works are works of in- 
“iquity, and the act of violence is in their hands: their feet run to do 


“evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are ~ 


“ thoughts of iniquity, wasting and destruction are in their paths; the 
* way of peace they know not, and there is no judgment in their goings. 
‘ They have made them a crooked path; whosoever goes therein shall 
‘not know peace:” mark: such go from the light, therefore is judgment 
far off, neither doth justice overtake. Here is obscurity, here is the 
‘walking in darkness, here is the groping like blind men, as though they 
had no eyes, and their stumbling at noon-day in desolate places, like 
‘blind men. Here is the roaring like bears, and mourning sorely like 
doves; here judgment is looked for, but there is none, and salvation is 
put far off: for the light is denied, which gives to see it. But here is 
the multiplying of transgression, and their sins testifying against them, 
and the transgression that was within them, and their iniquities which 
they knew in transgressing and lying against the Lord, speaking the 
things they should not; when they knew by that of God in them, they 
should not speak it. So departing from the way of God, speaking op- 
pression, revolting, conceiving and uttering forth from the heart words 
‘of falsehood; here judgment is turned away backward, and justice 
‘ stands afar off: truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter. 
‘ Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil, makes himself a 
‘prey! The Lord saw it, and it displeased him. ‘These are such as are 
mn the fast which God doth not accept; and are not in the true fast, 
‘whose “light breaks forth as the morning:” but these are such as are 
m the false fast, who grope like blind men. 

‘That which gives to know the true and false fast, is the light, which 
gives the eye to see each fast; where the true judgment is, and the in- 
iquity standeth not, nor the transgressor, nor the speaker of lies: but 
tnat is judged and condemned with the light, which makes it mani- 
fest. And those who are in this fast, when they call upon the Lord, the 
Lord will answer them, “Here am I.” Here truth is pleaded for and 
falsehood flies away. But they who are out of this fast in the perverse _ 


t 
16571 GEORGE FOX’S JOURN AL. 265 


* ness, their tongues uttering perverse things, are stumbling and groping 

like blind men, out of the light, in the iniquity which separates trom 
‘God, who hides his face from them that he will not hear: going from 
‘the light, they go from the Lord and his face. So this is it which must 
‘be fasted from, for this it is which separates from God: and here comes 
‘the reward openly, which condemns all that which is contrary to the 
‘light; injustice, iniquity, transgression, vanity, that which brings forth 
‘ mischief ; which hatcheth the cockatrice-eggs, and weaves the spider’s 
* web: he that eateth of these eggs, dies. Mark, that “ which is crush- 
“ed breaks out into a viper.” Mark again, “ Their webs shall not be- 
“come garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works 
“of vanity: acts of violence are in their hands.” This is all from the 
‘light, in the wickedness. “Their feet run to do evil, and they make 
“haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of vanity ; 
“ wasting and destruction is in their path.” This is all far from the light. 
* Again: “ The way of peace they know not, there is no judgment in 
“their goings: they have made them crooked paths, whosoever goes 
“therein shall not know peace.” Mark; who goes in their way, that 
‘know not the way of peace, shall they know peace? “ Whose path is 
“ crooked, where there is no judgment in their goings:” take notice, 
* No judgment in their goings:” This is all from the light, which mani- 
‘festeth that which is to be judged; where the covenant of peace is 
‘known, where all that which is contrary to it is kept out. All who live 
‘in those things contrary to the light, in the false fast, may mark their 
‘path, and behold their reward; who are out of the light, stumbling and 
‘ groping like blind men. They that be in the true fast are separated 
‘from all these; their words, their actions and fruits, and their fast; but 
“to those whose fast breaks the bonds of iniquity, whom the Lord hears, 
‘and to whom righteousness springs forth, and goes before them, the 
* glory of the Lord is their rere-ward. G. F? 


We passed into Wales through Montgomeryshire, and so into Rad- 
norshire, where there was a meeting like a leaguer, for multitudes. I 
walked a little aside, whilst the people were gathering: and there came 

_ to me John-ap-John, a Welshman, whom I desired to go to the people ; 
and if he had any thing upon him from the Lord to them, he might 
speak in Welsh, and thereby gather more together. Then came Mor- 
gan Watkins to me, who was become loving to friends, and said, ‘ The 
‘people lie like a leaguer, and the gentry of the country are come in.’ 
I bade him go up also, and leave me; for I had a great travail upon me 
for the salvation of the people. When they were well gathered, I went 
into the meeting, and stood upon a chair about three hours. I stood a 
pretty while, before I began to speak: after some time I felt the power 
of the Lord‘over the whole assembly: and his everlasting life and truth 
shined over all. ‘The scriptures were opened to them, and the objec- 
‘tions they had in their minds answered. They were directed to the 
_ iignt of Christ, the heavenly man; that by it they might see their sins, 
‘and (Christ Jesus to be their Saviour, their Redeemer, their Mediator, 
“and come to feed upon him, the bread of life from heaven. Many were 
“turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to his free teaching that day ; and 
| fall were bowed down under the power of God; so that though the 
‘multitude was so great that many sat on horseback to hear, there was 

no opposition. A priest sat with his wife on horseback, heard atten 
; 2] 


= 


266 *SORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. : (1651 


‘tively, and maae no objection. The people parted peaceably, with 
‘great satisfaction; many of them saying, they never heard such a 
‘sermon before, nor the scriptures so opened. For the new covenant 
‘ was opened, and the old, the nature and terms of each, and the para- 

bles were explained. The state of the church in the apostles’ days was 
‘set forth, the apostacy since laid open; and the free teaching of Christ 
‘and the apostles was set atop of all the hireling teachers; and the Lord 
‘had the praise of all, for many were turned to him that day.’ 

I went from thence to Leominster, where was a great meeting in a 
close; many hundreds of people being gathered together. There were 
about six congregational preachers and priests amongst the people; and 
Thomas Taylor, who had been a priest, but was now become a minister 
of Christ Jesus, was with me. I stood up, and declared about three 
hours; and none of the priests were able to open their mouths in oppo- 
sition; the Lord’s power and truth so reached and bound them. At 
length one priest went off about a bow-shot from me; drew several of — 
the people after him, and began to preach to them. So I kept our meet- 
ing, and he kept his. After awhile Thomas Taylor was moved to go 
and speak to him; upon which he gave over: and he, with the people» 
he had drawn off, came to us again; and the Lord’s power went over 
all. At last a Baptist, that was convinced, said,‘ Where’s priest Tombs? 
‘how chance he doth not come out?’ This Tombs was priest of Leo- 
minster. Hereupon some went and told the priest; who came with the 
bailiffs and other officers of the town. When he was come, they set 
him upon a stool over against me. I was speaking of the heavenly, 
divine light of Christ, which he ‘ enightens every one withal that cometh 
‘into the world; to give them the knowledge of the glory of God in the 
| * face of Christ Jesus their Saviour... When priest Tombs heard this, he 
» cried out, ‘ That is a natural light, and a made light.’ Then I desired 
._ the people to take out their~bibles;“and asked the priest, ‘ Whether he 
‘did affirm that was a created, natural, made light, which John, a man 
‘sent from God, bore witness to, when he said, “In him (to wit, in the 
“ Word) was life, and that life was the light of men,” John i. 4. Dost 
‘thou athrm and mean, said I, that this light here spoken of was a created 
‘natural, made light? He said, Yes. Then I shewed by the scriptures, 
‘that the natural, created, made light is the outward light in the out 
‘ward firmament proceeding from the sun, moon, and stars. “ And 
“ dost thou afhirm,” said I, that God sent John to bear witness to t 
“light of the sun, moon, and stars?” Then said he, “ Did I say so? 
‘I replied, “ Didst thou not say it was a natural, created, made ligh 
“that John bore witness unto? If thou dost not like thy words, take 
“them again, and mend them.” Then he said “ That light, which I spoke 
“of, was a natural, created light.” I told him, He had not at all mend. 

ed his cause; for that light, which I spoke of, was the very same thai 

John was sent of God to bear witness to; which was the life in the 

Word, by which all the natural lights, sun, moon, and stars, were made 
- In him (to wit, the Word) was life, and that life was the light of 
“men.” 1 directed the people to turn to the place in their bibles, and 
recited to them the words of John, “In the beginning was the Word 
* and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same 
“ was in the beginning with God: All things were made by him, ané 
“ without him. was not any thing made that was made.’ (So all uatural 
erated lights were made by Christ the Word.) ‘In 1im was life enc 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 267 


‘ the life was the light of men: and that was the true light which Lght- 
eth every man that cometh into the world.’ And Christ saith of him- 
self, John viii. 12. ‘I am the light of the world: and bids them ‘ be- 
lieve in the light,’ John xii. 36. And God said oY him by the prophet 
Isaiah, ch. xlix. 6. ‘1 will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that 
‘thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth.’ So Christ in his 
light is saving. And the apostle said, ‘ The light, which shined in their 
‘hearts, was to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of 
‘God in the face of Jesus Christ’) which was their treasure in their 
earthen vessels, 2 Cor. iv. 6, 7. 
When I had thus opened the matter to the people, the priest cried to 
the magistrates, ‘ Take this man away, or else I shall not speak any 
more.’ ‘ But,’ said J, ‘priest Tombs, deceive not thyself, thou art not 
‘in thy pulpit now, nor in thy old mass-house ; but we are in the fields.’ 
So he was shuffling to be gone: and Thomas Taylor stood up, and un- 
dertook to prove our principle by Christ’s parable concerning the sow- 
er, Mat. 13. Then said the priest, ‘ Let that man speak, and not the 
‘other.’ So he got up into jangling for awhile; till the Lord’s power 
catched him again, stopped and confounded him. Afterwards a friend 
stood up and told him, he had sued him for tythe eggs, and other friends 
for other tythes: for he was an Anabaptist preacher, yet had a parsonage 
at Leominster, and had several journeymen under him. He said, ‘ He 
had a wife, and he had a concubine; his wife was the baptized people, 
‘and his concubine was the world.’ But the Lord’s power came over 
all, the everlasting truth was declared that day, and many were turned 
by it to the Lord Jesus Christ, their teacher and way to God. Of 
great service that meeting was in those parts. The next day Thomas 
‘Taylor went to this priest, reasoned with him, and overcame him by the 
power of the Word. 
' From this place I travelled in Wales, having several meetings, till I 
came to Tenby; where as I rode up the street, a justice of peace came 
out of his house, desired me to alight, and stay at his house; which I 
did. On first-day the mayor with his wife and several others of the 
chief of the town, came in about the tenth hour, and staid all the time 
of the meeting. A glorious meeting it was. John-ap-John being then 
with me, left the meeting, and went to the steeple-house; and the gov- 
ernor cast him into prison. On second-day morning the governor sent 
one of his officers to the justice’s to fetch me; which grieved the may- 
or and the justice; for they were both with me in the justice’s house, 
when the officer came. The mayor and the justice went to the govern- 
or before me; and awhile after I went with the officer. When I came in I 
said, ‘ Peace be unto this house.’ And before the governor could exam- 
-ne me, I asked him, ‘Why he cast my friend into prison?’ He said, 
_ For standing with his hat on in the church.’ I said, ‘Had not the 
priest two caps on his head, a black one and a white one? Cut off the 
‘brims of the hat, and then my friend would have but one: and the 
‘brims of the nat were but to defend him from weather.’ ‘These are 
‘frivolous things,’ said the governor. ‘ Why then,’ said I, ‘dost thou 
“cast my friend into prison for such frivolous things?’ He asked me, 
_ ¢ Whether I owned election and reprobation!’ ‘ Yes,’ said I, ‘and thou 
| ‘art in the reprobation.’ At that he was in a rage, and said, ‘ He would 
be send me to prison till I proved it.’ I told him, ‘I would prove that 
_ ~ quiekly, if he would confess truth.’ I asked him, ‘Whether wrath 


268 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1657 


‘fury, rage, and persecution, were not marks of repiobation? for he 
‘that was born of the flesh, persecuted him that was born of the Spirit 
* but Christ and his disciples never persecuted nor imprisoned any.’ He 
fairly confessed, that he had too much wrath, haste, and passion in him. 
[ told him, ‘ Esau was up in him, the first birth; not Jacob, the second 
‘birth. The Lord’s power so reached the man, and came over him 
that he confessed to truth; and the other justice came, and shook me 
kindly vy the hand. 

As I was passing away, I was moved to speak to the governor again; 
and he invited me to dinner with him; and set my friend at liberty I 
went back to the other justice’s house: and after some time the mayor 
and his wife, and the justice and his wife, and divers other friends of the 
town, went about half a mile out of town with us, to the water-side, 
when we went away; and there, when we parted from them, I was 
moved of the Lord to ‘ kneel down with them, and pray to the Lord to 
‘preserve them.’ So after I had recommended them to the Lord Jesus 
Christ, their Saviour and free téacher, we passed away in the Lord’s 
power; and he had the glory. A meeting continues in that town to this 
day. 

We travelled to Pembrokeshire ; and in Pembroke town had some ser- 
vice for the Lord. From thence we passed to Haverford-west, where 
we had a great meeting. All was quiet; the Lord’s power came over 
all, many were settled in the new covenant, Christ Jesus, and built upon — 
him, their rock and foundation: and they stand a precious meeting to 
this day. The next day, being their fair-day, we passed through the fair, 
and ‘sounded the day of the Lord, and his everlasting truth amongst 
‘ them.’ 

After this we came into another county, and at noon into a great mar- 
ket town; and went to several inns, before we could get any meat for 
our horses. At last we came to one, where we got some. Then John- 
ap-John being with me, went, and spoke through the town, declaring the 
truth to the people; and when he came to me again, he said he thought 
all the town were as people asleep. After awhile he was moved to go 
and declare truth in the streets again; then the town was all in an up- 
roar, and cast him into prison. Presently after, several of the chief of — 
the town came down, with others, to the inn where I was, and said, 

‘ They have cast your man into prison.’ ‘ For what?’ said I. ‘ He preached 
‘in our streets,’ said they. I asked them, ‘What did he say! Had he 
‘reproved some of the drunkards and swearers, and warned them to re- 
‘pent, and leave off their evil doings, and turn to the Lord’ I asked 
them, ‘Who cast him into prison? They said, ‘ The high-sheriff, the 
‘ justices, and the mayor.’ 1 asked their names, and whether they un 
derstood themselves? and whether that was their carriage to travellers 
who passed through their town; and to strangers that admonished them, 
and exhorted them to fear the Lord, and reproved sin in their gates? ~ 
These went and told the officers what I said; and after awhile they 
brought John-ap-John guarded with halberds, in order to put him out of 
the town. I being at the inn-door, bid the officers take their hands off — 
of him. They said, ‘ The mayor and justices had commanded them to — 
‘put him out of town. I told them, ‘I would talk with their mayor and 
‘justices anon concerning their uncivil and unchristian carriage towards — 
‘him.’ I spoke to John to go look after the horses, and get them ready ; 

and charged the officers no* te touch him; and after I had declared the 


1657) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 269 


truth to them, and shewed the fruits of their priests, and their incivility 
and unchristian-like carriage, they went away and left us. They were 
a kind of Independents; a very wicked town, and false. We bid the inn- 
keeper give our horses a peck of oats; and no sooner had we turned 
our backs, but the oats were stolen from our horses. After we had re- 
freshed ourselves a little, and were ready, we took horse, and rode up to 
the inn, where the mayor, sheriff, and justices were. I called to speak 
with them, and asked them the reason, ‘ Wherefore they had imprisoned 
‘John-ap-John, and kept him in prison two or three hours?’ But they 
would not answer me a word; only looked out at the windows upon me. 
I shewed them ‘how unchristian their carriage was to strangers and 
* travellers. and manifested the fruits of their teachers; and declared the 
‘truth to them, and warned them of the day of the Lord that was com- 
‘ing upon all the evil-doers: and the Lord’s power came over them, that 
‘they looked ashamed;’ but not a word could I get from them in an- 
swer. So when | had warned them to repent, and turn to the Lord, we 
passed away; and at night came to a litle inn, very poor, but very 
cheap; for our own provision, and our two horses’ cost but eight pence: 
but the horses would not eat their oats. We declared the truth to the 
people of the place, and sounded the day of the Lord through the 
countries. 

From thence we came to a great town, and went to an inn. Edward 
Edwards went into the market, and declared the truth amongst the peo- 
ple; who followed him to the inn, filled the inn-yard, and were exceed 
ing rude. Yet a good service we had for the Lord amongst them. For 
the life of christianity and the power of it tormented their chaffy spirits 
and came over them, so that some were reached and convinced ; the 
Lord’s power came over all; and the magistrates were bound, they had 
no power to meddle with us. 

After this we came to another great town on a market-day; where 
John-ap-John declared the everlasting truth through the streets, and pro- 
claimed the day of the Lord. In the evening many gathered about the 
inn; and some of them, being drunk, would fain have had us into the 
street again; but seeing their design, I told them, ‘If there were any 
‘that feared God, and desired to hear truth, they might come into our 
‘inn; or else we might have a meeting with them next morning.’ Some 

_ service for the Lord we had amongst them, both over night and in the 
morning: and though they were hard to receive the truth, yet the seed 
was sown; and thereabouts the Lord hath a people gathered to himself. 

’ In that inn also I turned my back to the man that was giving oats to my 
horse ; and looking back, he was filling his pockets with the provender 

: A wicked; thievish people, to rob the poor dumb creature of his food! 
I had rather they had robbed me. 

Leaving this town, and travelling on, a great man overtook us on the 
way. He purposed (as he told us afterwards) to have taken us up at 
the next town for highwaymen. But before we came to the town, I was 
moyed of the Lord to speak to him. What I spoke, reached to the wit- 
ness of God in the man; who was so affected therewith, that he had us 
to his house, and entertained us very civilly. He and his wife desired 
us to give them some scriptures, both for proof of our principles, and 
against the priests. We were glad of the service, and furnished him 
with scriptures enough; and he wrote them down, and was convinced 
of the truth both by the Spirit of God in his own heart, and by the 


z 
yay 


re 


y 


270 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. res. 


scriptures, which were a confirmation to him. Afterwards he set us on 
in our journey; and as we travelled, we came to an hill, which the peo- 
ple of the country say is two or three miles high; from the side of this 
hill I could see a great way. And I was moved to set my face several 
ways, and to sound the day of the Lord there: and I told John-ap-John 
(a faithful Welsh minister) in what places God would raise up a people 
to himself, to sit under his own teaching. Those places he took notice 
of; and since there hath been a great people arisen there. The like 1 
have been moved to do in many other parts inhabited by rude people: 
yet I have been moved to declare the Lord had a seed in those places; 
and afterwards there hath been a brave people raised up in the covenant 
of God, and gathered in the name of Jesus; where they have salvation 
and free teaching. 

From this hill we came to Dolegelle: and went to an inn. John-ap- 
John declared through the streets; and the town’s people rose and gath- 
ered about him. There being two Independent priests in the town, they 
came out, and discoursed with him both together. I went to them: and 
finding them speaking in Welsh, I asked them, ‘ What was the subject 
‘they spoke upon, and why they were not more moderate, and spoke 
‘one by one! For the things of God,’ I told them, ‘ were weighty, and 
‘they should speak of them with fear and reverence.’ Then | desired 
them to speak in English, that I might discourse with them; and they 
did so. They attirmed, ‘ That the Light, which John came to bear wit- 
‘ness of, was a created, natural, made light.’ I took the bible, and shewed 
them, as I had done to others before, ‘ That the natural lights, which 
‘were made and created, were the sun, moon, and stars: but this light, 
‘which John bare witness to, and which he called the true light, that 
‘lighteth every man that cometh into the world, is the life in Christ the 
‘Word, by which all things were made and created. ‘The same that is 
‘called the life in Christ, is called the light in man. This is an heavenly, 
‘ divine light, which lets men see their evil words and deeds, and shews 
‘them all their sins; and, if they would attend to it, would bring them 
‘to Christ, from whom it comes, that they might know him to save them 
‘from their sin, and to blot it out. This light, I told them, shined in the 
‘darkness in their hearts, and the darkness in them could not compre- 
‘hend-it ; but in those hearts, where God had commanded it to shine out 


peace in the street. Many of the people accompanied us to our inn, 1e- 
joiced in the truth that had been declared to them; and that they were 
‘wned to the light and Spirit in themselves, by which they might see thei 


ft, 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 271 


sin, and know salvation from it. When we went out of me town. the 
tung were so affected, that they lifted up their hands, and blessed the 

ord for our coming. A precious seed the Lord hath there-away ; and 
a great people in those parts is since gathered to the Lord Jesus Christ, 
to sit under his free teaching; and they have suffered much for him. 

From this place we passed to Caernarvon, a town like a castle. When 
we had set up our horses at an inn, and refreshed ourselves, John-ap- 
John went and spoke through the streets; which were so straight and 
short, that one might stand in the midst of the town, and see both the 
gates. I followed John-ap-John, and a multitude were soon gathered 
about him; amongst whom a very dark priest began to babble; but his 
mouth was soon stopped. When John had cleared himself, I declared 
the word of life amongst the people; ‘directing them to the light of 
‘ Christ in their hearts, that by it they might see all their own ways, re- 
‘ligions, and teachers, and might come off from them all to Christ, the 
‘true and living way, and the free teacher.’ Some of the people were 
rude, but the greater part were civil; and told us, ‘ They had heard how 
‘we had been persecuted and abused in many places, but they would 
‘not do so to us there.’ I commended their moderation and sobriety, 
‘and warned them of the day of the Lord that was coming upon all sin 
‘and wickedness; testifying unto them, that Christ was now come to 
‘teach his people himself, by his Spirit and power.’ 

From hence we went to Beaumaris, a town wherein John-ap-John 
had formerly been a preacher. After we had put up our horses at an inn, 
John went and spoke through the street; and there being a garrison in 
the town, they took him, and put him into prison. The inn-keeper’s wife 
came, and told me, ‘ That the governor and magistrates were sending 


«for me, to commit me to prison also.’ I told her, ‘They had done more 


‘than they could answer already; and had acted contrary to christiani- 
‘ty in imprisoning him for reproving sin in their streets and gates, and 
‘for declaring the truth.’ Soon after came other friendly people, and 
told me, ‘If I went into the street, they would imprison me also; there- 
‘fore they desired me to keep within the inn.’ Upon this I was moved 
to go and walk up and down in the streets; and told the people, ‘ What 
‘an uncivil, unchristian thing they had done, in casting my friend into 
‘prison. And they being high professors, I asked them, ‘If this was the 
‘entertainment they had for strangers? And if they would willingly be 
“so served themselves? And whether they, who locked upon the scrip- 
‘tures to be their rule, had any example in the scriptures, from Christ or 
‘his apostles, for what they had done?’ So after awhile they set John- 
ap-John at liberty. 

Next day, being market-day, we were to cross a great water; and 
not far from the place where we were to take boat, many of the market- 
people drew to us; amongst whom we had good service for the Lord, 
‘declaring the word of life and everlasting truth unto them, and pro- 
‘claiming the day of the Lord amongst them, which was coming upon 
‘all wickedness; and directing them to the light of Christ, which he, the 
«heavenly man, had enlightened them withal; by which they might see 
‘all their sins, and all their false ways, religions, worships and teachers: 


_ and by the same light might see Christ Jesus, who was come to save 


tthem, and lead them to God.’ After the truth had been declared to 


them in the power of God, and Christ the free teacher set over all the 
hireling teachers; I bid John-ap-John get his horse into the boat, whick 


wy 


a 


i 


272 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1687 


was then ready. But there being a company of wild gentlemen, as they 
called them, got into it, whom we found very rude, and far from gentle- 
ness; they, with others, kept his horse out of the boat. I rode to the 
boat’s side, and spoke to them, shewing them, ‘ What an unmanly and 
‘ unchristian carriage it was; and told them, they shewed an unworthy 
‘ spirit, below christianity or humanity.’ As I spoke, I leaped my horse 
intu the boat amongst them; thinking John’s horse would have followed, 
when he had seen mine go in before him: but the water being pretty 
deep, John could not get his horse into the boat. Wherefore I leaped 
out again on horseback into the water, and staid with John on that side, 
till the boat returned. There we tarried from the eleventh hour of the 
forenoon to the second in the afternoon, before the boat came to fetch 


| us; and then had forty-two miles to ride that evening; and by that time 


ywe had paid for our-passage,.we had but one groat left between us in 
‘money. We rode about sixteen milés, and then got a little hay for our 
horses. Setting forward again, we came in the night to a little ale-house, 
where we thought to have staid and baited. But finding we could have 
neither oats nor hay there, we travelled all night; and about the fifth 
hour in the morning got to a place within six miles of Wrexham ; where 
that day we met with many friends, and had a glorious meeting; the 
Lord’s everlasting power and truth was over all: and a meeting is con- 
tinued there to this day. Very weary we were with travelling so hard 
up and down in Wales; and in many places we found it difficult to get 
meat either for our horses or ourselves. 

The next day we passed from thence into Flintshire, sounding the day 
of the Lord through the towns: and came into Wrexham at night. Here 
many of Floyd’s people came to us; but very rude, wild, and airy they 
were, and little sense of truth they had: yet some were convinced in 
that town. Next morning one called a lady sent for me, who kept a 
preacher in her house. I went to her house, but found both her and he1 
preacher very light and airy; too light to receive the weighty things of 
God. In her lightness she came and asked me, ‘If she should cut my 


hair? I was moved to reprove her, and bid her cut down the corrup- — 
tions in herself with the sword of the Spirit of God; so after | had ad-— 


monished her to be more grave and sober, we passed away. Afterwards 


in her frothy mind she made her boast, that she, ‘came behind me, and — 


cut off the curl of my hair;’ but she spoke falsely. 


From Wrexham we came to West-chester ; and it being the fair-time, © 


we staid there awhile, and visited friends. For I had travelled through — 


every county in Wales, preaching the everlasting gospel of Christ: and 
a brave people there is now, who have received it, and sit under Christ’s 


teaching. But before I left Wales, I wrote to the magistrates of Beau-— 


maris concerning their imprisoning John-ap-John ; letting them see their 
condition, the fruits of their christianity, and of their teachers. After 
wards I met with some of them near London; but oh! how ashamea 
they were of their action! 
From West-chester we came to Liverpool, where was at that time a 
fair; and as I rode through the fair, there stood a friend upon the cross, 
declaring the truth to the people; who seeing me ride by, and knowing 
I had appointed a meeting to be the next day upon an hill not far off, 
gave notice to the people, ‘ That George Fox, the servant of the Lord, 


‘would have a meeting next day upon such an hill; and if any feared 


the Lord, they might come and hear him declare the word of life to 


—— a a 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 273 


‘them.’ We went that night to Richard Cubban’s, who himself was 
convinced, though not his wife ; but at that time she was convinced also. 

Next day we went to the meeting on the top of the hill, which was 
very large. Some rude people with a priest’s wife came, and made a 
noise for awhile; but the Lord’s power came over them, the meeting 
became quiet, ail the truth of God was declared amongst them. Many 
were that day settled upon the rock and foundation Christ Jesus, and 
under his teaching; who made peace betwixt God and them. 

We had a small meeting with a few friends and people at Malpoth. 
From thence we came to another place, where we had a meeting. 
There came a bailiff with a sword, and was rude; but the Lord’s power 
came over him, and friends were epiblicned 4 in the truth. 

From thence we came to Manchester: and the sessions being there 
that day, many rude people were come out of the country. In the meet- 
ing they threw at me coals, clods, stones, and water: yet the Lord’s 
power bore me up over them, that they could not strike me down. At 
last, when they saw they could not prevail by throwing water, stones, 
and dirt at me, they went and informed the justices in the sessions; who 
thereupon sent officers to fetch me before them. ‘The officers came in 
while | was declaring the word of life to the people, plucked me down, 
and haled me into their court. When I came there all the court was in 
a disorder and a noise. Wherefore I asked, ‘ Where were the magis- 
‘ trates, that they did not keep the people civil?’ Some of the justices 
said, they were magistrates. I asked them, ‘ Why then they did not 
‘ appease the people, and keep them sober?’ For one cried, I'll swear, 

and another cried, I’ll swear. I declared to the justices, ‘ How we were 
‘abused in our meeting by the rude people, who threw stones, clods, 
‘dirt, and water: and how I was haled out of the meeting and brought 
; thither, contrary to the instrument of government, which said, “None 
“should be molested in their meetings that professed God, and owned 
“the Lord Jesus Christ; which J did. The truth so came over them, 
that when one of the rude followers cried, ‘He would swear;’ one of 
the justices checked him, saying, ‘ What, will you swear? hold your 
‘tongue.’ At last they bid the constable, ‘ Have me to my lodging, and 
‘there I should be secured till to-morrow morning that they sent for me 
‘again.’ So the constable had me to my lodging. As we went the peo- 
ple were exceeding rude; but I let them see the ‘ fruits cf their teachers, 
‘how they shamed christianity, and dishonoured the name of Jesus which 
‘they professed.’ At night we went to a justice’s in the town, who was 
pretty moderate, and | had a great deal of discourse with him. Next 
morning we sent to the constable to know if he had any thing more to 
pay tous? He sent us word, ‘ He had nothing to say to us, we might 

‘go whither we would.’ The Lord hath since raised up a people to 
stand for his name and truth in that town over those chaffy professors. 

We passed from Manchester, having many precious meetings in seve- 
sai places, till we came to Preston ; between which and Lancaster I had 
a general meeting: from which I went to Lancaster. There at our inn 
I met with colonel West, who was very glad to see me; who meeting 
with judge Fell, toll him, ‘I was mightily grown in the truth: when 
indeed he was come nearer to the truth, and so could better discern it. 

We came from Lancaster to Robert Widders’s. On the first-day af- 
ter | had a general meeting near the Sands-side, of friends of Westmore- 
land and I.ancashire, when the Lord’s everlasting power was over all; 

2K 


Q™4 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL.  flesr 


in which the word of eternal life was declared, and friends were settled — 
upon the foundation, Christ Jesus, under his free teaching; and many 
were convinced, and turned to the Lord. 

Next day I came over the Sands to Swarthmore, where friends were 
glad to see me. I staid there two first-days, visiting friends in their 
meetings there-away. ‘They rejoiced with me in the goodness of the 
Lord, who by his eternal power had carried me through and over 
many difficulties and dangers in his service; to him be the praise for 
ever ! 

Having got a little respite from travel, 1 was moved to write an epis- 
tle to friends, as followeth: 


‘Aux friends of the Lord every where, whose minds are turned in 
‘towards the Lord, take heed to the light within you, which is the light 
‘of Christ; which, as you love it, will call your minds inward, that are 
‘abroad in the creatures: so your minds may be renewed by it, and 
‘turned to God in this which. is pure, to worship the living God, the 
‘ Lord of hosts over all the creatures. ‘That which calls your minds out 
‘of the lusts of the world, will call them out of the affections and de- 
‘ sires, and turn you to set your affections above. The same that calls the 
‘mind out of the world, will give judgment upon the world’s affections 
‘and lusts, that which calls out your minds from the world’s teachers © 
‘and the creatures, to have your minds renewed. There is your obedi- 
‘ence known and found; there the image of God is renewed in you, and 

ye come to grow up init. That which calls your minds out of the 
‘earth, turns them towards God, where the pure babe is born of the 
‘virgin; and the babe’s food is known, the children’s bread, which © 
“comes from the living God, and nourishes up to eternal life: which 
‘pabes and children receive their wisdom from above, from the pure 
‘living God, and not from the earthly one; for that is trodden under 
‘foot by such. All who hate this light, whose minds are abroad in the 
‘creatures, in the earth, and in the image of the devil, get the words of 
‘the saints (that received their wisdom from above) into the old nature 
‘and their corrupted minds. Such are murderers of the just, enemies 
‘to the cross of Christ, in whom the prince of the air lodgeth, sons of © 
‘perdition, betrayers of the just. Therefore take heed to that light, 
‘which is oppressed with that nature; which light, as it arises, shall con- 
‘demn all that cursed nature, shall turn it out, and shut it out of the 
‘house. So ye will come to see the candle lighted, and the house sweep-— 
‘ing and swept. Then the pure pear! ariseth, then the eternal God is” 
‘exalted. The same light that calls in your minds out of the world 
‘that are abroad) the same turns them to God the father of lights. 
‘ Here in the pure mind is the pure God waited upon for wisdom from 
‘above; the pure God is seen night and day, and the eternal peace, of 
‘which there is no end enjoyed. People may have openings, and yet 
‘their minds go into the lusts of the flesh; but there the affections are 
‘not mortified. ‘Therefore hearken to that, take heed to that, which 
‘calls your minds out of the affections and lusts of the world to have 
‘them renewed. The same will turn your minds to God; the same light 
‘ will set your affections above, and bring you to wait for the pure wis 
‘dom of God from on high, that it may be justified in you. Wait all in 
‘that which calls in your minds and turns them to God; here is the true 
‘cross. That mind shall feed upon nothing that is earthly, but be kept 


a 
‘ 
657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. © 475 


*in the pure light up to God, to feed upon the living food which comes 
‘from the living God. The Lord God Almighty be with you all, dear 
‘babes, and keep you all in his strength and power to his glory, over 
‘all the world, ye whose minds are called out of it, and turned to God, 
*to worship the Creator and serve him, and not the creature. The light 
*of God which calls the mind out of the creatures, and turns it to him- 
‘self, brings into a being of endless joy and peace. Here is always a 
‘seeing God present, which is not known to the world, whose hearts are 
‘in the creatures, whose knowledge is in the flesh, whose minds are not 
‘renewed. ‘Therefore all friends, the seed of God mind and dwell in, 
‘to reign over the unjust; and the power of the Lord iwell in, to keep 
‘you clear in your understandings, that the seed of God may reign in 
‘you all; the Seed of God, which is but one in all, is Christ in the male 
‘and in the female, which the promise is to. Wait upon the Lord for 
‘the just to reign over the unjust, for the seed of God to reign over the 
‘seed of the serpent, and be the head; and that all that is mortal may 
‘die: for out of that will rise presumption. So fare ye well, and God 
‘ Almighty bless, guide, and keep you in his wisdom. Cg th 


About this time friends that were moved of the Lord to go to the 
steeple-houses and markets, to ‘reprove sin, and warn people of the day 
‘of the Lord,’ suffered much hardship from rude people, and also from 
the magistrates ; being commonly pulled down, buffeted, beaten, and fre- 
quently sent to prison. Wherefore I was moved to give forth the fol- 
lowing expostulation to be spread amongst people, to shew them how 
contrary they acted therein to the apostles’ doctrine and practice, and 
to bring them to more moderation. 


‘Is it not better for you that have cast into prison the servants and 
‘children of the Lord God for speaking, as they were moved, in steeple- 
‘houses or markets, is it not better, I say, for you to “try all things, and 
“hold fast that which is good?” Is it not of more honour and credit, to 
“ prove all things, and try all things, thanto pluck downin the steeple-houses, 
“pull off the hair of their heads, and cast them into prison?” Is this an hon- 

‘our to your truth and gospel you profess? Doth it not shew that ye are 
‘ out of the truth, and are not ready to instruct the gainsayers ? Hath not 
‘the Lord said, “ He will pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh, and his 
“sons and daughters shall prophesy, and old men shall dream dreams, 
“and young men see visions, and on his handmaids he will pour forth of 
“his Spirit?” Was not this prophecy in ages past stood against by 
‘the wise, learned men in their own wisdom, and by the synagogue- . 
‘teachers? Were not such haled out of the synagogues and temple, 
‘who witnessed the Spirit poured forth upon them? Doth not this shew, 
‘that ye have not received the pourings forth of this Spirit upon you, 
who fill the gaols with so many sons and daughters, and hold up such 
‘teachers as are bred up in learning at Oxford and Cambridge, and are 
‘marle by the will of man? Doth not this shew, that ye who are bred 
‘up there, who are made teachers by the will of man, and who perse- 
‘cute for prophesying, are strangers to the Spirit that is “ poured forth 
“upon sons and daughters ;” by which Spirit they come to “ minister to 
“the spirits that are in prison?” The Lord hath a controversy with 
‘you who are found prisoning and persecuting such as the Lord hath 
_ poured his Spirit upon. Do not your fruits shew, in all the nation 
_where ye come, in towns, cities, villages, and countries, that ye are the 


i 
ae 


270 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [165 


seedsmen made by the will of man, who sow to the flesh, of which no 
‘thing but corruption is reaped in nations, countries, cities, and villages 
‘Ye are looked upon and your fruits, and that which may be gathered i 
‘seen by all that are in the light, as they pass through your countries 
‘ towns, cities, and villages, that ye are all the seedsmen that have sow! 
‘to the flesh. Of this take ye notice, who are of that birth that is bor 
‘of the flesh; ye sow to your own, persecuting him that is born of th 
Spirit, who sows to the Spirit, and of the Spirit reaps life eternal. Sucl 
ye, who sow to the flesh, cast into prison. Do ye not hale out of th 
synagogues ? persecute and beat in the synagogues, and knock down 
« Are not these the works of the flesh? Have noi many been almost mur 
‘dered and smothered in your synagogues? Have not some been hale 
‘out of your synagogues, for but looking at a priest, and after cast int 
‘prison! Doth not all this make manifest what spirit ye are of, and you 
‘fruits to be of the flesh? What pleasures and sports in every town ar 
“to be seen among your flocks, that sow to the flesh and are born of it 
‘ Whereas the ministers of the Spirit cried against such as “ sported il 
“the day-time,” such as “ate and drank, and rose up to play,” such a 
“lived wantonly upon earth in pleasures,” such as lived in “fulness oj 
“ bread and idleness,” such as “defile the flesh;” such did God over 
‘throw, destroy, and set forth as examples to all them that after shoul 
‘live ungodly. But are not the fruits of this reaped in every town? Can 
‘not ye from hence see, that here is sowing to the flesh! Again, wha 
‘scorning, scofting, mocking, derision, and strife! What oaths, drunk 
‘enness, uncleanness, and cursed speaking! What lust and pride is see 
‘in the streets! These fruits we see are reaped of the flesh. So here wi 
‘see the seedsman, him that sows to this flesh, of which nothing but cor 
“6 ruption is reaped, as the countries, towns, cities, and villages make mani 
‘fest. But the ministers of the Spirit, who sow to the Spirit, come t 
‘reap life eternal. These discern the other seedsman, who sows to th 
‘flesh, and of the flesh reaps corruption. For the day hath manifeste: 
‘each seedsman, and what is reaped from each is seen; glory be to th 
‘ Lord God for ever! The ministers of the Spirit, born of the Spirit, son 
‘and daughters which have the Spirit poured upon them, and witness th 
‘ promise “of God fulfilled in them, by the Spirit of God preach and min 
‘ister to the spirit in prison in every one, in the sight of God, the Fathe 
‘of spirits. God’s hand is turned against you all that have destroyet 
* God’s creatures upon your lust. God's hand is turned against you th 
‘have wronged by unjust dealing, defrauded, and oppressed the poor, ani 
‘have respected the persons of the proud, and lend not your ear to th 
‘cry of the poor. The Lord’s hand and arm against you all is turned 
‘and his righteous judgment and justice upon you all will be accomplish 
‘and repaid, who shall have a reward, every one according to his work 
‘Oh! the abomination and hypocritical profession that is upon the eart 
‘where God and Christ, faith, hope, the holy Spirit, and truth is pr 
fessed, but the fear of God, and the faith that purifies and gives victo 
over the world, not lived in! Doth it not appear that the wisdom whic 
‘rules in all thos:, whom the seedsman that sows to the flesh sows fo 
and who are born of the flesh, are from below, earthly, sensual, ar 
‘ devilish, their understanding brutish, and their knowledge natural as t 
brute beasts? For men and women in that state have not patience 
speak one to the other of the scriptures, without much corruption at 
flesh appearing, yet they have a feigned humility, a will-worship, a 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 277 


righteousness of self; but they own not the light, which “ lighteth every 
“man that cometh into the world, Christ Jesus, the righteousness of 
“God? which light being owned, self, and the righteousness of self, 
“comes to be denied. Here is the humility that is contrary to the light, 
and that is below and feigned. Here is the wisdom that is from below, 
earthly, sensual, and devilish: for people can scarce differ from one an- 
other without destroying one another, prisoning and persecuting one an- 
other, when they speak of the scriptures. ‘This is the devilish wiscom 
murdering and destroying. ‘This is not the wisdom that is from above, 
which is pure and peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of 
mercy and good fruits. Here all may read each seedsman, which hath 
each wisdom. He that sows to the flesh, and is born of that, hath the 
wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and devilish; he that sows to the Spirit, 
‘a minister of the Spirit, hath the wisdom from above, which is pure, 
‘peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated; the wisdom by which all 
‘things were made and created. Now is each wisdom discovered, and 
“each seedsman: the day, which is the light, hath discovered them. 
4Geuhv 


I was moved also to give forth the following epistle to friends, to stir 
them up to be bold and valiant for the truth, and to encourage them in 
their sufferings for it. 


‘ Aut friends and brethren every where, now is the day of your trial, 
‘now is the time for you to be valiant, and to see that the testimony of 
‘the Lord doth not fall. Now is the day for the exercise of your gifts, 
‘of your patience, and of your faith. Now is the time to be armed with 
‘patience, with the light, with righteousness, and with the helmet of sal- 
‘vation. Now is the trial of the slothful servant, who hides his talent, 
“and will judge Christ hard. Now, happy are they that can say, “ The 
“earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, and he gives the increase ;” 
‘therefore who takes it from you? Is it not the Lord still that suffers it? 
‘For the Lord can try you as he did Job, whom he made rich, whom he 
‘made poor, and whom he made rich again; who still kept his integrity 
‘in all conditions. Learn Paul’s lesson, in all states to be content; and 

have his faith, “ That nothing is able to separate us from the love of 
God, which we have in Christ Jesus.” Therefore be rich in life, and in 
grace, which will endure, ye who are heirs of life, and born of the womb 
of eternity, that noble birth that cannot stoop to that which is born in 
‘sin, and conceived in iniquity; who are better bred and born, whose 
‘religion is from God, above all the religions that are from below; and 
‘who walk by faith, by that which God hath given you, and not by that 
‘which men make, who walk by sight, from the Mass-book to the Direc- 
‘tory. Such are subject to stumble and fall, who walk by sight and not 
‘by faith. Therefore mind him that destroys the original of sin, the 
‘ devil and his works, and cuts off the entail of Satan, viz. sin; who would 
_ thave by entail an inheritance of sin in men and women from generation 
*to generation, and pleads for it by all his lawyers and counsellors. For 
though the law, which made nothing perfect, did not cut it off; yet Christ 
being come destroys the devil and his works, and cuts off the entail of 
sin. This angers all the devil’s lawyers and counsellors, that Satan shall 
‘not hold sin by entail in thy garden, in thy field, in thy temple, thy tab- 
‘ernacle. So keep your tabernacles, that there ye may see the glory of 
the Lord appear at the doors t! 2reof. Be faithful; for ye see what the 


278 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (165 


‘ worthies and valiants of the Lord did attain unto by faitn. Enoch by 
‘faith was translated. Noah by faith was preserved over the waters in 
‘his ark. Abraham by faith forsook his father’s house and religion, and 
‘all the religions of the world. Isaac and Jacob by faith followed his 
‘steps. See how Samuel and other of the Lord’s prophets, with David, 
‘by faith were preserved to God over his enemies! Daniel and the three 

children by faith escaped the lions and the fire, and preserved their wor- 

ship clean, and by it were kept over the worships of the world. The — 
‘ aposiles by faith travelled up and down the world, were preserved from 
‘all the religions of the world, and held forth the pure religion to the 
‘dark world, which they had received from God; and likewise their fel- 
‘lowship was received from above, which is in the gospel that is ever- 
‘lasting. In this, neither powers, principalities nor thrones, dominions 
‘nor angels, things present nor things to come, heights nor depths, nor 
‘death, mockings, nor spoiling of goods, prisons nor fetters were able to 
~* separate them from the love of God, which they had in Christ Jesus. 
‘ And friends, “ Quench not the Spirit, nor despise prophesying,” where 
‘it moves; neither hinder babes and sucklings from erying Hosannah ; 
‘for out of their mouths will God ordain strength. There were some in 
‘ Christ’s day that were against such, whom he reproved; and there were 
“some in Moses’s day, who would have stopped the prophets in the camp; 
‘whom Moses reproved, and said by way of encouragement to them, 
* Would God, that all the Lord’s people were prophets !” So I say now 
‘to you. Therefore ye that stop it in yourselves do not quench it in 
‘ others, neither in babe nor suckling; for the Lord hears the cries of the 
‘needy, and the sighs and groans of the poor. Judge not that, nor the 
‘sighs and groans of the Spirit, which cannot be uttered, lest ye judge 
‘prayer; for prayer as well lies in sighs and groans to the Lord as other- 
‘wise. Let not the sons and daughters, nor the handmaids be stopped in 
‘their prophesyings, nor the young men in their visions, nor the old men 
‘in their dreams ; but let the Lord be glorified in and through all, who is 
‘ over all, God blessed for ever! So every one may improve their talents, 
‘every one exercise their gifts, and every one speak as the Spirit gives 
‘them utterance. Thus every one may minister, as he hath received the 
‘ grace, as a good steward to him that hath given it him; so all plants 
‘may bud, and “ bring forth fruit” to the glory of God: “ for the mani- 
“ festation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal.” See that 
‘every one hath profited in heavenly things; male and female, look into 
‘your own vineyards, see what fruit ye bear to God; look into your 
‘own houses, see how they are decked and trimmed; see what odors, 
‘myrrh, and frankincense ye have therein, and what a smell and savour 
‘ ye have to ascend to God that he may be glorified. Bring your deeds 
‘all to the light, which ye are taught to believe in by Christ, your head, 
‘the heavenly man: and see how they are wrought in God. Every male 
‘and female, let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith (Christ in the male 
‘and in the female;) and let your mouths be opened to the glory of God 
“the Father, that he may rule and reign in you. We must not have 
‘Christ Jesus, the Lord of Life, put any more in a stable amongst the 
‘horses and asses; he must now have the best chamber, the heart; and 

the rude, debauched spirit must be turned out. Therefore let him reign 
‘whose right it is, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; by which 

Holy Ghost ye call him Lord, in which Holy Ghost ye pray, and have 

comfort and fellowship with the Father and with the Son. Therefore 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 279 


‘know the triumph in it, and in God and his power (wnich the devil 1s 
out of) and in the seed which is First and Last, the Beginning and End- 
ing, the Top and Corner-stone: in which is my love to you, and in 
which I rest 


‘Your friend, GE? 
POSTSCRIPT. 


Friends, be careful how ye set your feet among the tender plants that 
are springing up out of God’s earth, lest ye tread upon them, hurt them, 
pruise them, or crush them in God’s vineyard.’ 


After I had tarried two first-days at Swarthmore, and visited meet- 
ings thereabouts, I passed into Westmoreland in the same work, till I 
came to John Audland’s, where was a general meeting. The night be- 
fore I had a vision of a ‘ desperate creature that was coming to destroy 

‘me, but I got victory over it.” The next day in the meeting-time came 
one Otway, with some rude fellows. He rode round about the meeting 
with his sword or rapier, and would fain have got in through the friends 
to me; but the meeting being great, ihe friends stood thick, so that he 
could not easily come at me. When he had rid about several times raging, 
and found he could not get in, being also limited by the Lord’s power, 
he at length went away. It was a glorious meeting, ended peaceably, 
and the Lord’s everlasting power came over all. This wild man went 
home, became distracted, and not long after died. I sent a paper to John 
Blaykling to read to him while he lay ill, shewing him his wickedness; 
and he did acknowledge something of it. 

From hence J went through Kendal, where a warrant had long lain 
to apprehend me; and the constables seeing me ran to fetch their war- 
rant as I was riding through the town; but before they could come up 
with it I was past, and so escaped their hands. 

_ I travelled northwards, visiting meetings, till I came to Strickland- 
head, where | had a great meeting. Most of the gentry of that country 
being gathered to an horse-race, not far from the meeting, I was moved 
to go and declare the truth to them: and a chief-constable did also ad- 
monish them. Our meeting was quiet, the Lord was with us; and by 
his word and power friends were settled in the eternal truth. 

From hence we passed into Cumberland, where we had many precious, 
living meetings. After we had travelled to Gilsland, and had a meeting 
there, we came to Carlisle, where they used to put friends out of the 
‘town; but there came a great flood while we were there, that they could 
‘hot put us out of the town; so we had a meeting there on the first-day. 
After which we passed to Abbey-holm, and had a little meeting there 
This is a place where I told friends long before there would be a great 
‘people come forth to the Lord; which hath since come to pass, and a 
large meeting there is gathered to the Lord in those parts. 

_ I passed from hence to a general meeting at Langlands in Cumberland, 
which was very large; for most of the people had so forsaken the priests, 
that the steeple-houses in some places stood empty. And John Wilkin- 
son, a preacher, that I have often named before, who had three steeple- 
houses, had so few hearers left, that, giving over preaching in the steeple- 
| houses, he first set up a meeting in his house, and preached there to them 
that were left. Afterwards he set up a silent meeting (like friends) to 
which came a few: for most of his hearers were come to friends. Thus 


280 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1657 


he held on, till he had not past half a dozen left; the rest still forsaking 
him, and coming away to friends. At last, when he had so very few 
left, he would come to Pardsey-Crag (where friends had a meeting of 
several hundreds of people, who were all come to sit under the Lord 
Jesus Christ’s teaching) and he would walk about the meeting on the 
first-days, like a man that went about the commons to look for sheep. 
During this time, I came to Pardsey-Crag meeting, and he with three or 
four of his followers, yet left him, came to the meeting that day; and 
were all thoroughly convinced. After the meeting, Wilkinson asked me 
two or three questions, which I answered to his satisfaction; from that 
time he came amongst friends, became an able minister, preached the 
gospel freely, and turned many to Christ’s free teaching. And after he 
had continued many years in the free ministry of Christ Jesus, he died 
in the year 1675. 

I had for some time felt drawings on my spirit to go into Scotland : 
and had sent to colonel William Osborn of Scotland, desiring him to 
meet me; and he, with some others, were come out of Scotland to this 
meeting. After it was over, (which, he said, was the most glorious 
meeting that ever he saw in his life) I passed with him and his company 
into Scotland; having Robert Widders with me; a thundering man 
against hypocrisy, deceit, and the rottenness of the priests. 

The first night we came into Scotland, we lodged at an inn. The inn- 
keeper told us, an earl lived about a quarter of a mile off, who had a de- 
sire to sce me; and had left word at his house, that if ever I came into 
Scotland, he should send him word. He told us, there were three draw- 
bridges to his house ; and that it would be nine o’clock before the third 
bridge was drawn. Finding we had time in the evening, we walked to 
his house. He received us very lovingly; and said, he would have gone 
with us on our journey, but that he was before engaged to go to a fune- 
ral. After we had spent some time with him, we parted very friendly, 
and returned to our inn. Next morning we travelled on, and passing 
through Dumfries, came to Douglas, where we met with some friends ; 
from thence we passed to the Heads, where we had a blessed meeting 
in the name of Jesus, and felt him in the midst. ‘ 

Leaving Heads, we went to Badcow, and had a meeting there: to 
which abundance of people came, and many were convinced: amongst 
whom was one called a lady. From thence we passed towards the 
Highlands to William Osborn’s, where we gathered up the suflerings of 
friends, and the principles of the Scotch priests, which may be seen in a 
book called, ‘The Scotch Priests’ Principles.” 

Afterwards we returned to Heads, Badcow, and Garshore, where the 
said lady Margaret Hambleton was convinced ; who afterwards went to 
warn O. Cromwell and Charles Fleetwood of the day of the Lord that 
was coming upon them. 

On first-day we had a great meeting, and several professors came to 
it. Now the priests had frightened the people with the doctrine of elec- 
tion and reprobation: telling them, ‘That God had ordained the greatest 

part of men and women for hell; that, let them pray, or preach, or 
- sing, and do what they could, it was all to no purpose, if they were — 
ordained for hell; that God had a-certain number, which were elected — 
for heaven; and let them do what they would, as David an adulterer, 
and Paul a versecutor, yet eleeted. vessels for heaven. So the fault was — 
‘not at all in the creature, less-or-more; but God had ordained it so. J 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 28) 


‘was led to open to the people the falseness and folly of their priests‘ 
‘doctrines, and shewed them, the priests had abused those scriptures 
‘which they had brought and quoted to them, as in Jude, and other 
‘places. For whereas they said, “ There was no fault at all in the crea- 
“ture ;” I shewed them, that they, whom Jude speaks of, to wit, Cain, 
‘Core, and Balaam, who, he says, were ordained of old to condemna- 
‘tion, the fault was in them. For did not God warn Cain and Balaam, 
‘and put the question to Cain, “If thou dost well, shalt thou not be ac- 
“cepted?” And did not the Lord bring Core out of Egypt, and his 
‘company ! yet did not he gainsay both God and his law, and his prophet 
‘Moses? Here people might see that there was a fault in Cain, Corah, 
‘and Balaam; and so there is in all that go in their ways. For if they, 
‘who are called christians, resist the gospel as Core did the law, err 
‘from the Spirit of God as Balaam did, and do evil as Cain did, is not 
‘here a fault? which fault is in themselves, and is the cause of their rep- 
‘robation, and not God. Doth not Christ say, “Go, preach the gospel 
“to all nations?” Which is the gospel of salvation. He would not have 
‘sent them into all nations, to preach the doctrine of salvation, if the 
* greatest part of men had been ordained for hell. Was not Christ a pro- 
‘pitiation for the sins of the whole world, for those that became repro- 
‘bates, as well as for the saints? He died for all men, the ungodly as 
‘well as the godly, as the apostle bears witness, 2 Cor. v. 15. Rom. v. vi. 
‘And “he enlightens every man that cometh into the world,’ that 
‘through him they might all believe. And Christ bids them believe in 
‘the light: but all they that hate the light, which Christ bids all be- 
‘lieve in, are reprobated. Again, “ The manifestation of the Spirit of 
“God is given to every man to profit withal;” but they that vex, 
‘quench, and grieve it, are in the reprobation; and the fault is in them, 
“as it is also in them that hate his hght. The apostle saith, “ The grace 
“ of God, which brings salvation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching 
“us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, 
“righteously, and godly in this present world,” Tit. i. 11, 12. Now all 
‘those that live ungodly, and in the lusts of the world, that turn from 
‘this grace of God into wantonness, and walk despitefully against it, and 
‘so deny God, and the Lord Jesus Christ that bought them, the fault is 
‘in all such that turn from the grace of God into wantonness, and walk 
‘despitefully against that which would bring their salvation, and save 
‘them out of the reprobation. But the priests, it seems, can see no fault in 
‘such as deny God, and the Lord Jesus Christ that bought them, such as 
‘ denv his light, which they should believe in, and his grace, which should 
teach them to live godly, and which should bring them their salvation. 
Now all that believe in the light of Christ, as he commands, are in the 
election; and sit under the teaching of the grace of God, which brings 
their salvation. But such as turn from this grace into wantonness are 
in the reprobation: and such as hate the light are in the condemnation. 
Therefore I exhorted all to believe in the light, as Christ commands 
and own the grace of God their free teacher; and it would assuredly 
bring them their salvation: for it is sufficient.’ Many other scriptures 
were opened concerning reprobation, and the eyes of the people were 
opened ; and a spring of life rose up among them. 
These things soon came to the priests’ ear; for the peopue, that sat 
_ under their dark teachings, began to see light, and to come into the cov- 
enant of light. The noise was spread over Scotland, among he priests, 
2L 


. 


282 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1657 


that I was come thither; and a great cry was amongst them, that all 
would be spoiled; for they said, ‘I had spoiled all the honest men and 
‘women in England already’ (so according to their own account, the 
worst were left to them.) Upon this they gathered great assemblies of 
pi'ests together, and drew up a number of curses to be read in their sev 
eral steeple-houses, that all the people should say Amen to. Some few 
[ will here set down; the rest may be read in the book before-mentioned 
of “ The Scotch Priests’ Principles.” ; 

The first was, ‘Cursed is he that saith, Every man hath a light with- 

in him sufficient to lead him to salvation: and let all the people say, 
‘Amen. 

The second, ‘Cursed is he that saith, Faith is without sin: and let all 
* the people say, Amen.’ 

The third, ‘Cursed is he that denieth the sabbath-day: and let all the 
‘people say, Amen.’ 

In this last they make the people curse themselves; for on the sabbath- 
day (which is the seventh day of the week, which the Jews kept by the 
command of God to them) they kept markets and fairs, and so brought 
the curse upon their own heads. 

As to the first, concerning the light, Christ saith, ‘ Believe in the light, 
‘that ye may become children of the light’ and, ‘ he that believeth shall 
‘be saved: he that believeth shall have everlasting life: he that believeth 
‘ pas-es from death to life, and is grafted into Christ.’ ‘And ye do well,’ 
sait!) the apostle, ‘that ye take heed unto the light that shines in the dark 
‘place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.’ So 
tps light is sufficient to lead unto the day-star. 

As concerning faith, it is the gift of God: and every gift of God is 
pure. The faith, which Christ is the author of, is precious, divine, and 
without sin. This is the faith which gives victory over sin, and access 
to God; in which faith they please God. But those are reprobates them- 
selves concerning this faith, and are in their dead faith, who charge sin 
upon this faith under pain of a curse: which faith gives victory over 
their curse, and returns it into their own bowels. 

There were a company of Scots near Badcow, who challenged a dis- 
pute with some of our Scotch friends (for with me they would not dis 
pute :) so some of the Scotch friends met them at the market-place. The 
dispute was to be concerning the sabbath-day, and some other of their 
principles before-inentioned ; and I having got their principles and asser- 
tions, shewed the friends where they might easily be overthrown; and a 
Scotch friend, a smith, overthrew them clearly. 

There were two Independent churches in Scotland, in one of which 
many were convinced; but the pastor of the other was in a great rage 
against truth and friends. They had their elders, who sometimes would 


exercise their gifts amongst the church members, and were sometimes 


pretty tender: but their pastor speaking so much against the light, and 
us, the friends of Christ, he darkened his hearers; so that they grew 
blind and dry, and lost their tenderness. He continued preaching 


against friends, and against the light of Christ Jesus, calling it natural; — 


at last one day in his preaching he cursed the light, and fell down as 
dead in his pulpit. The people carried him out, laid him upon a grave- 
stone and poured strong waters into him, which fetched him to life 
again; and they carried him home, but he was mopish. After awhile he 
stripped off his cloaths, put on a Scotch plaid, and went into the coun 


———— 


a ee 


1657: GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 283 


try amongst the dairy-women. When he had staid there about two 
weeks he came home, and went into the pulpit again. Whereupon the 
people expected some great manifestation or revelation from him; bu’, 
instead thereof, he began to tell them what entertainment he had met 
with; how one woman gave him skimmed milk, another buttermilk, and 
another good milk: so the people were obliged to take him out of the 
pulpit again, and carry him home. He that gave me this account, was 
Andrew Robinson, one of his chief hearers, who came afterwards to be 
convinced, and received the truth. He said, he never heard that he re- 
covered his senses again. By this people may see what came upon him 
that cursed the light, which light is the life in Christ, the Word ; and it 
/ may be a warning to all others that speak evil against the light of Christ. 

Now were the priests in such a rage, that they posted to Edinburgh, 
to O. Cromwell’s council there, with petitions against me. The noise 
was, ‘ That all was gone;’ for several friends were come out of Eng- 
land, and spread over Scotland, sounding the day of the Lord, preach- 
ing the everlasting gospel of salvation, and turning people to Christ Jesus, 
who died for them, that they might receive his free teaching. After I 
had gathered the principles of the Scotch priests, and the sufferings of 
friends, and had seen friends in that part of Scotland settled, by the Lord’s 
power, upon Christ their foundation, I went to Edinburgh, and in the 
way came to Linlithgow; where lodging at an inn, the inn-keeper’s 
wife, who was blind, received the word of life, and came under the 
teaching of Christ Jesus her Saviour. At night came in abundance of 
soldiers, and some officers, with whom we had much discourse ; some 
were rude. One of the officers said, ‘He would obey the Turk’s or 
‘ Pilate’s command, if they should command him to guard Christ to cru- 
‘cify him.’ So far he was from all tenderness, or sense of the Spirit of 
Christ, that he would rather crucify the Just, than sufler for or with the 
Just; whereas many officers and magistrates have lost their places, be- 
fore they would turn against the Lord and his Just One. 

When I had staid awhile at Edinburgh, I went to Leith, where many 
officers of the army came in with their wives; and many were con- 
vinced. Edward Billing’s wife was one. She brought a great deal of 
coral in her hand, and threw it on the table before me, to see whether I 
would speak against it, or no. I took no notice of it, but declared the 
truth to her, and she was reached. Many Baptists were very rude; but 
the Lord’s power came over them, so that they went away confounded. 
Then there came in another sort; one of whom said, ‘ He would dis- 
‘pute with me; and, for argument’s sake, would deny there was a God.’ 
I told him, ‘ He might be one of those fools that said in his heart, There 

_ is no God; but he should know him in the day of his judgment.’ So 
ne went his way, and a fine precious time we had afterwards with sev- 
€ya people of account; and the Lord’s power came over all. William 
Osborn was with me. Colonel Lidcot’s wife, William Welsh’s wife, and 
several of the officers themselves were convinced. Edward Billing and 
his wife at that time lived apart; and she being reached by truth, and 

_ become loving to friends, we sent for her husband, who came, and the 
Lord’s power reached to them both; they joined together in it, and 
agreed t¢ live together in love and unity, as man and wife. 

After this we returned to Edinburgh, where many thousands were 
gathered together, with abundance of priests among them, about burn- 

ing a wi‘ch; and I was moved to declare the day of the Lord amongst 


PY 


284 ~ZORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 7145* 


them; which when I had done, I went from thet.ce to our meeting 
whither many rude people and Baptists came. The Baptists began to 
vaunt with their logick and syllogisms; but, ‘1 was moved in the Lord’s 
‘ power, to thresh their chafty light minds; and shewed the people, that, 
‘after that fallacious way of discoursing, they might make white seem 
‘black, and black seem white: as, that because a cock had two legs, 
‘and each of them had two legs; therefore they were all cocks. Thus 
they might turn any thing into lightness and vanity; but it was not the 

way of Christ, or his apostles, to teach, speak, or reason after that 
‘manner.’ Hereupon those Baptists went their way; and after they 
were gone, we had a blessed meeting in the Lord’s power, which was 
over all. 

I mentioned before, that many of the Scotch priests being greatly dis- 
turbed at the spreading of truth, and the loss of their hearers thereby, 
were gone to Edinburgh to petition the council against me. When I 
came from the meeting to the inn where I lodged, an officer belonging 
to the council brought me the following order : 


‘ Thursday, the 8th of October, 1657, at his Highness’s Council in 
; ‘Scotland : 
‘ Ordered, 
‘'Tuat George Fox do appear before the Council on Tuesday the 


‘13th of October next, in the Forenoon. 
‘E. Downing, Clerk of the Council.’ 


When he had delivered me the order, he asked me, ‘ Whether I 
‘would appear or no?’ I did not tell him whether I would or no; but 
asked him, ‘If he had not forged the order?’ He said, ‘ No; it was a 
‘real order from the council, and he was sent as their messenger with 
‘jt... When the time came I appeared, and was had into a great room, 
where many persons came and looked at me. After awhile the door- 
keeper had me into the council-chamber: and as I was going, he took 
off my hat. I asked him, ‘Why he did so? and who was there, that I 
‘might not go in with my hat on? I told him, I had been before the 
‘Protector with my hat on.’ But he hung up my hat and had me in before 
them. When I had stood awhile, and they said nothing to me, I was 
moved of the Lord to say, ‘Peace be amongst you. Wait in the fear 
‘of God, that ye may receive his wisdom from above, by which all 
‘things were made and created; that by it ye may all be ordered, and 
‘may order all things under your hands to God’s glory.’ They asked 
me, ‘ What was the occasion of my coming into that nation?’ I told 
them I came to visit the ‘seed of God, which had long lain in bondage 
‘under corruption; that all in the nation, who professed the scriptures 
-the words of Christ, of the prophets and apostles, might come to the 
‘light, Spirit, and power. which they were in who gave them forth; that 

in and by the Spirit they might understand the scriptures, and know 
Christ and God aright, have fellowship with them, and one with 
another.’ They asked me, ‘Whether I had any outward business 
‘there?’ I said, ‘Nay.’ Then they asked me, ‘How long I intended 
‘to stay in that country?’ JI told them, ‘I should say little to that; my 
time was not to be long; yet in my freedom in the Lord I stood, in the 
will of him that sent me.’ Then they bid me withdraw: and the door- 
keeper took me by the hand, and led me forth. In a little time they 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 285 


sent for me again, and told me, ‘I must depart the nation of Sectland 
‘by that day sevennight.’ I asked them, ‘Why? What had I cone? 
‘What was my transgression, that they passed such a sentence upon 
ine to depart out of the nation?’ They told me, ‘ They would not dis- 

pute with me.’ ‘I desired them to hear what I had to say to them.’ 
They said, ‘ They would not hear me.’ I told them, ‘ Pharaoh heard 
* Moses and Aaron, yet he was an heathen; and Herod heard John Bap- 
‘tist; and they should not be worse than these.’ But they cried, ‘ With- 
‘draw, withdraw.’ Whereupon the door-keeper took me again by the 
hand and led me out. I returned to my inn, and continued still in Edin- 
burgh; visiting friends there and thereabouts, and strengthening them 
in the Lord. After a little time I wrote a letter to the council, to lay 
before them their unchristian dealings, in banishing me, an innocent man 
that sought their salvation and eternal good. 


‘To the council of Edinburgh: 


‘ You that sit in council, and bring before your judgment-seat the in- 
*nocent, the just, without shewing what evil I have done, or convicting 
‘me of any breach of law; and afterwards ye banish me out of your 
‘nation, without telling me for what; though I told you, when ye asked 
‘me ‘ How long I would stay in the nation” that my time was not long 
«(I spoke it innocently ;) yet ye banish me. Will not all, think ye, that 
‘fear God, judge this to be wickedness? Consider, did not they sit in 
‘council about Stephen, when they stoned him to death? Did they not 
‘sit in council about Peter and John, when they haled them out of the 
‘temple, put them out of their council for a little season, and took coun- 
‘sel together; and then brought them in again, threatened, and charged 
‘them to speak no more in that name? Was not this to stop the truth 
‘from spreading in that time? Had not the priests an hand in these 
‘things, with the magistrates? and in examining Stephen, when he was 
‘stoned to death? Was not the council gathered together against Jesus 
‘Christ to put him to death? and had not the chief priests an hand in it? 
‘When they persecute the just, and crucify the just, do they not then 
‘neglect judgment, mercy, and justice, and the weighty matters of the 
‘law, which are just? Was not the apostle Paul tossed up and down 
* and imprisoned by the priests and the rulers?) Was not John Baptist 
‘cast into prison? Are not ye doing the same work, shewing what spi- 
‘rit ye are of? Now, do not ye shew the end of your profession, the 
‘end of your prayers, the end of your religion, and the end of your 
‘teaching, who are now come to banish the truth, and him that came to 
‘declare it unto you! Doth not this shew that ye are but in the words, 
‘out of the life of the prophets, Christ, and his apostles? for they did 
‘not use such practice, as to banish any. How do ye receive strangers, 
‘which is the command of God among the prophets, Christ, and the 
‘apostles? Some by that means have entertained angels at unawares; 
‘but ye banish one that comes to visit the seed of God, and is not 
‘cnargeable to any of you. Will not all that fear God look upon this to 
‘be spite and wickedness against the truth? How are ye like to love 

enemies, that banish your friend? How are ye like to do good to 
them that hate you, when ye do evil to them that love you?’ How are 
ye like to heap coals of fire on their heads that hate you, and to over- 
come evil with good, when ye Lanish thus? Do ye not manifest to all 
that are in the truth that ye have not the christian spirit? How did 


286 ; GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL [l6s7 


‘ye do justice to me, when ye could not convict me of any evil, yet 
‘banish me? ‘This shews that truth is banished out of your hearts, and 
‘ye have taken part against the truth with evil-doers, with the wicked 
envious priests, stoners, strikers, and mockers in the streets; with these 
‘ye that banish have taken part; whereas ye should have been a terror 
to these, and a praise to them that do well, and succourers of them that 
‘are in the truth; then might ye have been a blessing to the nation, and 
not have banished him that was moved of the Lord to visit the seed 
‘ot God, and thereby have brought your names upon record, and made 
*them stink in ages to come, among them that fear God. Were not 
‘the magistrates stirred up in former ages to persecute or banish, by the 
‘corrupt priests? and did not the corrupt priests stir up the rude multi- 
‘tude against the just in other ages? Therefore are your streets like 
‘Sodom and Gomorrah. Did not the Jews and the priests make the 
‘Gentiles’ minds envious against the apostles? Who were they that 
‘ would not have the prophet Amos to prophesy at the king’s chapel; but 
‘bad him fly his way? When Jeremiah was put in the prison, in the 
‘ dungeon, and in the stocks, had not the priests an hand with the princes 
‘in doing it? Now see all, that were in this work of banishing, prison- 
‘ing, persecuting, whether they were not all out of the life of Christ, 
the prophets, and apostles? To the witness of God in you all I speak. 
‘Consider, Whether or no they were not always the blind magistrates, 
‘ which turned their sword always backward, that knew not their friends 
‘from their foes, and so hit their friends? Such magistrates were de- 
ceived by flattery. G. F,’ 


When this was delivered, and read amongst them, some of them, I 
heard, were troubled at what they had done; being made sensible that 
tney would not be so served themselves. But it was not long before 
tney that banished me were banished themselves, or glad to get away ; 
who would not do good in the day when they had power, nor sufier 


\ others that would. 


After J had spent some time among friends at Edinburgh, and there- 
abouts, I passed from thence to Heads again, where friends had been 
in great sufferings; for the Presbyterian priests had excommunicated 

‘them, and given charge, that none should buy or sell with them, nor eat 
nor drink with them. So they could neither sell their commodities, nur 
buy what they wanted ; which made it go very hard with some of them ; 
for if they had bought bread or other victuals of any of their neigh- 
bours, the priests threatened them so with curses, that they would run 
and fetch it from them again. But colonel Ashfield, being a justice of 
peace in that country, put a stop to the priests’ proceedings. ‘This colo 
nel Ashfield was afterwards convinced himself, had a meeting settled at 
his house, and declared the truth, and lived and died in it. 


After I had visited friends at and about Heads, and encouraged them ~ 


in the Lord, I went to Glasgow, where a meeting was appointed; but 
not one of the town came to it. AsJ went into the city, the guard at 


the gates took me before the governor, who was a moderate man. A — 


great deal of discourse I had with him; but he was too light to receive 


the truth; yet he set me at liberty: so I passed to the meeting. But — 


seeing none of the town’s people came to the meeting, we declared 
truth through the town: then passed away, visited friends’ meetings 
thereabouts, and returned towards Badcow. Several friends declared 


$657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 287 


truth in their steeple-houses, and the Lord’s power was with then One 
time, as I was going with William Osborn to his house, there lay a com 
pany of rude fellows by the way-side, who had hid themselves under the 
hedges and in bushes. I espying them, asked him, ‘ What they were?’ 
‘Oh!’ said he, ‘they are thieves.’ Robert Widders, being moved to go 
to speak to a priest, was left behind, intending to come after; so I said 
to William Osborn, ‘1 will stay here in this valley, and do thou go look 
‘after Robert Widders.’ But he was unwilling to go, being afraid to 
leave me there alone because of those fellows; till I told him, ‘I feared 
‘them not.’ Then I called to them, asking them, what they lay lurking 
there for? I bid them come up to me; but they were loth to come. I 
charged them to come up to me, or else it might be worse with them. 
Then they came trembling to me; for the dread of the Lord had struck 
them. I admonished them to be honest, and directed them to the light 
of Christ in their hearts, that by it they might see what an evil it was to 
follow after theft and robbery; and the power of the Lord came over 
them. I staid there till William Osborn and Robert Widders came, and 
then we passed on together. But it is likely, if we two had gone before, 
they would have robbed Widders when he had come after alone, there 
being three or four of them. 

_ We went to William Osborn’s, where we had a good opportunity to 
_ declare the truth to several people that came in. Then we went among 
, the Highlanders, who were so devilish they had like to have spoiled us 

and our horses ; for they ran at us with pitchforks ; but through the Lord’s 
_ goodness we escaped them, being preserved by his power. 

From thence we passed to Stirling, where the soldiers took us up, and 
had us to the main-guard. After a few words with their officers, the 
Lord’s power coming over them, we were set at liberty ; but no meeting 
could we get amongst them in the town, they were so closed up in dark- 
ness. Next morning there came a man with an horse that was to run a 
race, and most of the town’s people and the officers went to see it. As 
they returned from the race, I had a brave opportunity to declare the 

_ day of the Lord and his word of life amongst them. Some confessed 
to it, and some opposed; but the Lord’s truth and power came over 
them all. 
_ Leaving Stirling we came to Burnt-Island, where I had two meetings 
at Captain Pool’s; one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. Whilst 
_ they went to dinner I walked to the sea-side, not having freedom te eat 
_with them. Both he and his wife were convinced, and became good 
_ friends afterward ; and several officers of the army came in and received 
the truth. 
___We passed from thence through several other places in that country, 
_ till we came to Johnstons; where were several Baptists, that were very 
bitter, and came in a rage to dispute with us. Vain janglers and dis- 
puters indeed they were. When they could not prevail by disputing, 
they went and informed the governor against us, and next morning they 
Taised a whole company of foot, and banished me, Alexander Parker, 
_ James Lancaster, and Robert Widders out of the town. As they guard- 
ed us through the town, James Lancaster was moved to sing with a me 
lodions sound in the power of God, and I was moved to proclaim the 
day of the Lord, and preach the everlasting gospel to the people. Fo: 
the people generally came forth, so that the streets were filled with them: 
and the soldiers were so ashamed, that they said, ‘ They had rather have 


288 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1.657 


gone to Jamaica than have guarded us so.’ But we were put into a 
boat with our horses, carried over the water, and there left. The Bap- 
lists, who were the cause of our being thus put out of this town, were 
themselves, not long after, turned out of the army; and he that was then 
governor was discarded also when the king came in. 

Being thus thrust out of Johnstons, we went to another market-town, 
where Edward Billing and many soldiers quartered. We went to an 
inn, and desired to have a meeting in the town, that we might preach the 
everlasting gospel amongst them. The officers and soldiers said, ‘ We 
‘should have it in the town-hall;’ but the Scotch magistrates in spite ap- 
pointed a meeting there that day for the business of the town. Which 
when the officers of the soldiery understood, and perceived that it was 
done in malice, they would have had us to have gone into the town-hall 
nevertheless. But we told them, ‘ No, by no means;’ for then the magis 
trates might inform the governor against them, and say, ‘ They took the 
‘ town-hall from them by force, when they were to do their town-business 
‘therein.’ We told them, ‘ We would go to the market-place.’ They 
said, ‘It was market-day.’ We replied, ‘ It was so much the better ; for 
‘we would have all people to hear the truth and know our principles.’ 
Alexander Parker went_and-stood upon the market-cross, with a bible in 
his hand, and declared the truth amongst the soldiers and market-people : 
but the Scots, being a dark; carnal people, gave little heed, nor hardly 
took notice what was.said. After awhile I was moved of the Lord to 
stand up at the cross, and to declare with a loud voice the everlasting” 
truth, and the day of the Lord that was coming upon all sin and wick- 
edness. Whereupon the people came running out of the town-hall, and 
gathered so together that at last we had a large meeting; for they only 
sate in the court for a colour to hinder us from having the hall to meet 
in. When the people were come away, the magistrates followed them. 
Some walked by, but some staid and heard; and the Lord’s power came 
- over all and kept all quiet. ‘The people were turned to the Lord Jesus 
‘Christ, who died for them, and had enlightened them, that with his ight 
‘they might see their evil deeds, be saved from their sins by him, and 
‘might come to know him to be their teacher. But if they would not 
‘receive Christ, and own him, it was told them, that this light which 
‘came from him would be their condemnation.’ 

Several of them were made loving to us, especially the English, and 
some came afterwards to be convinced. But there was a soldier that 
was very envious against us; he hated both us and the truth, spoke evil 
of the truth, and very despitefully against the light of Christ Jesus, which 
we bore testimony to. Mighty zealous he was for the priests and their 
hearers. As this man was holding his hat before his face, while the 
priest prayed; one of the priest’s hearers stabbed him to death. So he, 
who had rejected the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and cried down 
the servanis of the Lord, was murdered amongst them whom he had s 
cried up, and by one of them. i 

We travelled from this town to Leith, warning and exhorting peopl 
as we went, to turn to the Lord. At Leith the innkeeper told me, th 
council had granted warrants to apprehend me, ‘ because I was not gon 

out of the nation after the seven days were expired that they had or 

dered me to depart the nation in.’ Several friendly people also cam 
and told me the same. ‘To whom I said; ‘ What do ye tell me of thei 


657] GEORGE FCX'S JOURNAL. 289 


warrants against me? If there were a cart-load of them, I do not re- 
‘ gard them; for the Lord’s power is over them all.’ 

I went from Leith to Edinburgh again, where they said the warrants 
from the council were out against me I went to the inn where I had 
lodged before, and no man ofiered to meddle with me. After J had vis- 
ited friends in the city, I desired those that travelled with me to get ready 

their horses in the morning; and we rode out of town together. There 
were with me Thomas Rawlinson, Alexander Parker, and Robert Wid- 
ders. When we were come out of the town, they asked me, ‘ Whither 
‘I would go?’ I told them, ‘ It was upon me from the Lord to go back 
‘again to Johnstons (the town out of which we had been lately thrust) 
‘and to set the power of God and his truth over them also.’ Alexander 
Parker said, ‘ He would go along with me ;’ and I wished the other two 
to stay at a town about three miles from Edinburgh till we returned. 
Then Alexander Parker and I got over the water, which was about three 
miles over, and rode through the country; but in the afternoon, his horse 
being weak and not able to hold up with mine, 1 put on and got into 
Johnstons just as they were drawing up the bridges, the officers and sol- 
diers never questioning me. I rode up the street to captain Davenport's. 
from whence we had been banished. There were many officers with 
him: and when I came amongst them they lifted up their hands, admir- 
ing that I should come again; but I told them, ‘ The Lord God had sent 
‘me amongst them again.’ They went their way; and the Baptists sent 
me a letter, by way of challenge, ‘ That they would discourse with me 
‘the next day.’ I sent them word, ‘I would meet them at such a house, 
‘about half a mile out of the town, at such an hour.’ For I considered, 
if I should stay in town to discourse with them, they might, under pre- 
tence of discoursing with me, have raised men to put me out of town 
again, as they had done before. At the time appointed I went to the 
place, captain Davenport and his son accompanying me; where I staid 
some hours, but not one of them came. While] staid waiting for them, 
I espied Alexander Parker coming ; who not being able to reach the town, 
had lain out the night before; and I was exceeding glad that we were 
met again. 

Captain Davenport was then loving to friends; but afterwards coming 
more into obedience to truth, he was turned out of his place, for not put- 
ting off his hat, and for saying Thou and Thee to them. 

When we had waited beyond reasonable ground to expect any of their 
coming, we departed: and Alexander Parker being moved to go again to 

_the town where we had the meeting at the market-cross, I passed alone 
to lieutenant Foster’s quarters, where I found several officers that were 
convinced. From thence I went to the town where I had left the other 
_ two friends, and they and I went back to Edinburgh together. 
__ When we were come to the city, I bid Robert Widders follow me; 
and in the dread and power of the Lord we came up to the two first 
sentries, and the Lord’s power came so over them, that we passed by 
them without any examination. Then we rode up the street to the mar- 
ket-place, and by the main-guard out at the gate by the third sentry, and 
so clear out at the suburbs, and there came to an inn and set up our 
horses, it being seventh-day. Now I saw and felt that we had rode, as 
it were, against the cannon’s mouth or the sword’s point; but the Lord’s 
power and immediate hand carried us over the heads of them all. Next 
' day I went to the meeting in the city, friends having notice I would at 
2M 


fat 
Ro 
‘iy 


290 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [165% 


tend it. There came many officers and soldiers to it, and a glorious 
meeting it was; the everlasting power of God was set over the nation, 
and his Son reigned in his glorious power. All was quiet, and no mar 
offered to meddle with me. When the meeting was ended, and I had 
visited friends, | came out of the city to my inn again. ‘The next day 
being second-day, we set forward towards the borders of England. 

As we travelled along the country I espied a steeple-house, and it struck 
at my life. J asked, what steeple-house it was? and was answered, it 
was Dunbar. When | came thither, and had set up at an inn, I walked 
to the steeple-house, having a friend or two with me. When we came 
to the steeple-house yard, one of the chief men of the town was walking 
there. I spoke to one of the friends that was with me, ‘ To go to him, 
‘and tell him, that about the ninth hour next morning there would be a 
‘meeting there of the people of God called Quakers; of which we de- 
‘sired he would give notice to the people of the town.’ He sent me word, 

‘ That they were to have a lecture there by the ninth hour; but that we 
‘might have our meeting there ‘by the eighth hour if we would.” We 
concluded so, and desired him to give notice of it. Accordingly in the 
morning both poor and rich came; and there being a captain of horse 
quartered in the town, he and his troopers came also, so that we had a 
large concourse: and a glorious meeting it was, the Lord’s power being 
over all. After some time the priest came, and went into the steeple- 
house ; but we being in the yard, most of the people staid with us. Friends 
were so full, and their voices so high in the power of God, that the priest 
could do little in the house, but came quickly out again, stood awhile, and 
then went his way. I opened to the people, ‘Where they might find 
‘Christ Jesus, turned them to the light, which he had enlightened them 
* withal, that in the light they might see Christ who died for them, turn — 
‘to him, and know him to be their Saviour and teacher; let them see. 
‘that the teachers they had hitherto followed were hirelings, who made 
‘the gospel chargeable; shewed them the wrong ways they had walked — 
‘in, in the night of apostacy, directed them to Christ, the new and living — 
‘way to God; manifested unto them, how they had lost the religion and 
‘worship which Christ set up in spirit and truth, and had hitherto been 
‘in the religions and worships of men’s making and setting up; and after 
‘I had turned the people to the Spirit of God, which led the holy men 
‘of God to give forth the scriptures, and shewed them that they must 
‘also come to receive and_be led by the same Spirit in themselves (a 
‘measure of which was given unto every one of them) if ever they came — 
to know God and Christ and the scriptures aright, perceiving the other 
‘ friends to be full of power and the word of the Lord, I stepped down, 
‘giving way for them to declare what they had from the Lord to the 
‘people.’ ‘Towards the latter end of the meeting some professors began 
to jangle; whereupon J stood up again and answered their questions, so 
that they seemed to be satisfied, and our meeting ended in the Lord’s 
power, quiet and peaceable. This was the last meeting I had in Scot- 
land. The truth and the power of God was set over that nation, and 
many, by the power and Spirit of God, were turned to the Lord Jesus — 
Christ, their Saviour and Teacher, whose tiood was shed for them; and 
there is since a great increase, and great there will be in Scotland, tho — 
the time may be far distant at present. For when first I set my horse’s 
feet upon Scottish ground, I felt the seed of God to sparkle about me 
like innumerable sparks of fire. Not but that there is abundance of — 


1657] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 29. 


_ thick, cloddy earth or hypocrisy and falseness atop, and a briery, brambly 
nature, whick. is to be burned up with God’s word, and ploughed up with 
kis spiritual plough, before God’s seed brings forth heavenly and spiritual 
fruit to his glory. But the husbandman is to wait in patience. 

' From Dunbar we came to Berwick, where we were questioned a little 
oy the officers; but the governor was loving towards us, and in the even- 

ing we had a little meeting, in which the power of the Lord was mani- 
fested over all. 

Leaving Berwick we came to Morpeth, and through the country, vis- 
iting friends, to Newcastle, where I had been once before. The New- 
eastle priests wrote many books against us, and one Ledger, an alderman 
of the town, was very envious against truth and friends. He and the 
priests had said, ‘ The Quakers would not come into any great towns, 
‘ but lived in the fells like butterflies.’ J took Anthony Pearson with me, 
and went to this Ledger and several others of the aldermen; ‘ desiring 
‘to have a meeting amongst them, seeing they had written so many books 
‘against us: for we were now come, I told them, into their great town.’ 
But they would not yield we should have a meeting, neither would they 
‘be spoke with, save only this Ledger and one other. I queried, ‘ Had 
‘they not called friends butterflies, and said, we would not come into 
‘any great towns? And now we were in their town, they would not 
‘come at us, tho’ they had printed books against us: who are the butter- 
‘flies now? Then Ledger began to plead ‘for the sabbath-day. I told 

/*him, they kept markets and fairs on that which was the sabbath-day, 
‘for that was the seventh day of the week; whereas that day which the 

(' professed christians now meet on, and call their sabbath, is the first day 
‘of the week.’ As we could not have a public meeting among them. 
we got a little meeting among friends and friendly people at the Gate- 
side; where a meeting is continued to this day in the name of Jesus. 
As I was passing by the market-place the power of the Lord rose in me 
* to warn them of the day of the Lord that was coming upon them.’ And 
not long after, all those priests of Newcastle and their profession were 
turned out when the king came in. 

From Newcastle we travelled, having meetings and visiting friends, 
in Northumberland and Bishoprick. A very good meeting we had at 
lieutenant Dove’s, where many were turned to the Lord and his teaching. 
After which I went to visit a justice of peace, a very sober, loving man, 
who confessed to the truth. 

From thence we came to Durham, where was a man come from Lon- 
don to set up a college to make ministers of Christ, as they said. I went 
with some others to reason with the man, and to let him see, ‘ That to 
‘teach men Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and the seven arts, which were all 
‘but the teachings of the natural man, was not the way to make them 
‘ministers of Christ. For the languages began at Babel; and to the 
‘Greeks, that spoke Greek as their mother-tongue, the preaching of the _ 

cross of Christ was foolishness; and to the Jews, that spoke Hebrew 
‘as their mother-tongue, Christ was a stumbling-block. The Romans, 
‘who had the Latin, persecuted the Christians; and Pilate, one of the 
“Roman governors, set Hebrew, Greek, and Latin atop of Christ when 
‘he crucified him. So he might see the many languages began at Babel, 
and they set them atop of Christ, the Word, when they crucified him. 
John the divine, who preached the Word which was in the beginning 
said, ‘ That the beast and the whore have power over tongues and 


ee eel semanas 


292 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [.'651 


“Janguages, and they are as waters.” Thus, I told him, he might see 

the whore and the Least have power over the tongues and the many 
‘languages, which are in mystery Babylon; for they began at Babel, 
‘and the persecutors of Christ Jesus set them over him, when he was 
‘crucified by them; but he is risen over them all, who was before them 
‘all. Now (said I to this man) dost thou think to make ministers of 
‘Christ by these natural, confused languages which sprung frem Babel 
“are admired in Babylon, and set atop of Christ, the Life, by a persecu- 

tor? Oh, no!’ The man confessed to many of these things. Then 
we shewed him further, ‘ That Christ made his ministers himself, gave 
‘ gifts unto them, and bid them “ Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send 
“forth laborers.” And Peter and John, though unlearned and ignorant 
“as to school-learning, preached Christ Jesus the Word, which was in 
‘the beginning, before Babel was. Paul also was made an apostle, not 
- of man, nor by man, neither received he the gospel from man, but from 
‘Jesus Christ; who is the same now, and so js the gospel, as it was at 
‘that day.” When we had thus: discoursed with him, he became very 
loving and tender: and after he had considered further of it, declined to 
set up his college. 

From Durham we went to Anthony Pearson’s, from thence into 
Cleveland, and passed through Yorkshire to the further end of Holder- 
ness, and had mighty meetings, the Lord’s power accompanying us. 

After we passed from Anthony Pearson’s, we went by Hull and 
Pomfret to George Watkinson’s, and visited most of the meetings in 
these parts, till we came to Scalehouse, and so to Swarthmore; the 
everlasting power and arm of God carrying us through and preserving 
us. After I had visited friends there-away, I passed into Yorkshire and 
Cheshire, and so through other counties into Derbyshire and Notting- 
hamshire; and glorious meetings we had, the Lord’s presence being 
with us. 

At Nottingham I sent to Rice Jones, desiring him ‘ to acquaint his 

people that I had something to say to them from the Lord.’ He came 
and told me, ‘ Many of them lived in the country, and he could not 
‘tell how to send to them.’ I told him, ‘ He might acquaint them about 
‘the town of it, and send to as many in the country as he could.’ The 
next day we met at the castle, there being about fourscore people, to 
whom I declared the truth for about the space of two hours; and the 
Lord’s power was over them all, so that they had not power to open 
their mouths in opposition. When I had done, one of them asked me a 
question, which I was loth to have answered; for I saw it might lead 
into jangling, and was unwilling to go into jangling, for some of the 
people were tender; yet I could not well tell how to escape it. 
Wherefore I answered the question, and was moved forthwith to 


speak to Rice Jones, and lay before him, ‘ That he had been the man. 


who had scattered such as had been tender, and some that had been 
convinced and had been led out of the vanities of the world, which he 
‘ had formerly judged; but now he judged the power of God in them, 
and they being simple turned to him; so he and they were turned to be 
‘vainer than the world: for many of his followers were become the 
greatest foot-ball players and wrestlers in the whole country. I told 
them it was the serpent in him that had scattered and done hurt to such 
as were tender towards the Lord. Nevertheless, if he waited in the 
fea: of God for the seed of the woman, Christ Jesus, to bruise the ser- 


ee ee a 


458] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 293 


pent’s head in him, that had scattered and done the hurt; he might 
come to gather them again by this heavenly seed; though it would be 
an hard work for him, to gather them again out of those vanities he had 
led them into.’ At this Rice Jones said, “ Thou liest, it is not the seed 
‘of the woman that bruises the serpent’s head.” ‘No! said I, what is 
it then? “T say, it is the law,” said he. ‘ But said I, the scripture, 
speaking of the seed of the woman, saith, “It shall bruise thy head, 
and thou shalt bruise his heel:” now, hath the law an heel, said I, to 
‘be bruised?” Then Rice Jones and all his company were at a stand, 
and I was moved in the power of the Lord to say, ‘ This seed, Christ 
‘ Jesus, the seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent’s head, 
‘shall bruise thy head, and break you all in pieces.’ Thus I left on the 
heads of them the seed, Christ; and not long after he and his company 
scattered to pieces; several of whom came to be friends, and stand to 
this day. Many of them had been convinced about eight years before, 
but had been led aside by this Rice Jones; for they denied the inward 
cross, the power of God, and so went into vanity. It was about eight 
years, since I had been formerly amongst them; in which time I was 
to pass over them, and by them, seeing they had slighted the Lord’s 
truth and power, and the visitation of his love unto them. But now was 
the time that I was moved to go to them again, and it was of great ser- 
vice; for many of them were brought to the Lord Jesus Christ, and 


_ were settled upon him, sitting down under his teaching and feeding, 


where they were kept fresh and green; and the others that would not 
be gathered to him soon after withered. This was that Rice Jones, who 
had some years before said, ‘J was then at the highest, and should fall ; 
but, poor man! he little thought how near his own fall was. 

We left Nottingham, and went into Warwickshire, Northampton- 
shire, and Leicestershire, visiting friends, and having meetings as we 
travelled. We came into Bedfordshire, where we had large gatherings 
in the name of Jesus. After some time we came to John Crook’s, 
where a general yearly meeting for the whole nation was appointed to 
be held. ‘This meeting lasted three days, and many friends from most 
parts of the nation came to it; so that the inns and towns round therea- 
bouts were filled, for many thousands of people were at it. And although 
there was some disturbance by some rude people that had run out froin 
truth; yet the Lord’s power came over all, and a glorious meeting it 
was. The everlasting gospel was preached, and many received it, 
which gospel brought life and immortality to light in them, and shined 
over all. 

I was moved by the Power and Spirit of the Lord to open unto them 
the ‘ promise of God, that it was made to the seed, not to seeds, as many, 
‘but to one; which seed was Christ: and that all people, both male and 
‘female, should feel this seed in them, which was heir of the promise, 
‘that so they might all witness Christ in them, the hope of glory, the 
‘mystery which had been hid from ages and generations, which was re- 
‘vealed to the apostles, and is revealed again now, after the long night 


_ of avostacy. So that all might come up into this seed, Christ Jesus, 


‘walk in it, and sit down together in heavenly places in Chrisi Jesus, 


-* who was the foundation of the prophets and apostles, the rock of ages, 


‘and is our foundation now. All sitting down in him, sit down in the 


‘substance, the first and the last, that changes not, the seed that bruises 


the serpent’s head, which was before he was, who ends all the types, 


294 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 71658 


‘ figures, and shadows, and is the substance of them all; in whom there 
‘is no shadow.’ Now, these things were upon me to open unto all, that 
they might mind and see what it is they sit down in. 

‘First, They that sit down in Adam in the fall, sit down in misery, ip 
‘death, in darkness and corruption. 

‘Secondly, They that sit down in the types, figures, and shadows, 
‘and under the first priesthood, law, and covenant, sit down in that 

which must have an end, and which made nothing perfect. 

* Thirdly, They that sit down in the apostacy, that hath got up ¢ince 
‘the apostles’ days, sit down in spiritual Sodom and Egypt; and are 
‘drinking of the whore’s cup, under the beast’s and dragon’s power. 

‘Fourihly, They that sit down in the state in which Adam was be- 
‘ fore he fell, sit down in that which may be fallen from; for he fell from 
‘that state, though it was perfect. 

‘Fifthly, They that sit down in the prophets, sit down in that which 
‘must be fulfilled: and they that sit down in the fellowship of water, 

bread, and wine, these being temporal things, they sit down in that 
‘which is short of Christ, and of his baptism. 

‘ Sixthly, To sit down in a profession of all the scriptures, from Gene- 
‘sis to the Revelations, and not be in the power and Spirit which those 
‘were in that gave them forth; that was to be turned away from, by 
nem that came into the power and Spirit which those were bt that 

‘ gave forth the scriptures. 
‘Seventhly, They that sit down in the heavenly places in Christ 
Jesus, sit down in him that never fell, nor ever changed. Here is the 
‘safe sitting for all his elect, his church, his spiritual members, of which 
‘he is the living head, his living stones, the household of faith; of which 
‘house he is the corner-stone, that stands and abides all weathers. 
“ For,” as the apostle said, “he hath quickened us, who were dead in 
“sins and trespasses, &c. and made us sit together in the heavenly 
“places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might shew the ex- 
“ceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us, through Jesus 
“Christ.” Now the ages are come, that his kindness and exceeding 
‘riches towards us through Jesus Christ is truly manifested in us, as it 
‘was in the apostles’ days; even in us, who have been dead in sins and 
‘ trespasses, as they were; "but now are quickened, and made to sit to- 
‘ gether in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, the first and the last, by 
‘whom all things were created; who is ascended above all, and is over 
‘all, and whose glorious presence is now known. All that sit dowr 
‘here, in Christ Jesus, see where all other people sit, and in what. Th 
promise of God being to the seed, which is one, Christ Jesus, ever 
man and woman must come to witness this seed, Christ in them, tha 
‘they may be heirs of the promise; and inheriting that, they will inherit 
substance. These things were largely declared of; the state of th 
church, and the state of the false church since the apostles’ days, open 
‘ed; and how the true church fled into the wilderness: and the state of 
‘the false prophets, which Christ said should come, and John saw wer 
‘ come, and how all the world wondered after them; and how they hac 
‘filled the world with false doctrines, ways, worships, and religions: an 
‘how the everlasting gospel is now preached again to all nations, kit 
dreds, tongues and people; for all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peo 
ple had drunk the whore’s cup, and she was over them, and sat upo 
hem. In this night of apostacy the pure religion and worship in spiri 


. 


1658) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 295 


which was in the apostles’ days, the way of life and living faith, anc. the 
power and Holy Ghost were lost; but now they came to be set up 
again hy Christ Jesus, his messengers and ministers of the gospel, as in 
the apustles’ days. For as Christ sent his disciples to go and preach the 
gospel into all ihe world, and afier that, the false prophets and anti- 
christs went over the world, and preached their false doctrines and 
traditions, and heathenish and Jewish rudiments, so now again the 
‘everlasting gospel must be preached to all nations, and to every crea- 
‘ture, that they may come inio the pure religion, to worship God in the 
‘Spirit and truth, and may know Christ Jesus, their way to God, to be 
‘the author of their faith, and may receive the gospel from heaven, and 
‘not from men; in which gospel, received from heaven, is the heavenly 
‘ fellowship, which is a mystery to all the fellowships in the world.’ Af- 
ter these things had been largely opened, with many others concerning 
Christ Jesus and his kingdom, and the people were turned to the divine 
light of Christ and his Spirit, by which they might come to know God 
and Christ, and the scriptures, and to have fellowship with them, and 
one with another in ihe same Spirit, | was moved to declare and open 
divers other things to those friends who had received a part of the min- 
istry, concerning the exercise of their spiritual gifts in the church: which, 
being taken in writing by one present, was after this manner ; 
‘ Friends, 
‘'Taxe heed of destroying that which ye have begotten; for that 
‘which destroys, goes out, and is the cast-away. And though that be 
‘true, yea, and may be the pure truth which such an one speaks, yet if 


‘he doth not remain in that, and live in that in his particular, but goes 


nage” 


‘out, the same which he is gone out from cometh over him. So that 
‘which calms and cools the spirits, goes over the world, and brings to 
‘the Father, to inherit the lite eternal; and reaches to the spirits in 
‘prison in all. Therefore in the living, immovable Word of the Lord 


'*God dwell, in the renown thereof: and remain on the foundation that 


- ‘is pure, and that is sure: for whosoever goes out from the pure, and 


‘ministers not in and from that, he comes to an end, and doth not re- 
‘main; although he may have had a time, and may have been servicea- 
‘ble for a time, while he lived in the thing. 

‘Take heed of many words; what reacheth to the life, settles in the 
‘life. That which cometh from the life, and is received from God, reach- 
‘eth to the life, and settles others in the life: the work is not now as it 
‘was at first; the work now is, to settle and stay in the life. For as 
‘friends have been led to minister in the power, and the power hath 
‘ gone through, so that there hath grown an understanding among both 
‘people of the world and friends, so friends must be kept in the life 
‘ which is pure, that with that they may answer the pure life of God in 
‘others. If friends do not live in the pure life which they creak <4 10 

answer the life in those they’speak to, the other part steps in; and so 
there comes up an outward acquaintance, and he ets that come over 
him. But as every one is kept living in the ife of God, over all that 
which is contrary, they are in their places; then they do not lay hands on 
any suddenly, which is the danger now: for if any one do, he may lose 
his discerning, may lay hands on the wrong part, so let the deceit come 
too near him; and the deceit will steal over, so that it will be an 
hard thing for him to get it down. There is no one strikes his fe’low- 
servauts, but first he is gone from the pure in his own particular; for 


296 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 


‘when he gveth from the light he is enlightened withal, then he strikes; 
‘and then he hath his reward: the light, which he is gone from, Christ, 
‘comes and gives hir: his reward. This is the state of the evil servants. 
The boisterous, the hasty and rash, beget nothing to God; but the life, 
which doth reach the life, is that which begets to God. Wheh all are 
settled in the life, they are in that which remains for ever; and what is 
‘received there, is received from the Lord; and what one receiveth 
‘from the Lord, he keepeth; so he sitteth still, cool, and quiet in his own 
‘spirit, and gives it forth as he is moved; but to the harlots, judgment. 
‘Friends, This is the word of the Lord to you all, be watchful and 
careful in all meetings ye come into; for where friends are sitting to- 
‘gether in silence, they are many times gathered into their own mea- 
‘sures. When a man is come newly out of the world, from ministering 
‘to the world’s people, he cometh out of the dirt; and then he had need 
‘take heed that he be not rash. For when he comes into a silent meet- 
‘ing, that is another state; then he must come, and feel his own spirit, 
‘ how it is when he comes to them that sit silent. If he be rash, they will 
‘judge him; that having been in the world, and amongst the world, the 
‘heat is not yet off him. For he may come in the heat of his spirit out 
‘of the world; whereas the others are still and cool; and his condition 
‘in that, not beg agreeable to theirs, he may rather do them hurt, by 
‘ begetting them out of the cool state into the heating state; if he be not 
‘in that which commands his own spirit, and gives him to know it. _ 

‘ There is great danger too in travelling abroad in the world. The 
‘same power, that moves any to go forth, is that which must keep them. 
‘For it is the greatest danger to go abroad, except a man be moved of 
‘the Lord, and go in the power of the Lord; for then, he keeping in the 

power, is kept by it in his journey, and in his work; it will enable him 
‘to answer the transgressed, and keep above the transgressor. Every 
‘one feeling the danger to his own particular in travelling abroad, there 
‘the pure fear of the Lord will be placed and kept in. Though they that 
‘travel may have openings when they are abroad, to minister to others; 
‘ yet, for their own particular growth, they must dwell in the life which 
‘doth open; and that will keep down that which would boast. For the 
‘minister comes into the death, to that which is in the death and in 
‘prison: and so returns up again into the life, into the power, and into 
‘the wisdom, to preserve him clean. 

‘ This is the word of the Lord God to you all; feel, that ye stand in 
‘the presence of the Lord; for every man’s word shall be his burden ; 
‘but the word of the Lord is pure, and answers the pure in every one. 
‘The Word of the Lord is that which was in the beginning, and brings 

to the beginning. It is an hammer to beat down the transgressor (not 
‘the transgressed) and as a fire to burn up that which is contrary to it. 
‘ Frierids, come into that which is over all the spirits of the world, fath- 
‘oms all the spirits of the world, and stands in the patience; with that 
‘ye may see where others stand, and reach that which is of God in 
every one. Here is no strife, no contention, out of transgression: for 
‘he that goeth into strife, and into contention, he is from the pure Spirit. 
For where any goeth into contention, if any thing hath been begotten 
by him before, that contentious nature doth get atop, spoileth that which 
was begotten, and quencheth his own prophesying. So if that be not 
subjected by the power in the particular, which would arise into strife, 
that is dangerous. 


1658] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 297 


‘It any one have a moving to any place, and have spoken what they 
were moved of the Lord, let them return to their habitation again, and 
* live in the pure life of God, and in the fear of the Lord; so will ye be 
‘ kept in the life, in the solid and seasoned spirit, and preach as well in 
‘life as with words (none must be light or wild.) For the seed of God 
‘is weighty, brings to be solid, and leads into the wisdom of God, by 
‘which the wisdom of the creation is known. But if that part be up 
‘which runs into the imaginations, and that part be standing in which 
* the imaginations come up, and the pure spirit be not thoroughly come 
‘up to rule and reign, then that will run out that will glory, boast, and 
“vapour; and so will such an one spoil that which opened to hin; this 
‘is for condemnation. Let every one mind that which feels through and 
commands his spirit, whereby every one may know what spirit he is 
of; for he should first try his own spirit, and then he may try others ; 
he should first know his own spirit, and then he may know others. 
‘ Therefore that which doth command all these spirits, Where the heats 
‘and burnings come in and get up, in that wait which chains them down 
‘and cools: that is the elect, the heir of the promise of God. For no 
‘hasty, rash, brittle spirits (though they have prophecies) have held out, 
‘and gone through, they not being subjected in the prophecy. The 
‘earthly will not abide, for it is brittle; in that state the ministry was 
‘another’s, not the Son’s; for the Son hath life in himself, and the Son 
‘hath the power, which man being obedient to, he may be serviceable: 
‘but if he go from the pure power, he falls and abuseth it. Therefore 
‘let your faith stand in the pure power of the Lord God, and do not 
‘abuse it; but let that search through, and work through; and let every 
‘one stand in the power of the Lord, which reacheth the seed of God; 
‘which is the heir of the promise of life without end. Let none be hasty 
‘to speak; for ye have time enough, and with an eye ye may reach the 
‘witness; neither let any be backward when ye are moved; for that 
‘brings destruction. Truth hath an honour in the hearts of those who 
‘are not friends; so that all friends being kept in the truth, they are kept 
‘in the honour, they are honourable, for that will honour them; but if 
any lose the power, lose the life, they lose their crown, they lose their 

~ honour, they lose the cross which should crucify them, and they crucify 
the just; and by losing the power, the Lamb comes to be slain. And 
‘as it is here, so will it be in other nations; for all friends, here and 
‘there, are as one family: the seed, the plants, they are as a family. All 
‘being kept in that which subjects all, and keeps all under, to wit, the 
‘seed itself, the life itself, that is the heir of the promise; and that is the 
‘bond of peace: for there is the unity in the Spirit with God and with 
‘one another. He that is kept in the life hears God, and sees man’s con- 
‘dition; and with that he answers the life in others that hear God also. 
‘thus one friend, that is come into that, comprehends the world. But 
“that which friends speak, they must live in; so may they expect ‘tha 
_ others may come into that which they speak, to live in the same. For 
_ *the power of the Lord God hath been abused by some, and the worth 
“of truth hath not teen minded. There hath been a trampling on, and 
marring with the feet, and that abuseth the power. But now every 
friend is to keep in the power, and to take heed to it; for that must be 
kept down which would trample and mar with the feet, and the pure 
life and power of God is to be lived in over that; that none with the 
feet might foul or mar, but every one may be kept in the pure power 

2N 


258 aEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 


‘and life of the Lord. Then the water of life cometh in; then he that 
‘ ministereth drinketh himself, and giveth others to drink. 

‘When any shall be moved to go to speak in a steeple-house or mar- 
‘ket, turn in to that which moves, and be obedient to it; that that which 
‘would not go may be kept down: for that which would not go will be 
‘apt to get up. And take heed on the other hand, that the lavishing 
‘ part do not get up, for it is a bad savour; therefore that must be kept 
‘down and kept subject. Wait in the light of the Lord that ye may be 
‘all kept in the wisdom of God. For when the seed is up in every par- 
‘ticular, there is no danger; but when there is an opening and prophecy, 
‘and the power stirs before the seed comes up, there is something that 
‘will be apt to run out rashly; there’s the danger, and there must be the 
‘patience in the fear. For it is a weighty thing to be in the work of the 
‘ministry of the Lord God, and to go forth in that. It is not as a custom- 
‘ary preaching ; it is to bring people to the end of all outward preaching. 
‘For when ye have declared the truth to the people, and they have re- 
‘ceived it, and are come into that which ye spake of ; the uttering of 
‘many words, and long declarations out of the life, may beget them into 
‘a form. And if any should run on rashly into words again, without 
‘the savour of life, those that are come into the thing he spake of will 
‘judge him; whereby he may hurt again that which he had raised up 
‘before. So friends, ye must all come inio the thing that is spoken in the 
‘ openings of the heavenly life among you, and walk in the love of God, 
‘that ye may answer the thing spoken to. 

‘And take heed all of running into inordinate affections; for when 
‘people come to own you, there is danger of the wrong part getting up. 
‘There was a strife among the disciples of Christ, who should be the 
‘ greatest? Christ told them, “ The heathen exercise lordship, and have 
“dominion over one another; but.it shall not be so among you.” For 
‘Christ the Seed was to come up in every one of them; so then wheie is 
‘the greatest? That part in the disciples, which looked to be the great- 
‘est, was the same that was in the Gentiles. But who comes here to 
‘live in the Word that sanctified him, having the heart sanctified, th 
‘tongue and lips sanctified, living in the Word of wisdom, that makes 
‘clean the heart, and reconciles to God, all things being upheld by the 
‘Word and power; as there is an abiding in the Word of God, tha 
‘upholds times and seasons, and gives all things increase, here dwelling 
‘in the Word of wisdom, if there be but two or three agreed in this 
‘on earth, it shall be done for them in heaven. So in this must all things 
‘be ordered by the Word of wisdom and power, that upholds all things 
‘the times and the seasons, that are in the Father’s hands; to the glory 
‘of God, whereby his blessing may be felt among you; and this brings 
‘to the beginning. This is the word of the Lord God to you all, Keep 
‘down, keep low, that nothing may rule nor reign in you, but life itself. 

‘ The power being lived in, the cross is lived in; and where-eve 
‘friends come in this, they draw the power and the life over; they leave 
‘a witness behind them, answering the witness of God in others. 

Where this is lived in, there is no want of wisdom, no want of power, 
‘no want of knowledge; he that ministereth in this, seeth with the eye 
which the Lord openeth in him, what is for the fire, and what 1s for the 
‘sword, what mus‘ be fed with judgment, and what must be nourished. 
This brings all down, and to be low, every one keeping to the power 
for let a man get up ever so high, he must come down again to the 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 299 


‘power where he left; what he went from, he must come down again 
‘to that. Before all these wicked spitits be got down, which are ram- 
‘bling abroad, friends must have patience, must wait in the patience, in 
‘the cool life; and who is in this doing the work of the Lord, he hath 
‘the tasting and the feeling of the Lamb’s power and authority. There- 
‘fore all friends, keep cool and quiet in the power of the Lord Ged ; and 
‘all that is contrary will be subjected ; the Lamb hath the victory, in the 
* seed, through the patience. 

‘If any have been moved to speak, and have quenched that which 
‘moved them, let none such go forth afterwards into words, until they 
‘feel the power to arise and move them thereto again; for afier the first 
are is quenched, the other part will be apt to get up; and if any 

‘go forth in thai, he goeth forth in his own, and the betray er will come 
_ ff into that ‘And all friends, be careful not to meddle with the pow- 
(‘fers of the earth; but keep out of all such things; as ye keep in the 
_ | £ Lamb’s authority, ye will answer that of God in “them, and bring them 
_ \*to do justice, which is the end of the law. Keep out of all jangling; 
_ **for all that are in the transgression are out from the law of love; but all 
_ ‘that are in the law of love come to the Lamb’s power, in the Lamb's 

: ‘authority, who is the end of the law outward. For the law being 
% ‘added because of transgression, Christ, who was glorified with the 
Ne ‘Father before the ae began, is the end of the law; bringing them 

_ *that live in the law of life, to iive over all transgression ; which every 
* particular must feel in himself.’ 


* 
LJ 
a 
More was then spoken to many of these particulars; which was not 
_ taken at large as delivered. 

_ After this meeting was over, and most of the friends gone away, as | 

was walking in John Crook’s garden, there came a party of horse, with 
- aconstable, to seize me. J heard them ask, ‘ Who was in the house” 
_ Somebody made answer, ‘I was there.’ They said, ‘I was the man 
_ ‘they looked for;’ and went forthwith into the house, where they had 
_ many words with John Crook, and some few friends that were with 
- him. But the Lord’s power so confounded them, ihat they came not 
M, into the garden to look for me; but went their way ina rage. Wher 

_," came into the house, friends were very glad to see them so disappoint- 
¥ ed, and that I had escaped them. Next day I passed from thence: and 
after I had visited friends in several places, came to London, the Lord’s 
4 power accompanying me, and bearing me up in his service. 

I had not been long in London, before I heard that a Jesuit, who 
~ came over—with-an-ambassador from Spain, had challenged all the 

_ Quakers to dispute with them at the earl of Newport's house; where- 
_ upon some friends let him know some would meet him. Then he sent 
us word, ‘ He would meet with twelve of the wisest learned men we 
_*had.’ Awhile after he sent us word, ‘He would meet with but six ; 
_ yafier that, he sent us word again, ‘ He would have but three to come.’ 

( We hastened what we could, lest, for all his great boast, he should put 
it quite off at last. “When we were come to the house, I bid Nicholas 
_/ Bond and Edward Burrough go up, and enter the discourse with him; 
_ and I would walk awhile in the yard, and then come up afier them. 1 

advised them to state this question to him, ‘ Whether or no the church of 
-*Rome, as it now stood, was not degenerated from the true church 
--which was in the primitive times, from the life and doctrine, and from 


~ 


300 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 


‘the power and spirit that they were in?’ ‘They stated the question ac- 
cordingly: and the Jesuit athrmed, ‘ That the church of Rome now was 
‘in the virginity and purity of the primitive church.’ By this time I 
was come to them. Then we asked him, ‘ Whether they had the Holy 
‘Ghost poured out upon them, as the apostles had? He said, ‘No.’ 
‘ Then,’ said I, ‘If ye have not the same Holy Ghost poured forth upon 
‘you, and the same power and Spirit that the apostles had, ye are de- 
‘generated fiom the power and Spirit which the primitive church was 
‘in’ There needed little more to be said to that. Then I asked him, 
‘What scripture they had for setting up cloysters for nuns, abbeys and 

monasteries for men; for all their several orders; for their praying by 
‘beads, and to images; for making crosses; for forbidding of meats 
“and marriages; and for putting people to death for religion? If, said 
‘I, ye are in the practice of the primitive church, in its purity and 
f virginity, then let us see by scriptures where-ever they practised any 
‘such things!’ (For it-was.agreed on both hands, that we should make 
good by scriptures what we said.) Then he told us of a written word, 
and an unwritten word? I asked him what he called his unwritten 
word! He said,‘ The written word is the scriptures, and the unwrit- 
‘ten word is that which the apostles spoke by word of mouth; which, 
‘said he, are all those traditions that we practise.’ I bid him prove 


that by scripture. Then he brought that scripture where the apostle - 


says, 2 Thess. ii. 5. ‘When I was with you, I told you these things. 
‘ That is,’ said he, ‘I told you of nunneries and monasteries, and of 
‘ putting to death for religion, and of praying by beads, and to images, 
‘and all the rest of the practices of the church of Rome; which,’ he 
said, ‘ was the unwritten word of the apostles, which they told then, and 
‘have since been continued down by tradition unto these times.’ Then 
‘I desired him to read that scripture again, that he might see how 
‘he had perverted the apos‘le’s words; for that which the apostle there 
‘tells the Thessalonians, “ he had told them before,” is not an unwritten 
‘word, but is there written down; namely, That the man of sin, the son 
‘of perdition. shall be revealed before the great and terrible day of 
‘Christ, which he was writing of, should come: so this was not telling 
‘them any of those things that the church of Rome practises. In like 
‘manner the apostle, in the third chapter of that epistle, tells the church 
‘of some disorderly persons, “he heard were amongst them, busy- 
“bodies, who did not work at all; concerning whom he had command- 
“ed them by his unwritten word, when he was among them, that if 
“ any would not work, neither should he eat: which now he commands 
“them again in his written word in this epistle,” 2 Thess. ii. So this 
scripture afforded no proof for their invented traditions, and he had no 
other scripture proof to offer. Therefore I told him, ‘ This was another 
‘degeneration of their church into such inventions and traditions as the 
‘apostles and primitive saints never practised.’ 

After this he came to his sacrament of the altar, beginning at the pas- 


chal lamb, and the shew-bread, and came to the words of Christ, * This — 


‘is my body,’ and to what the apostle wrote of it to the Corinthians ; con- 
cluding, ‘ That after the priest had consecrated the bread and wine, *t 


was ‘immortal and divine, and he that received it, received the whole © 
‘Christ.’ T followed him through the scriptures he brought, till I came — 
<o Christ’s words and the anostle’s. I shewed him, ‘ That the same apos- — 


tle told the Corinthians, after they had taken bread and wine in remem. 


1658] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 301 


brance of Carist’s death, that they were reprobates, “ if Christ was not 
¢in them ;” but if the bread they ate was Christ, he must of necessity 
be in them after they had eaten it. Besides, if this bread and this wine, 
‘which the Corinthians ate and drank, was Christ’s body, then how hath 
‘Christ a body in heaven?’ I observed to him also, ‘ That both the dis- 
‘ciples at the supper, and the Corinthians afterwards, were to eat the 
‘bread and drink the wine in “ remembrance of Christ,” and to “ shew 
* forth his death till he come ;” which plainly proves the bread and wine, 
‘which they took, was not his body. For if it had been his real body 
‘that they ate, then he had been come, and was then there present, and 
‘it had been improper to have done such a thing in remembrance of him, 
‘if he had been then present with them, as he must have been, if that 
‘bread and wine which they ate and drank had been his real body.’ As 
to those words of Christ, ‘ This is my body,’ I told him, ‘ Christ calls him- 
‘self a vine, and a door, and is called in scripture a rock. Is Christ 
‘therefore an outward rock, door, or vine?’ O, said the Jesuit, ‘ Those 
‘words are to be interpreted;’ ‘so, said I, are those words of Christ, 
« This is my body.” Having stopped his mouth as to argument, I made 
the Jesuit a proposal thus; ‘ That seeing he said, “ The bread and wine 
“ was immortal and divine, and the very Christ; and that whosoever re- 
“ ceived it, received the whole Christ ;” let a meeting be appointed he- 
‘tween some whom the pope and his cardinals should appoint, and some 
‘of us; let a bottle of wine and loaf of bread be brought, and divided 
‘each into two parts, and let them consecrate which of those parts they 
‘would. Then set the-eonsecrated-and the unconsecrated bread and 
‘wine in a safe place, with a sure watch upon it; and let trial be 
‘thus made, whether the consecrated bread and wine would not lose its 
‘ goodness, and the-bread grow dry and mouldy, and the wine turn dead 
‘and sour, as well and as soon as that which was unconsecrated. By 
‘this means, said I, the truth of this matter may be made manifest. And 
‘if the consecrated bread and wine change not, but retain their savour 
and goodness, this may be a means to draw many to your church: if 
‘they change, decay, and lose their goodness, then ought you to confess 
‘and forsake your error, and shed no more blood about it: for much 
‘blood hath been shed about these things; as in queen Mary’s days.’ 
To this the Jesuit made this reply; “ Take,” said he, “a piece of new 
“cloth, and cut it into two pieces, and make two garments of it, and put. 
“one of them upon king David’s back, and the other upon a beggar’s, 
“and the one garment shall wear away as well as the other.” ‘Is this 
‘thy answer, said 1? Yes, said he. Then, said J, by this the company 
‘may all be satisfied that your consecrated bread and wine is not Christ. 
‘Have ye told people so long, that the consecrated bread and wine was 
‘immortal and divine, and that it was the very and real body and blood 
‘of Christ, and dost thou now say it will wear away or decay as well 
as the other ? I must tell thee, “ Christ remains the same to-day as yes- 
“terday,” and never decays; but is the saints’ heavenly food in all gen- 
‘erations, through which they have life.’ He replied no more to this, 
being willing to let it fall; for the people that were present saw his error, 
and that he could not defend it. Then J asked him, ‘ Why their church 
‘did persecute, and put people to death for religion?’ He replied, ‘ It was 
‘not the church that did it, but the magistrates.’ I asked him, ‘ Whether 
‘those magistrates were not counted and called believers and christians ?’ 
He said, Yes: ‘ Why then, said I, are they not members of vour church? 


& 


B02 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 — 


cessions, whether the church of Rome doth not persecute, and put peo-— 
ple to death for religion. Thus we parted, and his subtilty was con 
futed by simplicity. 

During the time I was at London, I had many services lay upon me 
for it was a time of much suffering. I was moved to write to O. Crom- 
well, and lay before him the sufferings of friends both in this nation and 
in Ireland. There was also a talk about this time of making Cromwell 
king; whereupon I was moved to go to him, and warned him against 
accepting it, and of divers dangers; which if he did not avoid, I told 
him, ‘ He would bring shame and ruin upon himself and his posterity.’ 
He seemed to take well what I said to him, and thanked me; yet after- 
wards I was moved to write to him more fully concerning that matter. 

About this time the lady Claypool (so called) was sick and much ~ 
troubled in mind, and could receive no comfort from any that came to 
her ; which when I heard of, 1 was moved to write her the following 
letter : 

‘Friend, | 

‘ Be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit from thy own thoughts, — 
‘and then thou wilt feel the principle of God to turn thy mind to the © 
‘ Lord, from whom life comes; whereby thou mayest receive his strength — 
‘and power to allay all blusterings, storms and tempests. That is it~ 
‘which works up into patience, into innocency, into soberness, into still- 
‘ness, into stayedness, into quietness up to God, with his power. ‘There- . 
‘fore mind, that is the word of the Lord unto thee, that the authority of 
‘God thou mayst feel, and thy faith in it, to work down that which | 
‘troubles thee ; for that is it which keeps peace and brings up the witness — 
‘in thee, which hath been transgressed, to feel after God with his power” 
‘and life, who is a God of order and peace. When thou art in ee 
‘transgression of the life of God in thy own particular, the mind flies up 
‘in the air, the creature is led into the night, nature goes out of its = 


‘Yes,’ said he. Then I left it to the people to judge from his own con- 


‘an old garment goes on, and an uppermost clothing: and thy nature 
‘being led out of its course, it comes to be all on fire in the transgres- 
‘sion, and that defaceth the glory of the first body. Therefore be still 
‘awhile from thy own thoughts, searching, seeking, desires, and imagi- 
‘nations, and be stayed in the principle of God in thee, that it may raise 
‘thy mind up to God, and stay it upon God, and thou wilt find strength — 
‘from him, and find him to be a God at hand, a present help in the time 
‘of trouble and of need. And thou being come to the principle of God, 
‘which hath been transgressed, it will keep thee humble; and the hum- 
‘ble God will teach his way, which is peace, and such he doth exalt. 
‘ Now as the principle of God in thee hath been transgressed, come to it, 
‘that it may keep thy mind down low to the Lord God; to deny thysell, 
‘and from thy own will, that is the earthly, thou must be kept. Then 
‘thou wilt feel the power of God, which will bring nature into its course, 
‘and give thee to see the glory of the first body. There the wisdom of 
‘God will be received (which is Christ, by which all things were made 
‘and created) and thou be thereby preserved and ordered to God’s glory. 
‘There thou wilt come to receive and feel thé physician of value, who 
‘clothes people in their right mind, whereby they may serve God and de 
‘his will. For all distractions, unruliness, and confusion are in the trans 

gression; which transgression must be brought down, before the prin- 

ciple of God, which hath been transgressed against be lifted up; where 


1658) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 302 


«by the mind may be seasoned and stilled, and a right understanding of 
‘the Lord may be reccived; whereby his blessings enter, and are felt 
‘ over all that is contrary in the power of the Lord, which raises up the 
‘ principle of God within, gives a feeling after God, and in time gives do- 
‘minion. Keep in the fear of the Lord God; that is the word of the 
* Lord unto thee. {-For all these things happen to thee for thy good, and 
‘for the good of those concerned for thee, to make you know yourselves 
‘and your own weakness, that ye may know the Lord’s strength and 
‘ power, and may trust in him. Let the time past be sufficient to every 
‘one, who in any thing hath’ been lifted up in transgression out of the 
‘power of the Lord; for he can bring down and abase the mighty, and 
*lay them in the dust of the earth. Therefore, all keep low in his fear, 
‘that thereby ye may receive the secrets of God and his wisdom, may 
‘know the shadow of the Almighty, and sit under it in all tempests. 
‘storms, and heats. For God is a God at hand, and the Most High rules 
‘in the children of men. ‘This is the word of the Lord God unto you 
‘all; what the light doth make manifest and discover, as temptations, 
‘distractions, confusions; do not look at these temptations, confusions, 
‘corruptions, but at the light which discovers them and makes them man- 
*ifest; and with the same light you may feel over them, to receive pow- 
‘er to stand against them. The same light which lets you see sin and 
‘transgression, will let you see the covenant of God, which blots out 
‘ your sin and transgression, which gives victory and dominion over it, 
‘and brings into covenant with God. For looking down at sin, corrup- 
‘tion, and distraction, ye are swallowed up in it; but looking at the light, 
‘which discovers them, ye will see over them. That will give victory. 
‘and ye will find grace and strength; there is the first step to peace. 
‘That will bring salvation; by it ye may see to the beginning, and the 
© Glory that was with the Father before the world began ;” and come to 
‘know the seed of God, which is the heir of the promise of God, and of 
*the world which hath no end; and which bruises the head of the ser- 
_ pent, who stops people from coming to God. That ye may fee] the 
power of an endless life, the power of God which is immortal, which 
‘brings the immortal soul up to the immortal God, in whom it doth re- 
‘joice. So in the name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, God Al- 
‘mighty strengthen thee. G. F? 


When the foregoing paper was read to her, she said, ‘It stayed her 
‘mind for the present. Afterwards many friends got copies of it, both 
in England and Ireland, and read it to people that were troubled in mind ; 
_and it was made useful for the settling of the minds of several. 

About this time came forth a declaration from O. Cromwell, the Pro- 
tector, for a ‘collection towards the relief of divers protestant churches,’ 
driven out of Poland, and of ‘twenty protestant families, driven out of 
“the confines of Bohemia.’ And there having been a like declaration 

_ published some time before to invite the nation to a day of solemn fast- 


ing and humiliation, in order to a contribution to be made four the 


suffering protestants of the vallies of Lucern, Angrona, &c. who were 
persecuted by the duke of Savoy; I was moved to write to the Pro- 
_ tector and chief magistrates on this occasion, both to shew them the na- 
_ ture of a true fast, such as God requires and accepts, and to make them 
sensible of their injustice and self-condemnation in blaming the papists 


f persecuting the protestants abroad, while they, calling themselves 


| 


a 


304 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 


protestants, were at the same time persecuting their protestant neighbors 
and friends at home. That which I wrote to them was after this manner: 


‘To the heads and governors of this nation, who have put forth a 
‘declaration for the keeping a day of solemn fasting and humilia- 
‘tion, for the persecution, as you say, of divers people heyond 
‘the seas professing the reformed religion, which, ye say, hath 
‘been transmitted unto them from their ancestors. 


‘A prorgssion of the reformed religion may be transmitted to genera- 
‘tions, and so holden by tradition; and in that wherein the profession 
‘and tradition is holden, is the day of humiliation kept, which stands in 
‘the will of man. This is not the fast that the Lord requires, “To bow 
“ down the head like a bulrush for a day,” and the day following be in 
‘the same condition as they were the day before. To the light of Christ 
‘Jesus in your consciences do I speak, which testifieth for God every 
‘day, and witnesseth against all sin and persecution; which measure of 
‘God, if ye be guided by it, doth not limit God to a day, but leads to the 
‘fast the Lord requires, which is “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to 
“undo the heavy burdens, to break every yoke, and to let the oppressed 
“go free,” Isa. lviii. 6, 7. This is the fast that the Lord requires, and 
‘this stands not in the transmission of times, nor in the.traditions of men. 
‘But this stands in that which was before times were, and which leads 
‘out of time, and shall be when time shall be no more., These that teach 
‘for doctrine the commandments of men, are they that ever persecuted 
‘the life and power, when it came. And whereas ye mention a decree 
‘or edict that was made against the said persecuted protestants, all such 
‘decrees or edicts proceeded from the ground of the pope’s religion and 
‘supremacy, and therein stands his tyranny and his cruelty, acted in that 
‘will which is in that nature which exerciseth lordship over one another, 
‘as ye may read, Mark x. 42. Luke xxii. 25. as all the heathen do, and 
‘ever did; and in the heathenish nature is all the tyranny and persecu- 
‘tion exercised by them that are out of the obedience to the light of 
‘Christ Jesus in the conscience, which is the guide and leader of all, who 
‘are tender of that of God in the conscience. But who are not led by 
‘this, know not what it is to suffer for conscience sake. Now, whereas 
‘ye take into your consideration the sad persecution, tyranny, and cru- 
‘elty exercised upon them whom ye call your protestant brethren, and 
‘contribute and administer to their wants outwardly-f this is good in its” 
‘place, and we own it; and see it good to administer to the necessities 
. of others, and to do good to all;.and we, who are sufferers by a law 
‘derived from the pope, are willing to‘join and to centribute with you to 
‘their outward necessities. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the ful- 
“ness thereof ;” who is good to all, gracious to all, and willing that all 
‘should be saved and come to the knowledge of thé truth. But in the 

mean time, while ye are doing this, and taking notice_of others’ cruelty, 
‘tyranny, and persecution, turn your eye upon yotfrselves, and see what 
‘ye are doing at home. To the light of Christ Jesus in all your con- 
‘sciences I speak, which cannot lie, nor err, nor bear false witness; but 
‘doth bear witness for God, and cries for equity, justice, and righteous- 
ness to be executed. See what ye are doing who profess the scriptures, 
which were given forth by the saints in light, who dwelt in the light an 
‘in the life of them. For these who now witness the same light, the sam 
life, and the same power which gave forth the scriptures, which ye i 


. 


> 


1658) : GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 30s 


‘words profess, them ye persecute, them ye hale out of your synagogues 
‘and markets; them ye beat, stock and imprison. Let that of God in 
‘your consciences, which is just, righteous, and equal, examine and try 
‘whether ye have any example or precedent to exercise this persecution, 
‘which many now in this nation suffer under, who are a people harm- 
‘less and innocent, waiting in obedience towards God and man. And 
‘though ye account the way of truth they walk in heresy, yet therein do 
‘they exercise themselves, to have always a “ conscience void of offence 
“towards God and man;” as ye may read the saints of old did, Acts 
‘xxiv. 14, 15, 16. not wronging any man, neither giving any just cause 
‘of offence, only being obedient to the commands of the Lord, to de- 
‘clare as they are moved by the Holy Ghost: and standing for the testi- 
‘mony of a good conscience, speaking the truth in Christ, their con- 
‘sciences bearing them witness that they lie not: fur this do they suffer 
‘under you, who in words profess the same thing for which they suffer. 
‘Now see if any age or generation did ever persecute as ye do? For ye 
‘profess Christ Jesus who reveals the Father, and persecute those who 
‘witness the revelation of the Father by Christ Jesus unto them. Ye 
‘profess Christ Jesus, who is the light of the world, “that enlightens 
“ every one that cometh into the world ;” yet persecute them that bear 
‘ witness and give testimony to this light. Ye profess that the word is 
‘become flesh, yet persecute them that witness it so. Ye profess tha‘ 
‘whosoever confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is an 
‘antichrist, yet persecute them that do confess him come in the- flesh, and 
‘call them antichrists and deceivers. Ye profess that the kingdom of 
‘Christ is come, yet persecute them that witness it come. Ye profess 
‘Christ Jesus the resurrection and the life, yet persecute them that wit- 
‘ness him to be so. If ye say, “ How shall we know that these people, 
“who say they witness these things, do so or no?” I answer, Turn your 
‘minds to the light which Christ Jesus hath enlightened you withal, which 
‘is one in all; and if ye walk in the light, ye shall have the light of life; 
‘then ye will know and see what ye have done, who have persecuted 
‘the Lord of Glory (in his people) in whom is life, and the life is the light 
‘of men. To no other touchstone shall we turn you, but into your own 
‘consciences; there may ye find the truth of what we have declared 
‘unto you, according to the holy scriptures. When the books of con- 
‘sciences are opened, and all judged out of them, then shall ye witness 
‘us to be of God, and our testimony to be true. Though now ye may 
‘stop your ears, and harden your hearts, while it is called to-day, then 
‘ye shall know what ye have done, and whom ye have transgressed 
‘against; then ye will see that no persecutors, in any age or generation 
‘before you, did ever transgress against that light and measure of God 
‘made manifest in such manner as ye have done. For though Christ 
‘and the apostles were persecuted in their time, the Jews for the most 
‘part did not know that he was the Christ when he came, notwiihstand- 
‘ing they had the scriptures which prophesied of him; neither did they 
‘believe that he was risen again when the apostles preached his resur- 
‘rection. But ye say, “ Ye believe he is come, ye believe his resurrec- 
“tion;” yet ye persecute those that witness him come in the flesh, those 
‘that are buried with him in baptism, those that are conformable to his 
‘death, and know the power of his resurrection: those ye persecute, 
‘hale before magistrates, and suffer to be beaten in your synagogues ; 
‘those ye cause to be whipped and stocked, shamefully entreated, cast 


20 


306 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [165 


‘into prison, and kept, as many gaols in this nation at this day testify to 
‘your faces. Therefore honestly consider what ye are doing while ye 
‘are taking notice of others’ cruelties, lest ye overlook your own. There 
‘is some diflerence in many things between the popish religion and that 
‘which ye call the protestant, but in this persecution of yours there is 
‘no difference; for ye will confess that the foundation of your religion 
‘is grounded upon the scriptures, yet ye persecute them that are in the 
‘same life which they were in who gave forth the scriptures, yourselves 
‘being the meanwhile under a profession of the words they spoke: this 
‘ye shall one day witness. So ye have a profession and form, and per- 
‘secute them that are in the possession, life, and power. Know assuredly 
‘that ye must come to judgment; for he is made manifest to whom all 
‘judgment is committed. To the light of Christ Jesus in your consciences, 
‘which searcheth and trieth you, turn your minds; stand still, and wait 
‘there to receive the righteous law, which is according to that of God 
‘in the conscience, which is now rising and bearing witness against all 
“ungodliness and unrighteousness of men; and they whom ye persecute 
‘are manifest to God, and that of God in all consciences shall bear wit- 
‘ness for us that we are of God; this ye shall one day witness, whether ye 
‘will hear or forbear. Our rejoicing is in the testimony of our con- 
‘sciences, that in simplicity and godly sincerity (not with fleshly wisdom, 
‘but by the grace of God) we have had our conversation in the world, 
‘not handling the word of God deceitfully, but in the manifestation of 
‘the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight 
‘of God; and if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. For 
‘ witnessing the holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience do we 
* suffer, and are subject for conscience sake. This is thankworthy, if a 
‘man, for conscience sake, endure griefs and sufferings wrongfully. In 
‘this is our joy and rejoicing, having a good conscience, that whereas 
“we are evil spoken of as evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely 
‘accuse our good conversation in Christ; which is not only the putting 
‘away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience to- 
‘wards God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This we witness made 
‘manifest (eternal praises to the living God!) and bear testimony to that 
‘which spoke it in the apostle in life and power. Therefore do we bear 
‘witness and testify against those, who, being got into a form and pro- 
fession of it, do persecute the life and power. To the eternal light of 
‘Christ Jesus, the searcher and trier of all hearts, turn your minds, and 
*see what ye are doing; lest ye overturn your foundation, whereon ye 
‘pretend to stand, while ye are professing the scriptures, and persecuting 
‘the life, light, and power, which those were in who gave them forth. 
‘For the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, is now striking at 
‘the feet of the image, the profession which is set up, and stands in the 
will of man. Now is that made manifest, unto which all must answer, 
‘and appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may re- 
ceive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, 
whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, 
we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and shall be 
made manifest i all your consciences, which ye shall witness. 


tG. B? 


Divers times, both in the time of the long parliament, and of the pro 
ector (so called) and of the committee of safety, when they proclaimed 


a 


— ee 


658] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 307 


fasts, I was moved to write to them, and tell them, their fasts were like 
unto Jezebel’s: for commonly, when they proclaimed fasts, there was 
some mischief contrived against us. I knew their fasts were for strife 
and debate, to smite with the fist of wickedness; as the New-England 
professors soon afier did; who, before they put our friends to death, 
proclaimed a fast also. 

Now it was a time of great suffering; and many friends being in 
prisons, many other friends were moved to go to the parliament, to offer 
themselves up to lie in the same prisons where their friends lay, that 
those in prison might go forth, and not perish in the stinking gaols. This 
we did in love to God and our brethren, that they might not die in prison ; 
and in love to those that cast them in, that they might not bring innocent 
blood upon their own heads; which we knew would cry to the Lord, 
and bring his wrath, vengeance, and plagues upon them. But little fa- 
your could we find from those professing parliaments; instead thereof, 
they would rage, and sometimes threaten friends that attended them, to 
whip, and send them home. Then commonly soon afier the Lord would 
turn them out, and send them home; who had not an heart to do good 
in the day of their power. But they went not off without being fore- 
warned; for I was moved to write to them, in their several turns, as I 
did to the long-parliament, unto whom I declared, before they were 
broken up, ‘ that thick darkness was coming over them all, even a day 
‘of darkness that should be felt.’ 

And because the parliament that now sat was made up mostly of high 
professors, who, pretending to be more religious than others, were in- 
deed greater persecutors of those that were truly religious, I was moved 
to send them the following lines, as a reproof of their hypocrisy : 


‘O rrienps, do not cloak and cover yourselves: there is a God that 
‘knoweth your hearts, and that will uncover you. He seeth your way. 
“ Wo be to him that covereth, but not with my Spirit, saith the Lord.” 
‘Do ye act contrary to the law, and then put it from you! Mercy and 
‘true judgment ye neglect. Look, what was spoken against such. My 
‘Saviour spoke against such; “I was sick, and ye visited me not: | 
“ was hungry, and ye fed me not; | was a stranger, and ye took me not 
“in: I was in prison, and ye visited me not.” But they said, “ When saw 
“ we thee in prison, and did not come to thee? Inasmuch as ye did it 
“not unto one of these little ones, ye did it not unto me.” Friends, ye 
_ ‘imprison them that are in the life and power of truth, and yet profess 

‘to be the ministers of Christ; but if Christ had sent you, ye would 

‘bring out of prison, out of bondage, and receive strangers. Ye have 

‘lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished 

* your hearts, as in a day of slaughter; ye have condemned and killed 

‘the just, and he doth not resist you. Gor 


After this, as I was going out of town, having two friends with me, 
wnen we were little more than a mile out of the City, there met us two 
troopers belung'ng to colonel Hacker’s regiment, who took me, and the 
friends with me, and brought us back to the Mews, and there kept us 
prisoners a little while; but the Lord’s power was so over them, that 

they did not bring us before any officer; but after awhile set us at lib- 
erty. The same day, taking boat, I went to Kingston, and from thence 
_to Hampton Court, to speak with the Protector about the sufferings of 
friends. I met him riding into Hampton Court Park; and before I came 


< 


‘ 


008 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL [165e 


to him, as he rode at the head of his life-guard, I saw and felt a waft 
(or apparition) of death go forth against him; and when I came to him 
he looked like a dead man. After I had laid the sufferings of friends be- 
fore him, and had warned him, as I was moved to speak to him, he bid 
me come to his house. So I returned to Kingston, and the next day 
went to Hampton Court, to have spoken further with him. But when J 
came, he was sick, and Harvy, who waited on him, told me, the 
doctors were not willing I should speak with him. So I passed away, 
nd never saw him more. 

From Kingston I went to Isaac Penington’s, in Buckinghamshire, 
where I had appointed a meeting; and the Lord’s truth and power were 
preciously manifested amongst us. After I had visited friends in those 
parts, I returned to London; and soon after went into Essex; where I 
had not been long, before I heard the Protector was dead, and his son 
Richard made Protector in his room. Whereupon I came to London 
again. 

“Before this time the church: faith (so called) was given forth, which 
was said to be made at the Savoy in eleven days. I got a copy of it 
before it was published, and wrote an answer to it: and when their book 
of church faith was sold up and down the streets, my answer to it was 
sold also. This displeased some of the parliament-men; so that one of 
them told me, ‘They must have me to Smithfield” I told him, I was” 
over their fires, and feared them not. Reasoning with him, I wished him 
to consider, had all people been withvut a faith these sixteen hundred 
years, that now the priests must make them one? Did not the apostle 
say that Jesus was the author and finisher of their faith? And since 
Christ Jesus was the author of the apostles’ faith, of the church’s faith in- 
the primitive times, and of the martyrs’ faith, should not all people look” 
unto him to be the author and finisher of their faith, and not to the 
priests? A great deal of work we had about the priests made-faith ; fo ~ 
they called us house-creepers, leading silly women captive, because we 
met in houses, and would not hold up their priests and temples whict 
they had made and set up. I told them, it was they that led silly women 
captive, and crept into houses, who kept people always learning under 
them, who were covetous, and had got a form of godliness, but denied 
the power and Spirit, which the apostles were in. Such began to creep 
in the apostles’ days; but now they had got the magistrates on their side, 
who upheld those houses for them, which they had crept into, their tem- 
ples. with their tythes: whereas the apostles brought people oft from 
even that temple, and those tythes and offerings, which God had for a 
time commanded. And the apostles met in several private houses, being 
to preach the gospel in all nations; which they did freely, as Christ com- 
manded_ them. ‘Thus-de-we, who bring people off from these priests, 
temples, and tythes, which God never commanded, to meet in houses, or 
on mountains, as the saints of old did, who were gathered in the name 
_ of Jesus; and Christ was their Prophet, Priest and Shepherd. 

Major Wiggan, a very envious man, was present, yet he bridled him- 
self before the parliament-men, and some others that were there in 
company. He took upon him to assert, ‘Christ had taken away the 
- guilt of sin, but had left the power of sin remaining in us.” I told him, 
that was strange doctrine; for Christ came to-destroy the devil’s works, 
and the power of sin, and so to cleanse men from sin. So major Wig 
gan’s mouth was stopped at that time. But next day desiring to speak 


1658] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 3 10}5) 


with me again, I took a friend or two with me, and went to him. Then 
he vented a great deal of passion and rage, beyond the bounds of a 
christian, or moral man; whereupon I was made to reprove him; and 
having brought the Lord’s power over him, and let him see what condi- 
tion he was in, left him. 

After some time I passed out of London, and had a meeting at ser. 
geant Birkhead’s at Twickenham, to which many people came; some cf 
considerable quality. A glorious meeting it was, wherein the scriptures 
were largely and clearly opened, and Christ exalted above all, to the 
great satisfaction of the hearers. 

But there was great persecution in many places, both by imprisoning 
and breaking up of meetings. At a meeting about seven miles from 
London, the rude people usually came out of several parishes round 
about, to abuse friends, and often beat and bruised them exceedingly. 
One day they abused about eighty friends, that went to that meeting out 
of London, tearing their coats and cloaks from off their backs, throwing 
them into ditches and ponds; and, when they had besmeared them with 
dirt, they said they looked like witches. The next first-day I was moved 
of the Lord to go to that meeting, though I was then very weak. When 
I came there, I bid friends bring a tabie, and set it in the close, where 
they used to meet, to stand upon. According to their wonted course, the 
rude people came; and I having a bible in my hand, shewed them theirs 
and their teachers’ fruits; and the people became ashamed, and were 
quiet. | opened the scriptures to them, and our principles agreeing there- 
with; and turned them from darkness to the light of Christ and his 
Spirit, by which they might understand the scriptures, see themselves 
and their sins, and know Christ Jesus to be their Saviour. So the meet- 
ing ended quietly, and the Lord’s power came over all, to his glory. 
But it was a time of great sufferings; for besides imprisonments, through 
which many died, our meetings were greatly disturbed: They have 
_ thrown rotten eggs and wild-fire into our meetings, and brought in drums 
_ beating, and kettles, to make noises with, that the truth might not be 
_ heard; and, among these, the priests were as rude as any; as may be 
seen in the book of the fighting priests, wherein a list is given of some 
priests that had actually beaten and abused friends. 

Many friends were brought prisoners to London, to be tried before 
the Committee; where Henry Vane, being chairman, would not suffer 
friends to come in, except they would put off their hats; but at last the 
Lord’s power came over him, so that through the mediation of others, 
they were admitted. Many of us having been imprisoned upon con- 
tempts (as they called them) for not putting off our hats, it was not a 
likely thing that friends, who had suffered so long for it from others, 
should put off their hats to him. But the Lord’s power came over all, 
and wrought so, that several were set at liberty by them. Inasmuch as 
sufferings grew very sharp, | was moved of the Lord to write a few 
lines, and send among friends, to encourage them to go on faithfully and 
boldly through the exercises of the day ; of which a copy here follc ws: 


‘ My dear friends every where, in prison or out of prison; Fear not, 
because of the reports of sufferings; let not the evil spies of the good 
‘land make you afraid, if they tell you the walls are high, and Anakims 
‘are in the land; for at the blowing of the rams’ horns did the walls of 
Jevichce fall, and they that brought the evil report perished in the wilder- 


310 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1658 


ness. Dwell in faith, patience, and hope, having the word of life te 
‘keep you, which is beyond the law; and having the oath of God, his 

covenant, Christ Jesus, which divides the waters asunder, and makes 
‘them to run all on heaps; in that stand, and ye will see all things work 
‘together for good to them that love God. In that triumph, when suf- 
‘ferings come, whatever they be. Your faith, your shield, your helmet, 
‘your armour you haveon. You are ready to skip over a mountain, a 
‘ wall, or an hill, and to walk through the deep waters, though they be 

as heaps upon heaps. The evil spies of the good land may preach up 
‘hardness; but Caleb, which signifies an heart, and Joshua, a Saviour, 
‘triumph over all. G. F. 


After awhile I went to Reading, where I remained under great sufler- 
ings and exercises, and in great travail of spirit for about ten weeks. 
For I saw there was great confusion and distraction amongst the peo- 
ple, and that the powers were plucking each other to pieces. And | 
saw how many were destroying the simplicity, and betraying the truth. 
A great deal of hypocrisy, deceit, and strife, was got uppermost in the 
people, so that they were ready to sheath their swords in one another’s 
bowels. There had been tenderness in many of them formerly, when 
they were low; but when they were got up, had killed, and taken pos- 
session, they came to be as bad as others: so that we had much to do 
with them about our hats, and saying Thou and Thee to them. They 
turned their profession of patience and moderation into rage and mad- 
ness; many of them were like distracted men for this hat-honour. For 
they had hardened themselves by persecuting the innocent, and were at 
this time crucifying the Seed, Christ, both in themselves and others; till 
at last they fell a biting and devouring one another, until they were con- 
sumed one. of another; who had turned against and judged that which 
God had wrought in them, and shewed unto them. So shortly after 

~God overthrew them, turned them upside down, and brought the king 
over them, who were often surmising that the Quakers met together to 
bring in king Charles, whereas friends did not concern themselves with 
the outward powers or government. But at last the Lord brought him 
in, and many of them, when they saw he would be brought in, voted for 
.the bringing him in. So with heart and voice praise the name of the 
Lord, to whonrit doth belong; who over all hath the supremacy, and 
who will rock the nations, for he is over them. I had a sight and sense 
of the king’s return a good while before, and so had some others. I 
wrote to Oliver several times, and let him know, that while he was per- 
secuting God’s people, they whom he accounted his enemies were pre- 
paring to come upon him. When some forward spirits, that came 
amongst us, would have bought Somerset-house, that we might have 
meetings in it, I forbad them to do so: for I then foresaw the king’s 
‘coming in again. Besides, there came a woman to me in the Strand, 
who had a prophecy concerning king Charles’s coming in, three years 
before he came; and she told me, she must go to him to declare it. I 
advised her to wait upon the Lord, and keep it to herself; for if it should 
be known that she went on such a message, they would look upon it to 
be treason; but she said, she must go and tell him, that he should be 
brought into England again. I saw her prophecy was true, and that a 


great stroke must come upon those in power: for they that had then got — 


_ possession were so exceeding high, and such great persecution was acted 


ae 


1658) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 31] 


by them who called themselves saints, that they would take from friends 
their copyhold lands, because they could not swear in their courts 
Sometimes, when we laid these sufferings before Oliver Cromwell, he 
would not believe it. Wherefore Thomas Aldam and Anthony Pearson 
were moved to go through all the gaols in England, and to get copies of 
friends’ commitments under the gaolers’ hands, that they might ay the 
weight of their sufferings upon Oliver Cromwell. And when he refused 
to give order for the releasing of them, Thomas Aldam was ‘ moved to 
‘take his cap off his head, and rend it in pieces before him, and to say 
‘unto him, “So shall thy government be rent from thee and thy house.’ 
‘ Another friend also, a woman, was moved to go to the parliament, that 
‘was envious against friends, with a pitcher in her hand, which she 
‘broke into pieces before them, and told them, “So should they be 
“ broken to pieces: which came to pass shortly after. And in my great 
suffering, and travail of spirit for the nation, being grievously burdened 
with their hypocrisy, treachery, and falsehood, I saw God would bring 
that atop of them which they had been atop of; and that all must be 
brought down to that which convinced them, before they could get over 
that bad spirit within and without: for it is the pure, invisible Spirit, that 
doth and only can work down all deceit in people. 
While I was under that sore travail at Reading, by reason of grief 
/ and sorrow of mind, and the great exercise that was upon my spirit, my 
* countenance being altered, and my body become poor and thin; there 
- came a company of unclean spirits to me, and told me, ‘ The plagues of 
'‘God were upon me.’ [ told them, it was the same spirit spoke in them 
that said so of Christ, when he was stricken and smitten; they hid their 
face from him. But when I had travailed with the witness of God, 
which they had quenched, and had got through with it, over all that hy- 
' pocrisy which the outside professors were run into, and saw how that 


j would be brought down, and turned under, and that life would rise over 
2 
. 


——— SS 


it, | came to have ease; and the light, power, and spirit, shined over all. 
And then, having recovered, my body and face swelled, when I came 
abroad into the air; then the bad spirits said, ‘1 was grown fat;’ and 
they envied at that also. So I saw that no condition nor state would 
please that spirit of theirs: but the Lord preserved me by his power and 
Spirit through and over all; and in the Lord’s power I came to London 
again. 
Now was there a great bustle about the effigy of Oliver Cromwell 
_ lying in state; men standing and sounding with trumpets over his image, 
after he was dead. At this my spirit was greatly grieved, and the Lord, 
I found, was highly offended. Then did I write the following lines, and 
sent among them, to reprove their wickedness, and warn them to repent. 


‘O Frienps, what are ye doing! What mean ye to sound before ar 
image! Will not all sober people think ye are [ke mad people? “ Oh 
‘how am I grieved with your abominations! Oh, how am | wearied! 
__ * My soul is wearied with you, saith the Lord; will I not be avenged of 
_ “you, think ye, for your abominations?” O how have ye plucked down 

‘and set up! O how are your hearts made whole, and not rent! How 
_ ‘are ye turned to fooleries, which in times past ye stood over. How 
_ ‘have ye lost my dread, saith the Lord! O therefore fear and repent. 
‘Jest the snare and the pit take you all! The great day of the Lord is 
“come upon your abominations: the swift hand of the Lord is turned 


312 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [l65¢ 


‘against them all. The sober people in these nations stand amazed at 
your doings, and are ashamed, as if ye would bring in pay 


cr 


About this time great stirs were in the nation, the minds of people 
being unsettled. Much plotting and contriving there was by the several 
factions, to carry on their several interests. And a great care being upon 
me, lest any young or raw people, that might sometimes come amongst 
us, should be drawn into that snare, I was moved to give forth the fol- 
lowing epistle, as a warning to such: 


‘ Aut friends every where, keep out of plots and bustling, and the arm 
‘o{ flesh; for all these are amongst Adam’s sons in the fall, where they 
‘are destroying men’s lives like dogs, beasts, and swine, goring, rending, 

‘and biting one another, destroying one another, and wrestling with flesh 
‘and blood. From whence arise wars and killing, but from the lusts? 
-* Now all this is in Adam in the fall, out of Adam that never fell, in whom 
‘there is peace and life. Ye are called to peace, therefore follow it; that 
‘ peace is in Christ, not in Adam in the fall. All that pretend to fight for 
‘Christ, are deceived; for his kingdom is not of this world, therefore his 
‘servants do not fight. Fighters are not of Christ’s kingdom, but are 
‘without Christ’s kingdom: for his kingdom stands in peace and right- 
‘eousness, but fighters are in the lust: and all that would destroy men’s 
‘lives are not of Christ’s mind, who came to save men’s lives. Christ’s 
kingdom is not of this world; it is peaceable: and all that are in strife, 
‘are not of his kingdom. All that pretend to fight for the gospel, are 
‘deceived: for the gospel is the power of God, which was before the 
‘devil, or fall of man was: and the gospel of peace was before fighting 
‘was. Therefore they that pretend fighting, and talk of fighting so, are 
‘ignorant of the gospel. All that talk of fighting for Sion, are in dark- 
ness: Sion needs no such helpers. All such as profess themselves min- 
‘isters of Christ, or christians, and go about to beat down the whore 
‘with outward, carnal weapons, the flesh and the whore are got up in 


‘ themselves, and they are in a blind zeal: for the whore got up by the 


‘inward ravening from the Spirit of God; and the beating down of the 
‘ whore must be by the inward stroke of the sword of the Spirit within. 
‘ All such as pretend Christ Jesus, and confess him, yet run into the use 
‘of carnal weapons, wrestling with flesh and blood, throw away the 
‘spiritual weapons. They that would be wrestlers with flesh and blood, 
‘throw away Christ’s doctrine; the flesh is got upon them, and they are 
‘weary of their sufferings. Such as.would revenge themselves, are out 
‘of Christ’s doctrine. Such as being stricken on one cheek, would not 
‘turn the other, are out of Christ’s doctrine. Such as do not love one 
‘another, nor love enemies, are out of Christ’s doctrine. Therefore ye, 

that are heirs of the blessings of God, which were before the curse and 

the fall was, come to inherit your portions: and ye that are heirs of the 
‘gospel of peace, which was before the devil was, live in the gospel of 

peace, seeking the peace and good of all men: and live in Christ, who 
‘came to save men’s lives, out of ‘Adam in the fall, where they destroy 
‘men’s lives, and live not in Christ. The Jews’ sword outwardly, 
‘by which they cut down the heathen, was a type of the Spirit of God 
‘within, which cuts down the heathenish nature within. So live in 
‘the peaceable kingdom of Christ Jesus. Live in the peave of God, 
‘and not in the lusts, from whence wars arise. Live in Christ, the prince 


SS 


1659] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 313 


*of peace, the wey of God, the second Adam that never fell. Live not 
* in Adam in the fz ul, in the destruction, where they destrey one another. 
«Come out of Adam in the fall, into the second Adam that never tell 
‘ Live in love and peace with all men; keep out of all the bustlings in the 
‘world; meddle not with the powers of the earth; but mind the king- 
‘dom, the way of peace. Ye that are heirs of grace, heirs of the king- 
‘dom, heirs ofthe gospel, heirs of salvation, saints of the Most High, and 
‘children of God, whose conversation is in heaven, that is above the 
“combustions of the earth; let your conversation preach to all men, and 
your innocent lives, that those who speak evil of you, beholding your 
‘godly conversation, may glorify your Father which is in heaven. 
* Friends every where, this | charge you, which is the word of the Lord 
‘God unto you all, “ Live in peace, in Christ the way of peace ;” there- 
‘in seek the peace of all men, and no man’s hurt. In Adam in the fall 
‘is no peace; but in Adam out of the fall is the peace. So ye being in 
‘Adam which never fell, it is love that overcomes, not hatred with ha- 
‘tred, nor strife with strife. Therefore live all in the peaceable life, 
‘ doing good to all'men, and seeking the good and welfare of all men. 
‘Go Bi 


Not long after this, George Booth rose in arms in Cheshire, and Lam- 
bert went against him. At which time some foolish rash spirits, that 
came sometimes amongst us, were ready to have taken up arms; but ] 
was moved of the Lord to warn and forbid them, and they were quiet. 
In the time of the committee of safety (so called) we were invited by 
them to take up arms, and great places and commands were offered 
some of us; but we denied them all, and declared against it both by 
word and writing; testifying, that our weapons and armour were not 
carnal, but spiritual. And lest any that came amongst us, should be 
drawn into that snare, it came upon me from the Lord to write a few 
_ lines on that occasion, and send them forth, as a caution to all amongst 
us. Of which this is a copy: 


‘ Aut friends every where, take heed to keep out of the powers of the 
‘earth, that run into wars and fightings, which make not for peace, but 
‘ go am that; such will not have the “kingdom. And friends, take heed 
‘of joining ith this or the other, or meddling with any, or being busy 
‘with other men’s matters; but mind the Lord, his power, and his ser- 
‘vice. Let friends keep out of other men’s matters, and keep in that 
‘which answers the witness in them all, out of the man’s matters part, 
‘where they must expect wars, and the dishonour. Friends every 
‘where, dwell in your own, in th2 power of the Lord, to keep your 
‘minds up to God, from falling down to the strength of Egypt, or going 
‘ thither for strength, after ye are come out of it, like the children of 
‘Israel, after they were come out of outward Egypt. But dwell in the 
‘power of the Lord God, that ye may keep over all the powers of the 
‘earth, amongst whom the just hand of God is come: for they have 
‘turned against the just, and disobeyed the just in their own particulars, 
‘and so gone on in one against the just; therefore the just sets them one 
“against another. Now he that goes to help among them, is from the 
 * just in himself. in the mad and unstayed state, and doth not know bv 
*the All-seeing eye (that beholdeth) him that recompenseth and reward 
eth, and lives not in the hand, in the power that mangles and overturns, 
which vexeth the transgressors, that come to be blind and zealous for 

2P 


314 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1659 


‘they do not know what. Therefore keep in peace, and in the love and 
‘ power of God, aid in unity and love one to another, lest any go out, 
‘and fall with the uncircumcised: that is, they that are from the Spirit in 
‘themselves, and they that go from it, go into the pit together. There- 
‘fore stand in that (it is the word of the Lord God to you all) in the 
fear and dread of the Lord God, his power, life, light, seed and wis- 
dom, by which ye may take away the occasion of wars, and so know 
‘a kingdom which hath no end, and fight for that with spiritual weapons, — 
‘ which takes away the occasion of the carnal: and there gather men t > 
‘war, as many as ye can, and set up as many as ye can with these 
‘ weapons. Gua? 
After I had staid some time in London, and had visited friends’ meet- 
sings thzre and thereabouts, and the Lord’s power was set over all, I 
‘travelled into the counties again, passing through Suffolk, Essex, and 
Norfolk, visiting friends, till I came to Norwich, where we had a meet- 
ing about the time called Christmas. The mayor of Norwich, having 
got notice beforehand of the meeting I intended to have there, granted 
a warrant to apprehend me. Wherefore when I was come thither, and 
heard of the warrant, I sent some friends to the mayor to reason with 
him about it. His answer was, the soldiers should not meet; and did we — 
think to meet? he would have had us met without the city: for he 
said, the town’s-people were so rude, that he could hardly order them, 
and he feared that our meeting would make tumults in the town. But 
our friends told him, we were a peaceable people, and that he ought to 
keep the peace; for we could not but meet to worship God, as our man- 
ner was. So he became pretty moderate, and did not send his officers 
to the mecting. A large meeting it was, and abundance of rude people 
came, with intent to have done mischief: but the Lord’s power came 
over them, so that they were chained by it, though several priests were 
there, and professors, and Ranters. Among the priests, one, whose name 
was Townsend, stood up and cried, Error, blasphemy, and an ungodly 
meeting! I bad him not burden himself with that which he could not 
make good; and I asked him, what was our error and blasphemy? for 
I told him, he should make good his words, before I had done with him, 
or be shamed. As for an ungodly meeting, I said, I did believe there 
were many people there that feared God, and therefore it was both un 
christian and uncivil in him, to charge civil godly people with an ungod- 
ly meeting. He said, my error and blasphemy was, in that I said, peo- 
ple must wait on God by his power and Spirit, and feel his presence 
when they did not speak words: I asked him then, Whether the apostles 
and holy men of God did not hear God speak to them in their silence, — 
before they spake forth the Scripture, and before it was written? He 
replied, Yes: David and the prophets did hear God, before they did pen 
the Scriptures, and felt his presence in silence, before they spake them 
forth. Then said I, All people take notice, he said this was error and 
blasphemy in me to say these words; and now he hath confessed it is no 
mere than tl.e holy men of God in former times witnessed. So I shew- 
ed the people, tnat as the holy men of God, who gave forth the Serip- 
tures, were moved by the Holy Ghost, did hear and learn of God, be- 
tore they spake them forth, so must they all hearken and hear what the 
Spirit saith, which will lead them into all truth, that they may know 
Gol and Christ, and may understand the Scriptures. O, said the priest, 


: 659] GEORGE FOX'’S JOURNAL. 315 


a 
this is not that George Fox I would speak withal; this is a subtil man, 
said he. So tie Lord’s power came over all, the rude people were 
moderate, and were reached by it; and some professors called to the 
priests, saying, ‘Prove the blasphemy and errors, which ye have 
‘charged them with: ye have spoken much against them behind their 
_*backs, but nothing ye can prove now to their faces.’ But the priest 
_began to get away: whereupon I told him, we had many things 19 
charge him withal, therefore let him set a time and place to answer 
them; which he did and went his way. A glorious day this was: for 
truth came over all, and people were turned to God by his power and 
_ Spirit, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, their free teacher, who was exalted 
over all. And as we passed away, generally people’s hearts were filled 
with love towards us; yea, the ruder sort of them desired another meet- 
ing ; for the evil intentions they had against us were thrown out of their 
hearts. At night I passed out of town to a friend’s house, and from 
thence to colonel Dennis’s, where we had a great meeting: and after- 
wards travelled on, visiting friends up and down in Norfolk, Hunting- 
tonshire, and Cambridgeshire. But George Whitehead, and Richard 

Hubberthorn staid about Norwich, to meet the priest, who was soon 

confounded and down, the Lord’s power came so over him. 

After I had travelled through many counties in the Lord’s service, 
and many were convinced, notwithstanding that in some places the 
people were very rude, I returned to London again, when general 
Monk was come up thither, and the gates and posts of the city were 
pulling down. ‘ Long before this I had a vision, wherein I saw the city 

_ ‘lie in heaps, and the gates down; and it was then represented to me, 
_ £ just as I saw it several years after, lying in heaps when it was burned.’ 
_ Divers times had I, both by word and writing, forewarned the several 
_ powers, both in Oliver’s time and after, of the day of recompense that 
_ ‘vas coming upon them: but they rejecting counsel, and slighting those 
; visitations of love to them, I was moved now, before they were quite 
; overturned, to lay their backsliding, hypocrisy, and treacherous dealing 
before them, thus: 

‘Frrenps, Now are the prophecies fulfilled. and fulfilling upon you, 
€ which have been spoken to you by the people of God in your courts, in 
_‘ your steeple-houses, in your towns, cities, markets, highways, and at 
" your feasts, when ye were in your pleasures, and pufied up, that ye 
_ * would neither hear God nor man; when ye were in your height of au- 
' ‘thority, though raised up from a mean state, none might come nigh you 
_ £ without bowing, or the respect of persons, for ye were in the world’s 

‘way, compliments and fashions, which for conscience sake towards 
*God, they could not go into, being redeemed therefrom: therefore they 

‘were hated by you for that cause. But how are ye brought low, who 
_ fexalted yourselves above your brethren, and threw the just and harm- 
_ ‘less from among you, until at last God hath thrown you out: and when 

ye cast the innocent from amongst you, then ye fell a biting one another, 
until ye were consumed one of another. And so the day is come upon 
you, which before was told to you, though ye would not believe it. And 
fare not your hearts so hardened, that ye will hardly yet believe, though 
_ ready to go into captivity? was it not told you, when ye spilt the blood 
_ ‘of the innocent in your steeple houses, in your markets, in your high- 
‘ways and cities, yea, and even in your courts also, because they said 


Bib GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 


the word Thou te you, and could not put off their hats to you, “ Tha 
“if something did not rise up amongst yourselves, to avenge the bloo 
“of the innocent, there would come something from beyond the seas 
“ which lay reserved there; which being brought by the arm of God, the 
“arm of flesh and strongest mountain cannot withstand?” Yet ye would 
‘not consider, nor regard, nor hear; but cried, peace, peace, and feaste 
‘ yourselves, and sat down in the spoil of your enemies, being treacher. 
‘ous both to God and man; and who will trust you now? have ye ne 
‘taken covenants and oaths? and broken covenants and oaths betwix 
*God and man, and made the nations breakers both of covenants ané 
‘oaths; so that nothing but hypocrisy, and rottenness, and falsehood un: 
‘der fair pretence, was amongst vou! When ye pretended to set up the 
‘old cause, it was but yourselves: for which ye long stunk to sober peo 
‘ple, who saw that ye would do no good. But it was a joy for any oj 
* you to get up into authority, that ye might have praise, and honour, ant 
‘respect; and they that were in the self-denial were a derision to you 
‘from amongst whom that was banished. Thus ye became the nation’s” 
* masters, and not servants: whereas the greatest of all should be the ser 
‘vants of all. But there ye lost your authority, not considering your es- 
“tates, from whence ye were, and to what end God had raised you up 
‘but forgot the Lord, and quenched that which was good in yourselve 
‘and persecuted them that lived in it: and so are grown so gross and 
‘ perverse, that at last ye are fit for neither God nor man. Have not ye 
‘used to call the Quakers the fanatic people, and the giddy heads? but 
‘ whither now are ye giddying? into Cain’s city Nod, which signifies fu 
‘ gitive, or wandering? T Have not ye persecuted and imprisoned to death 
‘such as God had respect to, and is now reproving you for their sakes 
‘by them whom ye have hated? Were not many amongst you cut off 
‘for your persecution, and yet the rest of you would not take warning 
‘Was not there a book of examples set out unto you, of what sudden 
‘and strange deaths happened upon the persecutors of the innocent? ar 
‘yet ye would not take warning, until the overflowing scourge is now 
‘coming upon you. Are not ye they that have killed like Cain, who i 
killed about your sacrifice, and mingled the blood of the innocent y 
‘it? Hath not God now vagabonded you, that ye should become a curse 
‘upon the earth, who have persecuted friends to death? Did not the blood 
‘ of the righteous cry out of the ground for vengeance? And will not the 
‘ blood of the righteous be required ? 1 Could ye think, that the Lord wou 
sit always with bloody hands, and fists of wickedness? Ah! Wha 
become of all your feasts and your fasts, the prayers and blessin 
‘ your priests ! oe 


Being now clear of the city, and finding my spirit drawn to visit friends 
in the western parts of England, I went out of town; and passing 
into Surry and Sussex, came to a great town, where’ there was a 
meeting, to which several friends from Reading came; and a blesse 
meeting it was. ‘The priest of the town was in a great rage, but did x 
come out of his house, wherefore, hearing him make a great noise in k 
house, as we were passing from the meeting . we bid him come out 
the street, and we would discourse with him : but he would not. So ti the 
Lord’s power being over al, friends were refreshed therein. From 
thence I went to another market-town, where in the evening we hp 
prezious meeting- and the fresh sense of the presence of the Lord (€ 


659] GEORGE FOX S JOURNAL. 317 


was sweetly ‘elt amongst us. Then turning into Hampshire and Durset- 
shire, I went to Ringwood and Pool, visiting friends in the Lord’s power 
and had great meetings amongst them. 

At Dorchester we had a great meeting in the evening at our inn, to 
which many soldiers came, and were pretty civil. But the constables 
and officers of the town came, under pretence to look for a Jesuit, whose 
head, they said, was shaved: and they would have all to put off their 
hats, or else they would take them off, to look for the Jesuit’s shaven 
crown. So they took off my hat, for I was the man they aimed at, and 
they looked very narrowly; but not finding any bald or shaven place on 
my head, they went away with shame; and the soldiers, and other sober 
people were greatly offended with them. But it was of good service for 
the Lord, and all things wrought together for good; for it affected the 
people: and after the officers were gone, we had a fine meeting; and 
people were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, their teacher, who had 
bought them, and would reconcile them to God. 

From thence we passed into Somersetshire, where the Presbyterians 

and other professors were very wicked, and often disturbed friends’ meet- 
ings. ‘One time especially, as we were then informed, a very wicked 
‘man put a bear’s skin on his back, and undertook with that to play 
pranks in the meeting. Accordingly, setting himself opposite .to the 
‘friend that was speaking, he lolled his tongue out of his mouth, and 
‘made sport to his wicked followers, causing great disturbance in the 
‘meeting. But an eminent judgment overtook him, and his punishment 
‘slumbered not; for as he went from the meeting there was a bull- 
‘baiting in the way, which he stayed to see; and coming within the 
bull’s reach, he struck his horn under the man’s chin into his throat, 
‘and thrust his tongue out of his mouth, so that it hung lolling out, as he 
‘had used it before in derision in the meeting. And the bull’s horn run- 
‘ning up into the man’s head, he swung him about upon his horn in a 
‘most remarkable and fearful manner. Thus he that came to do mis- 
‘chief amongst God’s people was mischieved himself; and well would 
‘it be if such apparent examples of divine vengeance would teach others 
“to beware.’ 

We travelled through Somersetshire and Devonshire, till we came to 
Plymouth, and so into Cornwall, visiting the meetings of friends, to the’ 
Land’s-end. Many precious and blessed meetings we had all along as 
we went, wherein the convinced were established, and many others were 
added to them. At the Land’s-end an honest fisherman was convinced, 
who became a faithful minister of Christ. I took notice of him to friends, 
telling them, ‘ He was like Peter.’ 

While I was in Cornwall, there were great shipwrecks about the 
Land’s-end. It was the custom of that country at such a time, both rich 
and poor went out to get as much of the wreck as they could not caring 
to save the people’s lives; and in some parts of the country tney called 
shipwrecks God’s grace. It grieved my spirit to hear of such unchris- 
tian actions, considering how far they were below the heathen at Melita, 
who received Paul, made him a fire, and were courteous towards him, 
and those that suffered shipwreck with him. Wherefore I was moved 
10 write a paper, and send it to all the parishes, priests, and magistrates, 
1o reprove them for such greedy actions, and to warn and exhort them 
that, if they could assist to save people’s lives and preserve their ships 
and goods, they should use their diligence therein; and consider, if it had 


es ae 


‘such goods would become a curse to them? May ye not as surely be- 


LIPS te 
: 7 
818 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL, ~ (659 
been their own condition, they would judge it hard, if they should be 
upon a wreck and the people should strive to get what they could from 
them, and not regard their lives. 


‘ Friends and people, 


‘ Taxe heed of greediness and covetousness, for that is idolatry; and 
the idclater must not enter into the kingdom of God. Take heed of 
‘ drunkenness, oaths, and cursings, for such are destroyers of the crea- 
‘tion, and make it to groan. Lay aside all fighting, quarrelling, brawl. 
‘ing, and evil-speaking, which are the works of the flesh and not of the 
‘ Spirit, for who follow such things are not like to inherit the kingdom of 
‘God. Put away all corrupt words, which are unsavoury, and misnam- 
‘ing one another, for ye must give an account for every idle word. Lay 
‘aside all profession and religion that is vain, and come to the possession, 
‘the pure religion, which is to visit the fatherless, the widow, and the 
‘stranger, and receive them, for some thereby may entertain angels or 
‘the servants of the Lord unawares, as Paul was entertained after the 
‘shipwreck at Melita. Do not take people’s goods from them by force 
‘out of their ships, seamen’s or others, neither covet after them; but 
‘rather endeavour to preserve their lives and goods for them, for that 
*‘shews a spirit of compassion, and the spirit of a christian. But if ye 
“be greedy and covetous after other men’s goods, not mattering what 
“becomes of the men, would ye be served so yourselves? If ye should 
‘have a ship cast away in other places, and the people should come to 
‘tear the goods and ship in pieces, not regarding to save your lives, but 
‘be ready to fight one with another for your goods, do not ye believe - 


1 
1 
| 
. 
' 


‘lieve such kind of actions will become a curse to you? When the spoil 
‘of one ship’s goods is idky spent and consumed upon the lusts in ale- 
‘houses, taverns, and otherwise, then ye gape for another. Is this to 
“do as ye would be done by ;” which is the law and the prophets? Priest 
‘Hull, are these thy fruits? What dost thou take people’s labour and 
‘goods for? Hast thou taught the people no better manners and conver-— 
‘sation, who are so brutish and heathenish? All such things we judge in 
‘whomsoever. But if any friend or others preserve men’s lives, and 
endeavour to save their goods and estates, and restore what they can 
‘save of a wreck to the owners, if they consider them for their labour, 
‘ doing in that case unto them what they would have done to themselves, 
‘that we approve. And if they buy or sell, and do not make a prey, 
‘that is allowed of still in the way of “ doing as ye would be done by,” 
‘ keeping to the law and to the prophets. If you should be wrecked in an- 
‘other country, ye would have other people save your lives and goods, 
‘and have your goods restored to you again, and you ought to consider 
‘them for so doing. All that do otherwise, who wait for a wreck and 
take the goods for yourselves, not regarding the lives of the men, but 
if any escape drowning turn them a begging up and down the country, 
and if any escape with a little rob them of it, all that do’so are not for 
preserzing the creation, but destroying it: and those goods which are 
‘so got shall be a cursé;-asplague, and a judgment to them, and the judg- 
ments of God will follow them for acting such things; the witness in 
your consciences shall answer it. Therefore, all ye who have done 
such things, “ do so no more,” lest a worse thing come unto you. But 
that which is good, do: preserve men’s lives and estates, and labour t~ 


1660] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 319 


restore the loss and breach: that the Lord requires. Be not like a com 
pany of greedy dogs, and worse than heathens, as if ye had never © 
heard of God, nor Christ, nor the scriptures, nor pure religion. And 
priest Hull, have people spent their money upon thee for that which. is 
‘no bread? for a thing of nought, that thou hast such fruits? All such 
‘teachers, that make a trade of the scriptures, which are given forth 
‘from the Spirit of God, to be believed, read, and practised, and Christ, 
*whom they testify of, enjoyed, we utterly deny; who own Christ, and 
‘are come off from your steeple-houses, which were the old mass-houses; 
_ for there are these bad fruits harboured, those are the cages of them. 
_ But come to the church which is in. God, 1 Thess. i. and come all to 
the light which Christ Jesus hath enlightened you with, which shews 
_ you all your ungodly words, ungodly thoughts, and ungodly actions. 
‘ This will be your teacher if ye love it, your condemner if ye hate it. 
‘For the mighty day of the Lord is coming upon all wickedness and un- 
* godliness; therefore lay aside your whoredoms and fornications. And 
“ye magistrates, who are to do Justice, think ye not that the hand of the 
‘Lord is against you, and that his judgments will come upon you who 
‘do not look after these things, and stop them with the law, which is, 
«To do unto all men as they would have done unto them,” whereby ye 
‘might be a good savour in your country? Is not the law to preserve 
*men’s lives and estates, “ Doing unto all men as they would men should 
do unto them?” For all men would have their lives and estates pre- 
‘served; therefore, should not ye preserve others, and not suffer them ~ 
‘to be devoured and-destroyed? The evil of these things will lie upon 
‘you, both priests and magistrates. G. FY 


POSTSCRIPT. 


All dear friends who fear the Lord God, keep out of the ravenous 
* world’s spirit, which leads to raven and destroy, and is out of the wis- 
_ dom of God. When ships are wrecked, do not run to destroy and make 
*havock of ship and goods with the world; but run to save the men, and 
‘the goods for them: and so deny yourselves, and do unto them as ye 
‘would they should do unto you. G. F’ 
_ This paper had good service among people: and friends have endea- 
‘vored much to save the lives of men in time of wrecks, and to preserve 
the ships and goods for them. And when some, who suffered shipwreck, 
have been almost dead and starved, friends have taken them to their 
houses to succour and recover them, which is an act to be practised by 
all true christians. 
_ I had many precious, blessed, living meetings in Cornwall, several 
‘eminent people being convinced in that county, whom neither priests nor 
‘Magistrates, by spoiling goods or imprisonments, could bring to forsake 
their shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, who bought them; and friends who 
were turned to Christ, their Teacher and Saviour, being settled in peace 
‘and quietness wpon him, their Foundaticu, we left them to the Lord’s 
teaching and ordering, fresh and green. Thomas Lower, who had ac- 
os me through that county, brought me over Horse-bridge into 
Devonshire again; and after several meetings in Devonshire we came 
to Somersetshire, where we had divers large and peaceable meetings. 
and visited friends till we came to Bristol. 
_ Tentered Bristol on a seventh-day. The day before the soldiers came 
‘i 


1 
320 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [bre 


into the meeting, and were exceeding rude, beating and striking friends 
with their muskets, and drove them out of the orchard in a great rage, 
threatening what they would do if they came there again. For the mayor 
and the commander of the soldiers had, it seems, combined together to 
make a disturbance amongst us. When friends told me what a rage 
there was in the town, how they were threatened by the mayor and sol- 
diers, and how unruly they had been the day before, I sent for George 
Bishop, Thomas Gouldney, Thomas Speed, and Edward Pyot, and de- 
sired them to go to the mayor and aldermen, and request them, seeing 
they had broke up our meetings, to let us have the town-hall to meet in; 
and for the use of it we would give them twenty pounds a year, to be 
distributed amongst the poor: and when the mayor and aldermen had 
business to do in it, friends would not meet in it, but only on the first- 
days. Those friends were astonished at this, and said, The mayor and 
aldermen would think they were mad. I said, Nay ; for they should 
offer them a considerable benefit to the poor. And it was upon me from 
the Lord to bid them go. At last they consented, and went, though in 
the cross to their own wills. When they had laid the thing before the 
mayor, it came so over him, that he said, ‘ For his part he could consen 
‘to it, but he was but one.’ He told them of another great hall the 
might have, but that they did not accept of, it being inconvenient. So 
they came away, leaving the mayor in a very loving frame towards 
them; for they felt the Lord’s power had come over him. When they 
came back, I spoke to them to go to the colonel, and lay before him the 
rude carriage of his soldiers, how they came armed amongst naked in- 
nocent people, who were waiting upon and worshipping the Lord ; but 
they were backward to go to him. Next morning, being first-day, we 
went to the meeting in the Orchard, where the soldiers had so lately heen 
so rude. After I had declared the truth a pretty while in the meeting, 
‘here came in many rude soldiers and people, some with drawn swords, 
[he innkeepers had made some of them drunk; and one of them haé 
bound himself with an oath, ‘to cut down and kill the man that spoke? 
He came pressing in through the crowd to within two yards of me, an 
stopped at those four friends before-mentioned (who should have gone t 
the colonel as I would have had them) and fell a jangling with them. 
a sudden J saw his sword was put up and gone; for the Lord’s powel 
came over all, and chained him with the rest. We had a blessed meet 
ing, for the Lord’s s everlasting power and presence was felt amongst us 
The day following those four friends went and spoke with the colone 
and he sent for the soldiers, and cut and slashed some of them befor 
the friends’ faces. Which when I heard of I blamed them for letting hir 
do so, and also for not going on the seventh-day as 1 would have ha 
them, which might have prevented this cutting of the soldiers, and thie 
trouble they gave at our meeting. Thus the Lord’s power came ove 
all those per secuting , bloody minds, and the meeting was held in peace 
for a good while after. 

Thad then also a general meeting at Edward Pyot’s near Bristol, 
which it was judged \ were several thousands of people ; for besides friends 
from many parts thereabouts, some of the Baptists and Independents 
with their teachers, came to it, and many of the sober people of Bris- 
tol; insomuch that the people who staid behind said, ‘The city looke 
‘naked,’ so many were gone out of it to this meeting. It was very quiet 
many glorious truths were opened to the people, and the Lord Jest 


1660] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 321 


Christ was set up, who is the end of all figures and shadows, of the law 
and the first covenant. It was declared to the people, that all figures 
and shadows were given to man after man fell, and that all the rudi- 
ments and inventions of men which have been set up in Christendom, 
many of which were Jewish and heathenish, were not set up by the 
command of Christ: and all images and likenesses man has made to 
himself or for himself, whether of things in heaven or things in earth, 
have been since he lost the image and likeness of God, which God made 
him in. But now Christ is come to redeem, translate, convert, and re- 
generate man out of all these things that he hath set up in the fall, out of 
the true types, figures and shadows also, and out of death and darkness, 
up into the light, life, and image of God again, which man and woman 
were in before they fell. Therefore all now should come, and all may 
come to receive Christ Jesus, the substance, by his light, spirit, grace 
and faith, and should live and walk in him, the Redeemer and Saviour. 
And as we had a great dea! of work with priests and professors, who 
pleaded for imperfection, I was opened to declare and manifest to them 
that Adam and Eve were perfect before they fell, and all that God made 
he saw was good, and he blessed it; but the impertection came in by the 
fall, through man’s and woman’s hearkening to the devil who was out of 
truth. And though the law made nothing perfect, yet it made way for 
the bringing in of the better hope, which hope is Christ, who destroys 
the devil and his works, which made man and woman imperfect. Christ 
saith to his disciples, ‘ Be ye perfect, even as your heavenly Father is 
‘perfect:’ and he, who himself was perfect, comes to make man and 
woman perfect again, and brings them again to the state which God made 
them in. So he is the maker up of the breach, and the peace betwixt 
God and man. That this might the better be understood by the lowest 
capacities, | used a comparison of two old people who had their house 
broken down by an enemy, so that they, with all their children, were 
liable to all storms and tempests. And there came some to them that pre- 
tended to be workmen, and offered to build up their house again, if they 
would give them so much a year: but when they had got their money 
_ they left their house as they found it. After this manner came a second, 
» third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, each with his several pretence to build up 
the old house, and each got the people’s money, and then cried, ‘ They 
‘could not rear up the house, the breach cow!d not be made up; for there 
| ‘is no perfection here.’ They tell them, the house can never be perfectly 
built up again in this life, though they have taken the people’s money for 
doing it. For all the sect-masters in christendom (so called) have pre- 
tended to build up Adam’s and Eve’s fallen house, and when they have 
got people’s money, tell them the work cannot be perfecily done here; 
so their house lies as it did. But I told the people, Christ was come to 
do it freely, who by one offering hath perfected for ever all them that 
are sanctified, and renews them up into the image of God, which man 
and woman were in before they fell, and makes man’s and woman’s house 
as perfect again as God made them at the first; and this Christ, the hea- 
venly Man, doth freely. Therefore al] are to look unto him, and all that 
have received him are to walk in him, the Life, the Substance, the First, 
and the Last, ‘The Rock of Ages, the Foundation of many Genera 
‘tions.’ Largely were these and many other things opened to people 
the word of life was preached, which lives and abides, and all were ex 
horted to hear and obey it, that by it all might be born again of the im 
2 


_would be well to them that loved the Lord, and were faithful to him 
Therefore I bid all friends fear none but the Lord, and keep in his power ~ 


322 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. “1660 


mortal seed, and feed of the milk of the word. A glorious meeting there 
was, wherein the Lord’s everlasting seed, Christ Jesus, was set over all, 
and friends parted in the power and Spirit of the Lord, in peace, and in 
his truth, that is over all. 

About this time the soldiers under general Monk’s command were rude 
and troublesome at friends’ meetings in many places, whereof complaint 
being made to him, he gave forth the following order, which somewhat 
restrained them: 


«“ St. James’s, the 9th of March, 1659. 


“T po require all officers and soldiers to forbear to disturb the peace- 
“able meetings of the Quakers, they doing nothing prejudicial to the 
“ parliament or commonwealth of England. 

“ George Monk.” 


After this meeting, I passed to Oldeston, to Nailsworth, and to Na- 
thaniel Crisp’s; where was a large meeting, and several soldiers, but 
quiet. From thence we passed to Gloucester, visiting meetings. In 
Gloucester we had one that was peaceable, though the town was very 
rude and divided ; for one part of the soldiers were for the king, and an- 
other for the parliament. As I passed out of the town over the bridge, 
Edward Pyot being with me, the soldiers there said, ‘ They were for 
‘the king.’ After we were past them, they were in a great rage that ] 
had escaped them, and said, ‘ Had they known it they would have shot 

me with hail-shot rather than I should have escaped.’ But the Lord 
prevented their devilish design, and brought me safe to colonel Grimes’s, 
where we had a large general meeting, and the Lord’s truth and power 
was set over all; friends were established upon the Rock, and settled 
under the Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching. 

We passed from thence to Tewksbury, and so to Worcester, visiting 


meetings as we went. And in all my time I never saw the like drunk- - 


enness as then in the towns; for they had been choosing parliament- 
men. At Worcester the Lord’s truth was set over all, people were finely 
settled therein, and friends praised the Lord; nay, I saw the very earth 
rejoiced. Yet great fears and troubles were in many, looking for the 
king’s coming in, and that all things should be altered. They would ask 
me what I thought of times and things? I told them the Lord’s power 
was over all, his light shined over all, and that fear would take hold 
only on the hypocrites, such as had not been faithful to God, and on our 
persecutors. In my travail and sufferings at Reading, when people were 
at a stand, and could not tell who might rule, I told them the Lord’s 


power was over all (for I travelled through in it)~and his day shined ~ 


whosoever should come in, and whether-the king came in or no, all 


that was over all. 


From Worcester I visited friends’ meetings till 1 came to Badgely;_ 


from thence I went to Drayton, in Leicestershire, to visit my relations. 
While I was there, one Burton, a justice, hearing I had a good horse, 
sent a warrant to search for me and my horse; but I was gone before 
they came, so he missed of his wicked end. I passed to Twycross, 


Swanington, and Derby, where I visited friends, and found my old gaoler — 


amongst them, who had formerly kept me in the house of correction — 
there, who was now convinced of the truth which I then suffered under 


ee 


4 
7 
" 


i i el cell al 


1660] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 323 


him for. Passing into Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, I came to Syn- 
derhill-green, visiting friends’ meetings; and so to Balby in Yorkshire, 
where our yearly meeting at that time was held, in a great orchard of 
John Killam’s, where it was supposed some thousznds of people and 
friends were gathered together. In the morning I heard a troop of horse 
was sent from York, about thirty miles off, to break up our meeting, and 
that the militia newly raised was to join them. [| went into the meeting, 
and stood up on a great stool; and after I had spoken some time, two 
trumpeters came, sounding their trumpets pretty near me, and the cap- 
tain of the troop cried, ‘ Divide to the right and left, and make way.’ 
Then they rode up to me. I was declaring the everlasting truth and 
word of life, in the mighty power of the Lord. The captain bid me 
‘Come down, for he was come to disperse our meeting.’ After some 
time I told him, they all knew we were a peaceable people, and that we 
used to have such great meetings; but if he apprehended we met in an 
hostile way, I desired him to make search among us, and if he found 
either sword or pistol about any there, let such sutier. He told me, ‘ He 
‘must see us dispersed, for he came all night on purpose to disperse us.’ 
l asked him, What honour it would be to him to ride with swords and 
pistols amongst so many unarmed men and women as there were? If 
he would be still and quiet, our meeting probably might not con- 
tinue above two or three hours, and when it was done, as we came 
peaceably together, so we should part; for he might perceive the meet- 
ing was so large all the country thereabouts could not entertain them, 
but that they intended to depart towards their homes at night. He said, 
‘He could not stay to see the meeting ended, but must disperse them 
‘before he went.’ I desired him then, if he himself could not stay, that 


he would let a dozen of his soldiers stay, and see the order and peacea- 


bleness of our meeting. He said, ‘ He would permit us an hour’s time,’ 
and left half a dozen soldiers with us. Then he went away with his troop, 
and friends of the house gave the soldiers that staid, and their horses, 
some meat. When the captain was gone, the soldiers that were left toid 
us, ‘ We might stay till night if we would.’ But we staid but about three 
hours after, and had a glorious, powerful meeting; for_the presence of 
the living God was_manifest_amongst us, and the seed, Christ, was. set 
over all. Friends were built upon him the foundation, and settled under 
his glorious, heavenly teaching. After the meeting friends passed away 
in peace, greatly refreshed with the presence of the Lord, and filled with 
joy and gladness that the Lord’s power had given them such dominion. 
Many of the militia-soldiers staid also, much vexed that the captain and 
troopers had not broke up our meeting, and cursed the captain and his 
troopers. It was reported they intended evil against us that day; but 
the troopers, instead of assisting them, were rather assistant to us, in not 
joining them as they expected, but preventing them from doing the mis- 
chief they designed. Yet this captain was a desperate man; for it was 
he that said to me in Scotland, ‘ He would obey his superior’s commands, 


‘if it was to crucify Christ he would do it, or execute the great Turk’s 


‘commands against the christians if he was under him.’ So that it was 
an eminent power of the Lord, which chained both him and his troopers. 
and those envious militia-soldiers also, who went away, not having power 


to hurt any of us, nor to break up our meeting. 


Next day we had an heavenly meeting at Warmsworth of friends in 


the ministry, with several others; and then friends parted. As they pass 


LN 


324 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. | , [1660 


ed through the country several were taken up; for the day that our first j 


meeting was held on, Lambert was routed, and it made great confusion 
in the country; but friends were not kept long in prison at that time. 
As I went to this meeting there came several to me at Skegby in Not- 
tinghamshire, who were going to be soldiers under Lambert, and would 
have bought my horse of me; and because I would not sell him, they 
were in a great rage against me, using many threatening words: bu 
I told them, ‘God would confound and scatter them;’ and within 1we 
r three days after they were scattered indeed. 

From Warmsworth I passed, in the Lord’s power, to Barton-abbey, 
where I had a great meeting; from thence to Thomas Taylor’s, and so 
to Skipton, where was a general meeting of men friends out of many 
counties concerning the affairs of the church. ‘ A friend went naked 
‘through the town, declaring truth, and was much beaten. Some other 
‘friends also came to me all bloody.’ As I walked in the street, a des- 
perate fellow had an intent to have done me mischief; but he was pre- 
vented, and our meeting was quiet. To this meeting came many friends 
out of most parts of the nation; for it was about business relating to the 
church both in this nation and beyond the seas. Several years before, 
when I was in the north, I was moved to recommend to friends the set- 
ting up of this meeting for that service; for many friends suffered in 
divers parts of the nation, their goods were taken from them contrary to 
law, and they understood not how to help themselves, or where to seek 
redress. But after this meeting was set up, several friends who had been 
magistrates, and others who understood something of the law, came 
thither, and were able to inform friends, and to assist them in gathering 
up the sufferings, that they might be laid before the justices, judges, or 
parliament. This meeting had stood several years, and divers justices 
and captains had come to break it up; but when they understood the 
business friends met about, and saw friends’ books, and accounts of col- 
lections for relief of the poor, how-we took care one county to help an- 
other, and to help our friends beyond sea, and provide for our poor that 

-none of them should be chargeable to their parishes, &c. the justices and 
officers confessed that_we did their work, and would pass away peace- 
ably and lovingly, ‘commending friends’ practice.’ Sometimes there 
would come two hundred of the poor of other people, and wait till the 
meeting was done, for all the country knew we met about the poor, and 
after the meeting friends would send to the bakers for bread, and give 
every one of those poor people_a loaf, how many soever there were 
of them; for we were taught ‘to do good unto all, though especially to 
‘the household of faith.’ 

After this meeting, I visited friends’ meetings till I came to Lancaster, 
from whence I went to Robert Withers’s, and so to Arnside, where I 
had a general meeting for all the friends in the counties of Westmore 
land, Cumberland, and Lancashire. This meeting was quiet and peace 
able, and the living presence of the Lord was amongst us. I went bach 
with Robert Withers, and friends passed away, fresh in the life and 


power of Christ, in which they had dominion, being settled upon him — 


the Heavenly Rock and Foundation. Several rude fellows, serving-men 
belonging to Sir George Middleton, a justice, that lived not far off, came 
to have made some disturbance, as it was thought; but the meeting be- 
cng ended they did nothing there; but lighting on three women friends 
going homeward, they set upon them with impudent scoffs, and one of 


a GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 325 


_ them carried himself very abusively and immodesily towards them. The 
same man abused other friends also, and was so outrageous that he 
_ would have cut some with an ax, but that he was restrained by some of 
his fellows. At another time the same man set upon six friends that 
" were going to a meeting at Yelland, and beat and abused them so, that 
he ‘bruised their faces and shed much of their blood,’ wounding them 
_ very sore, and one of them in several parts of his body; yet they lifted 
not an hand against him, but gave him their backs and cheeks to beat. 
__ From Robert Withers’s I went next day to Swarthmore, Francis 
y Howgil and Thomas Curtis being with me. I had not been long there 
| before Henry Porter, a justice, sent a warrant by the chief constable 
and three petty constables to apprehend me. I had a sense of the thing 
beforehand; and being in the parlour with Richard Richardson and 
Margaret Fell, some of her servants came and told her, there were 
some come to search the house for arms, and they went up into some 
of the chambers under that pretence. It came upon me to go out to 
them, and as! was going by some of them, I spoke to them; whereupon 
they asked me my name. I readily told them my name, and they laid 
hold on me, saying, I was the man they looked for, and led me away to 
Ulverstone. There they kept me all night at the constable’s, and set a 
guard of fifteen or sixteen men to watch me; some of whom sate in the 
chimney, for fear I should go up the chimney: such dark imaginations 
possessed them. ‘They were very rude and uncivil to me, and would 
neither suffer me to speak to friends nor friends to bring me necessaries ; 
but with violence thrust them out, and kept a strong guard upon me. 
Very wicked and rude they were, and a great noise they made about 
me. One of the constables, whose name was Ashburnham, said, ‘ He 
*‘did not think a thousand men could have taken me.’ Another of the 
constables, whose name was Mount, a very wicked man, said, ‘ He 
‘would have served judge Fell himself so, if he had been alive, and he 
‘had a warrant for him.’ Next morning about the sixth hour, I was 
putting on my boots and spurs to go with them before some justice; but 
they pulled off my spurs, took my knife out of my pocket, and hasted 
me away along the town, with a party of horse and abundance of peo- 
_ ple, not suffering me to stay till my own horse came down. When I 
Was gone about a quarter of a mile with them, some friends, with Mar- 
garet Fell and her children, came towards me, and then a great party 
of horse gathered about me in a mad rage and fury, crying out, ‘ Will 
‘they rescue him! will they rescue him!’ Whereupon I said, ‘ Here is 
* my hair, here is my back, here are my cheeks, strike on!’ Upon which 
their heat was a little assuaged. Then they brought a little horse, and 
‘two of them took up one of my legs, and put my foot in the stirrup, and 
two or three lifting over my other leg, set me upon the little horse, be- 
hind the saddle, and so led the horse by the halter, but I had nothing to 
had by. When they were come a pretty way out of the town, they 
beat the little horse, and made him kick and gallop; whereupon I 
‘slipped off him, and told them, ‘ They should not abuse the creature.’ 
They were much enraged at my getting off, and took me by the legs 
and feet, and set me upon the same horse behind the saddle again, and 
led the horse about two miles, till we came to a great water called Car- 
ter-ford. By this time my own horse was come to us, and the water 
being deep, and their little horse scarce able to carry me through, they 
let ne get upon my own horse through the persuasion of some of then 


* F M 
- 
© . 


(1660 
cwn company, they leading him through the water. One wiched fel- 
low * kneeled down, and lifting up his hands blessed God that I was 
‘taken.’ When 1 was come over the sands, I told them I had heard I 
had liberty to choose ‘what justice 1 would go before; but the consta- 
bles cried, ‘ No, I should not.’ They led me to Lancaster, about fourteen 
miles, and a great triumph they thought to have had; but as they led» 
me I was moved to‘ sing praises to the Lord, in his triumphing power 

over all”. When I was come to Lancaster, the spirits of the people 
being mightily up, I stood and looked earnestly upon them, and they 
cried, ‘Look at his eyes! After a while I spoke to them, and they 
were pretty sober. Then came a young man who took me to his house, 
and aiter a litile time the officers had me to major Porter’s, the justice’ 
who had sent the warrant against me, who had several others with him. 
When I came in, I said, ‘ Peace be amongst you’ Porter asked me, 
‘Why I came into the country that troublesome time” I told him, 
‘To visit my brethren.’ But said he, ‘ You have great meetings up and 
‘down.’ I told him though we’had, our meetings were known through- 
out the nation to be peaceable, and we were a peaceable people. He 
said, ‘We saw the devil in people’s faces.’ I told him, ‘If 1 saw a 
‘drunkard, or a swearer, or a peevish heady man, I could not say I 
‘saw the Spirit of God in him.’ And I asked him, ‘If he could see the 
‘Spirit of God? He said,‘ We cried against their ministers.’ I told 
him, While we were as Saul, sitting under the priests, and running up 
and down with their packets of letters, we were never called pestilent 
fellows nor makers of sects; but when we were come to exercise our 
consciences towards God and man, we were called pestilent fellows, as 
Paul was. He said,.We-could express ourselves well enough, and he 
would not dispute with me; but he would restrain me. I desired to 
know, ‘for what, and by whose order he sent his warrant for me;’ and 
complained to him of the abuse of the constables and other officers 
after they had taken me, and in their bringing me thither. He would 
not take notice of that, but told me, ‘ He had an order, but would no 
‘let me see it; for he would not reveal the king’s secrets; and besides, 
‘a prisoner,’ he said, ‘ was not to see for what he was committed.’ I told 
him, that was not reason; for how should he make his defence then ? 
I said I ought to have a copy of it. But he said, There was a judge 
once, ‘ that fined one for letting a prisoner have a copy of his mittimus; 
‘and,’ said he, ‘1 have an old clerk, though I am a young justice.” Then 
he called to his clerk, saying, ‘Is it not ready yet? Bring it;’ meaning 
the mittimus. But it not being ready, he told me I was a disturber of 
the nation. I told him, I had been a blessing to the nation, in and 
through the Lord’s power and truth, and the Spirit of God in all con 
sciences would answer it. Then he charged me as an ‘enemy to the 
‘king, that I endeavoured to raise a new war, and imbrue the nation in 
‘blood again.’ [I told him, I had never learned the postures of war, but 
was clear and innocent as a child concerning those things; and there- 
tore was bold. Then came the clerk with the mittimus, and the gaoler 
was sent for and commanded to take me, put me into the Dark-house, 
and let none come at me, but keep me there close prisoner till I should 
be delivered by the king or parliament. Then the justice asked the 
constables where my horse was? ‘ For I hear,’ said he, ‘ he hath a good 
\ | ‘thorse; have ye brought his horse?’ I told him where my horse was, 
*\ but he did not meddle with him. As they had me to the gaol the con- 


: 


© 


326 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 


i 


660) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 327 


stable gave me my knife again, and then asked me to give it him. I told 
him, Nay; he had not been so civil to me. So they put me into the 
gaol, and the under-gaoler, one Hardy, a very wicked man, was ex- 
ceeding rude and cruel, and many times would not let me have meat 
brought in, but as I could get it under the door. Many came to look 
at me, some in a rage, and very uncivil and rude. One time there came 
two young priests, and very abusive they were; the meanest people 
could not be worse. Amongst those that came in this manner, ola 
Preston’s wife of Howker was one. She used many abusive words to 
me, telling me, my ‘tongue should be cut out,’ and that ‘I should be 
‘hanged ;’ shewing me the gallows. But the Lord God cut her off, and 
she died in a miserable condition. 

Being close prisoner in the common gaol at Lancaster, I desired 
Thomas Cummins and Thomas Green to go to the gaoler, and desire a 
copy of my mittimus, that I might know what I stood committed for. 
They went; and the gaoler answered, ‘ He could not give a copy of it, 
‘for another had been fined for so doing ;’ but he gave them liberty to 
read it over. To the best of their remembrance, the matters therein 
charged against me were, ‘That I was a person generally suspected to 
-be a common disturber of the peace of the nation, an enemy to the 
‘king, and a chief upholder of the Quakers’ sect; and that I, together 
‘with many of my fanatick opinion, have of late endeavoured to raise 
‘insurrections in these parts of the country, and embroil the whole 
‘country in blood. Wherefore the gaoler was commanded to keep me 
‘in safe custody, till I should be released by order from the king or par- 
* liament.’ 

When I had thus got the heads of the charge contained in the mitti- 
mus, I wrote a plain, downright answer, in vindication of my innocency 
to each particular, as followeth: 


‘I am a prisoner at Lancaster, committed by justice Porter. A copy 
‘of the mittimus I cannot get; but such expressions | am told are in it 
‘as are very untrue. As that I am “generally suspected to be a com- 
“mon disturber of the nation’s peace, an enemy to the king, and that I, 
“with others, should endeavour to raise insurrections, to embroil the 
“nation in blood.” All which is utterly false; and I do, in every part 
‘thereof, deny it. For I am not a person generally suspected to be a 
‘ disturber of the nation’s peace, nor have given any cause for such sus- 
‘picion; for through the nation I have been tried for these things 
‘formerly. In the days of Oliver I was taken up on pretence of raising 
‘arms against him, which was also false; for I meddled not with rais- 
‘ing arms at all. Yet I was then carried up prisoner to London, and 
‘brought before him; when I cleared myself, and denied the drawing 
‘of a carnal weapon against him, or any man upon the earth; for my 
‘weapons are spiritual, which take away the occasion of war, and 
‘lead into peace. Upon my declaring this to Oliver, I was set at liber- 
‘ty by him. After this I was taken, and sent to prison by major Ceely, 
‘in Cornwall, who, when I was brought before the judge, informed 
“against me, “ That I took him aside, and told him, that I could raise 
“forty thousand men in an hour’s time to involve the nation in blood, 
“and bring in king Charles.” This also was utterly false, a lie of his 

own inventing, as was then proved upon him; for I never spoke any 
‘such word to him. I never was in any plot, 1 never took any engage- 


828 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1660 


ment or oath, nor ever learned war-posture. As those were false 
charges against me then, so are these now which come from major 
Porter, who is lately appointed to be justice, but wanted power 
‘formerly to exercise his cruelty against us; which is but the wicked- 
‘ness of the old enemy. For the peace of the nation I am not a dis- 
‘turber of, nor ever was; but seek the peace thereof, and of all men, 
and stand for all nations’ peace and men’s peace upon the earth, and 
* wish that all nations and men knew my innocency in these things. 

‘ And whereas major Porter saith, I am an “ enemy to the king,” this 
‘is false; for my love is to “ him and to all men,” even though they be 
y‘enemies to God, to themselves, and me. And I can say, It is of the 
_ Lord that he is come in, to bring down many unrighteously set up; of 
\‘which I had a sight three years before he came in. It is much he 
)*should say Iam an enemy to the king; for I have no reason so to be, 
‘he having done nothing against me. But I have been often imprisoned. 
‘and persecuted these eleven or twelve years by those that have been 
‘both against the king and his father, even the party that Porter was 
‘made a major by and bore arms for; but not by them that were for the 
‘king. I was never an enemy to the king, nor to any man’s person upon 
‘the earth. I am in the love that fulfils the law, which thinks no evil, 
‘but loves even enemies; and would have the king saved, and come to 
‘the knowledge of the truth, and be brought into the fear of the Lord, to 

receive his wisdom from above, by which all things were made and 

created ; that with that wisdom he may order all things to the glory of 

God. 

‘Whereas he calleth me, “ A chief upholder of the Quakers’ sect,” 1 
answer: the Quakers are not a sect, but are in the power of God, 
. which was before sects were, and witness the election before the world 
began, and are come to live in the life which the prophets and apostles 
‘lived in who gave forth the scriptures; therefore are we hated by en- 
‘vious, wrathful, wicked, persecuting men. But God is the upholder of 
‘us all by his mighty power, and preserves us from the wrath of the 
‘wicked that would swallow us up. 
‘ And whereas he saith, “ That I, together with others of my fanatick 
“ opinion,” as he calls it, ‘“ have of late endeavoured to raise insurrec- 
“ tions, and to embroil the whole kingdom in blood :” This is altogether 
‘ false ; to these things I am as a child, and know nothing of them. The 
‘postures of war I never learned; my weapons are spiritual and not 
‘carnal, for with carnal weapons I do not fight. I am a follower of 
“him who said, “ My kingdom is not of this world.” And though these 
| ‘lies and slanders are raised upon me, I deny drawing of any carnal! 
‘ weapon against the king or parliament, or any man upon the earth ; for 
‘IT am come to the end of the law, “to love enemies, and wrestle not 
“ with flesh and blood ;” but am in that which saves men’s lives. A wit- 
‘ness | am against all murderers, plotters, and all such as would “im- 
* brue the nation in blood; for it is not in my heart to have any man’s 
‘life destroyed. And as for the word fanatick, which signifies furious, 
foolish, mad, &c. he might have considered himself before he had used 
that word, and have learned the humility which goes before honour. 
We are not furious, foolish, or mad; but through patience and meek- 
ness have borne lies, slanders, and persecutions many years, and have 
‘undergone great sufferings. The spiritual man, that wrestles not with 
‘flesh and blood, and the Spirit that reproves sin in the gate, which is 


1660] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 329 


‘the Spirit of truth, wisdom, and sound judgment, is not mad, foolish. 
‘furious, which fanatick signifies; but all are of a mad, furious, foolish 
* spirit, that wrestle with flesh and blood, with carnal weapons, in their 
*furiousness, foolishness, and rage. This is not the Spirit of God, but of 
‘error, that persecutes in a mad, blind, zeal, like Nebuchadnezzar and 
* Saul. 

‘Inasmuch as I am ordered to be kept prisoner till I be delivered by 
‘order from the king or parliament, therefore I have written these 
‘things to be laid before you, the king and parliament, that ye may con- 

sider of them before ye act any thing therein; that ye may weigh, in 
‘the wisdom of God, the intent and end of men’s spirits, lest ye act the 
‘thing that will bring the hand of the Lord upon you and against you, 
‘as many have done before you who have been in authority, whom God 
‘hath overthrown. In him we trust whom we fear and cry unto day 
‘and night, who hath heard us, doth hear us, and will hear us, and 
‘avenge our cause. Much innocent blood hath been shed. Many have 
‘been persecuted to death by such as were in authority before you, 
‘whom God hath vomited out because they turned against the just. 
‘Therefore consider your standing now that ye have the day, and re- 

ceive this as a warning of love to you. 
‘From an innocent sufferer in bonds, and close prisoner in 

‘ Lancaster castle, called 
‘ George Fox.’ 


Upon my being taken, and forcibly carried away from Margaret 
Fell’s, and charged with things of so high a nature, she was concerned, 
looking upon it to be an injury offered to her. Whereupon she wrote the 
following lines, and sent them abroad, directed thus: 


‘To all magistrates concerning the wrong taking up and imprisoning 
ro) ro) fo) Pp to) 
George Fox at Lancaster. 


‘I po inform the governors of this nation, that Henry Porter, mayor 
‘of Lancaster, sent a warrant with four constables to my house, for 
‘ which he had no authority nor order. They searched my housé, and 
‘ apprehended George Fox in it, who was not guilty of the breach of any 
‘law, or of any offence against any in the nation. After they had taken 
‘him and brought him before the said Henry Porter, bail was offered 
‘what he would demand for his appearance, to answer what could be 
‘laid to his charge; but he, contrary to law, if he had taken him lawful- 
‘ly, denied to accept of any bail, and clapped him up in close prison. 
‘After he was in prison a copy of his mittimus was demanded, which 
* ought not to be denied to any prisoner, that he may see what is laid to 
‘his charge ; but it was denied him; a copy he could not have, only they 

were suffered to read it over. Every thing there charged against him 
‘was utterly false; he was not guilty of any one charge in it, as will be 
‘proved and manifested to the nation. Let the governors consider of it. 
‘I am concerned in this thing, inasmuch as he was apprehended in my 
‘house, and if he be guilty, 1am so too. I desire to have this searched 

out. Margaret Fell.’ 


After chis Margaret Fell determined to go to London to speak with 
the king about my being taken, to shew him the manner of it, and the 
‘unjust dealing and evil usage I had received. Which when justice Per- 
" 2R 


= 
ss 


Ja ae 


330 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [i66c 


ter heard of, he vapoured that he would go and meet her in the gap 
But when he came before the king, he having been a zealous man fo: 
the parliament against the king, several courtiers spoke to him concern: 
ing his plundering their houses; so he had quickly enough of the court 
and returned into the country. Meanwhile the gaoler seemed very fear. 
ful, and said, He was afraid major Porter would hang him because he 
had not put me in the Dark-house. But when the gaoler went to wai 
on him, after he was come from London, he was very blank and down 
and asked ‘how I did?’ pretending he would find a way to set me a 
liberty. But having overshot himself in his mittimus, by ordering mx 
‘to be kept prisoner till I should be delivered by the king or parliament, 
he had put it out of his power to release me if he would. He was th 
more dejected also upon reading a letter which I sent him; for when he 
was in the height of his rage and threats against me, and thought to in 
gratiate himself into the king’s favour by imprisoning me, | was movec 
to write to him, and put him in mind, ‘ How fierce he had been agains 
‘the king and his party, though now he would be thought zealous for the 
‘king.’ Among other passages in my letter, I called to his remembrance 
that when he held Lancaster castle for the parliament against the king 
he was so rough and fierce against those that favoured the king, that he 
said, ‘ He would leave them neither dog nor cat if they did not brin; 
‘him provision to his castle.’ 1 asked him also, ‘ Whose great buck’ 
‘horns those were that were in his house? and where he had them an 
‘the wainscot that he ceiled his house withal? Had he not them fron 
‘ Hornby castle” 

About this time Ann Curtis, of Reading, came to see me; and under 
standing how I stood committed, it was upon her also to go to the kin; 
about it. Her father, who had been sheriff of Bristol, was hanged nea 
his own door for endeavouring to bring the king in; upon which con 
sideration she had some hopes the king might hear her on my behali 
Accordingly, when she returned to London, she and Margaret Fell wen 
to the king together ; who, when he understood whose daughter she was 
received her kindly. And her request to him being ‘ to send for me up 
‘and hear the cause himself, he promised her he would, and commande¢ 
his secretary to send an order for bringing me up. But when they camx 
to the secretary for the order, he said, ‘It was not in his power; hi 
‘must go according to law; and I must be brought up by an Habea: 
‘Corpus before the judges.’ So he wrote to the judge of the king’ 
bench, signifying it was the king’s pleasure I should be sent up by 
Habeas Corpus.. Accordingly a writ was sent, and delivered to the 
sheriff; but because it was directed to the chancellor of Lancaster, tl 
sheriff put 1t off to him; on the other hand the chancellor would n 
_ make the warrant upon it, but said the sheriff must do that. At leng 
both chancellor and sheriff were got together; but being both enemi 
to truth they sought occasion for delay, and found an error in the wri 
which was, that being directed to the chancellor, it said, ‘George F 
‘in prison under your custody,’ whereas the prison I was in was not 1} 
the chancellor’s custody, but the sheriff’s ; so the word your should ha 
veen nis. Upon this they returned the writ to London again, only 
have that one word altered. When it was altered and brought dow 
again, the sheriff refused to carry me up, unless I would seal a writi 
to him, and become bound to pay for the sealing and the charge of ca 
rying me up: which I denied, telling them, I would not seal any thi 


a 


660] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 331 


_o them, nor be bound. So the matter rested awhile, and I continued in 
prison. Meanwhile the assize came on; but as there was a writ for 
removing me up, | was not brought before the judge. At the assize 
many came to see me. I was moved to speak out of the gaol-winduw 
to them and shew them, ‘How uncertain their religion was, and that 

every sort, when uppermost, had persecuted the rest. When popery 
* was uppermost. people had been persecuted for not following the mass; 
‘and those who held it up cried, “It was the higher power,” and people 
‘must be subject to the higher power. Afterwards they that set up the 
‘Common Prayer persecuted others for not following that; saying, “ J. 
“was the higher power, and we must be subject to that.” Since that, 
‘the Presbyterians and Independents cried each of them, “ We must be 
* subject to the higher power, and submit to the directory of the one and 
“the church-faith of the other.” Thus all, like the apostate Jews, have 
‘cried, “ Help, men of Israel, against the true Christians.” So people 


_ ‘might see how uncertain they are of their religions. But I directed 


ae 


a 


‘them to Christ Jesus, that they might be built upon him, the Rock and 
‘Foundation that changeth not.’ Much on,this wise I declared to them, 
and they were quiet and very attentive. Afterwards I gave forth a little 
paper concerning True Religion, as followeth: 


‘ True Religion is the true rule and right way of serving God. And 
‘religion is a pure stream of righteousness flowing from the image of 
‘God, and is the light and power of God planted in the heart and mind 
‘by the law of life, which bringeth the soul, mind, spirit, and body to be 
‘conformable to God, the Father of Spirits, and to Christ; so that they 
‘come to have fellowship with the Father and the Son, and with all his 
‘holy angels and saints. This religion is pure from above, undefiled be- 
‘fore God, leads to visit the fatherless, widows, and strangers, and keeps 
‘from the spots of the world. This religion is above all the defiled, spot- 
‘ted religions in the world, that keep not from defilements and spots, but 
‘leave their professors impure, below, and spotted; whose fatherless, 
‘widows, and strangers, beg up and down the streets. G. F? 


Soon after this I gave forth another against persecution, on this wise: 


“Tue Papists, Common-prayer-men, Presbyterians, Independents, and 
‘Baptists persecute one another about their own inventions, their Mass, 
‘their Common-Prayer, their Directory, their Church-faith, which they 
‘have made and framed, and not for the truth; for they know not what 
‘spirit they are of, who persecute, and would have men’s lives destroyed 
‘about church-worship and religion, as Christ saith, who also said, “ He 
“came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They that know 
‘not what spirit they are of, but will persecute and destroy men’s lives, 
‘and not save them, we cannot trust our bodies, souls nor spirits in their 
‘hands; they know not what spirit they are of themselves, therefore they 
‘areniot fit to be trusted with others. They would destroy by a law, 

as the disciples once would have done by prayer, who would have com- 
*manded “ fire to come down from heaven,” to destroy them that would 

not receive Christ. But Christ rebuked them, and told them, “ They 
“knew not what spirit they are of.” If they did not know what spirit 
they were of; do these who have persecuted about religion since the 
apostles’ days, who would compel men’s bodies, goods, lives, souls, and 
estates into their hands by law, or make them suffer? Those that de 


332 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL [1660 


stroy men’s lives are not the ministers of Christ, the Saviour; and see- 
‘ing they know not what spirit they are of, the lives, bodies, end souls 
‘of men are not to be trusted in their hands. And ye that persecute shall 

have no resurrection to life with God, except ye repent. But they that 
‘know what spirit they are of themselves are in the unrebukeable zeal, 
‘and by the Spirit of God they offer up their spirits, souls, and bodies to 

‘the Lord, which are his, to keep them. ' G.aF? 


While I was kept in Lancaster gaol, I was moved to give forth the 
following paper, ‘For staying the minds of any such as might be hur- 
‘ried or troubled about the change of government.’ 


‘ All friends, 

‘Ler the dread and majesty of God fill you! Concerning the changing 
‘of times and governments, let not that trouble any of you; for God hath 
‘a mighty work and hand therein. He will yet change again, until that 
‘come up which must.reign, and in vain shall powers and armies with- 
‘stand the Lord; for his determined work shall come to pass. But what 
‘is now come up, it is just with the Lord that it should be so, and he 
‘will be served by it. Therefore let none murmur, nor distrust God: 
‘for he will provoke many to zeal against unrighteousness, and for right- 
‘eousness, through things which are suffered now to work for a season: 
‘yea many, whose zeal has been even dead, shall revive again, and they 
‘shall see their backslidings and bewail them bitterly. For “God shall 
“thunder from heaven, and break forth in a mighty noise, his enemies 
“shall be astonished, the workers of iniquity confounded, and all that 
“have not on the garment of righteousness shall be amazed at the mighty 
“and strange work of the Lord, which shall be certainly brought to 
“pass.” But my children, look ye not out, but be still in the light of the 
‘Lamb, and he shall fight for you. The Almighty Hand, which must 
‘break and divide your enemies, and take away peace from them, pre 
‘serve and keep you whole, in unity and peace with himself, and one 
‘with another. Amen. G. FY 


I was moved also to write to the king, to ‘exhort him to exercise 
‘mercy and forgiveness towards his enemies, and to warn him to restrain 
‘the prophaneness and looseness that was got up in the nation upon his 


‘return.’ 
‘To the KING. 
‘ King Charles, 

‘ Tuou camest not into this nation by sword, nor by victory of war, 
but by the power of the Lord. Now if thou dost not live in it, thou 
wilt not prosper. If the.Lord hath shewed thee merey and forgiven 
thee, and thou dost not shew mercy and forgive, God will not hear thy 
prayers, nor them that pray for thee. If thou dost not stop persecution 
and persecutors, and take away all laws that hold up persecution about 
religion; if thou persist in them, and uphold persecution, that will make 
thee as blind as those that have gone before thee: for persecution hath 
always blinded those that have gone into it. Such God by his power 
overthrows, doth his valiant acts upon, and bringeth salvation to his 
oppressed ones. If thou bear the sword in vain, and let drunkenness, 
oaths, plays, May-games, with such like abominations and vanities be 
ey couraged or vo unpunished 4s setting up of May-poles, with the im. 


ee eT 


2660, GELOKGE FUAS .OURNAL. 333 


‘age of the crown atop of them, &c. the nations will quickly turn like 
‘Sodom and Gomorrah, and be as bad as the old world, who grieved 
‘the Lord till he overthrew them ; and so he will you, if these things be 
‘not suppressed. Hardly was there so much wickedness at liberty be- 
‘fore as there is at this day, as though there was no terror nor sword of 
‘magistracy; which doth not grace a government, nor is a praise to 
‘them that do well. Our prayers are for them that are in authority, that 
‘under them we may live a godly life, in which we have peace, and that 
‘we may not be brought into ungodliness by them. Hear and consider, 
‘and do good in thy time, whilst thou-hast power; be merciful and for- 
‘give: that is the way to overcome and obtain the kingdom of Christ. 
°G. FY 

It was long before the sheriff would yield to remove me to London, 
unless I would seal a bond to him, and bear their charges; which I still 
refused to do. Then they consulted how to convey me up, and first con- 
cluded to send up a party of horse with me. I told them, ‘If I were 
‘such a man as they had represented me to be, they had need send a 
‘troop or two of horse to guard me.’ When they considered what a 
charge it would be to them to send up a party of horse with me, they 
altered their purpose, and concluded to send me up guarded only by the 
gaoler and some bailiffs. But upon farther consideration they found that 
would be a great charge to them also, and therefore sent for me to the 
gaoler’s house, and told me, if I would put in bail that I would be in Lon- 
don such a day of the term, I should have leave to go up with some of 
my own friends. I told them I would neither put in bail, nor give one 
piece of silver to the gaoler; for I was an innocent man, they had im- 
prisoned me wrongfully, and laid a false charge upon me. Nevertheless 
I said, If they would let me go up with one or two of my friends to bear 
me company, | might go up and be in London such a day, if the Lord 
should permit; and, if they desired it, I or any of my friends that went 
with me would carry up their charge against myself. When they saw 
they could do no otherwise with me, the sheriff consented that ‘I should 
‘come up with some of my friends, without any other engagement than 
‘my word, to appear before the judges at London such a day of the 
‘term, if the Lord should permit. Whereupon I was let out of prison, 
and went to Swarthmore, where IJ staid two or three days; and from 
thence went to Lancaster, and so to Preston, having meetings amongst 
friends till I came into Cheshire, to William Gandy’s, where was a large 
meeting without doors, the house not being sufficient to contain it. That 
day the Lord’s everlasting seed was set over all, and friends were turned 
to it, who is the heir of the promise. Thence I came into Staffordshire 
and Warwickshire, to Anthony Bickliff’s, and at Non-eaton, at a priest’s 

‘widow’s house, we had a blessed meeting, wherein the everlasting word 

of life was powerfully declared, and many settled in it. Then travelling 

on, visiting friends’ meetings, in about three weeks’ time from my com- 

ing out of prison, I reached London, Richard Hubberthorn and Robert 
ithers being with me. 

When we came to Charing-cross, multitudes of people were gathered 
together te see the burning of the bowels of some of the old king’s judges, 
who had been hanged, drawn and quartered. 

We went next morning to judge Mallet’s chamber, who was putting 
on his gown to sit upon more of the king’s judges. He was then very 

_ peevish and froward, and said, I might come another time. We went 


é 


334 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL ~ [166c 


another time to his chamber, when judge Foster was with him, who was 
zalled Lord Chief Justice of England. With me was one called Esquire 
Marsh, one of the bed-chamber to the king. When we had delivered to 
the judges the charge against me, and they had read to those words, 
‘That I and my friends were embroiling the nation in blood,’ &c. they 
struck their hands on the table. Whereupon I told them, ‘1 was the 
man whom that charge was against, but I was as innocent of any such 
‘thing as a new-born child, and had brought it up myself; and some of 
‘my friends came up with me, without any guard.’ As yet they had not 
minded my hat; but now, seeing my hat on, they said, ‘ What, did J 
‘stand with my hat on!’ I told them I did not stand so in any contempt 
of them. Then they commanded one to take it off; and when they had 
called for the marshal of the king’s bench, they said to him, You must 
take this man and secure him, but you must let him have a chamber, and 
not put him amongst the prisoners. My Lord, said the marshal, I have 
no chamber to put him into; my house is so full that I cannot tell where 
to provide for him but amongst the prisoners. Nay, said the judges, you 
must not put him amongst the prisoners. But when he still answered, he 
had no other place to put me in, judge Foster said to me, ‘ Will you ap- 
‘ pear to-morrow, about ten of the clock, at the king’s bench bar in West- 
‘minster-hall?’ I said, ‘ Yes, if the Lord give me strength.’ Then said 
judge Foster to the other judge, ‘If he says yes, and promises it, you 
may take his word.’ So I was dismissed. The next day I appeared at 
the king’s bench bar at the hour appointed, Robert Withers, Richard 
Hubberthorn, and Esquire Marsh going with me. I was brought into 
the middle of the court, and as soon as J came in I was moved to look 
about, and turning to the people, said, ‘Peace be among you;’ and the 
power of the Lord sprang over the court. The charge against me was 
read openly. The people were moderate, and the judges cool and loving ; 
and the Lord’s mercy was to them. But when they came to-that part 
of it which said, ‘ That I and my friends were embroiling the nation in 
‘blood and raising a new war, and that I was an enemy to the king,’ 
&c. they lifted up their hands. Then, stretching out my arms, I said, 
‘Iam the man whom that charge is against, but I am as innocent as a 
‘child concerning the charge, and have never learned any war-postures. 
‘ And said I, do ye think, that if I and my friends were such men as the 
‘charge declares, that I should have brought it up myself against my- 
‘self? Or that I should be suffered to come up with one or two of my 
‘friends with me? Had I been such a man as this charge sets forth, I 
* had need to have been guarded up with a troop or two of horse. But 
(‘the sheriff and magistrates of Lancashire thought fit to let me and my 
:‘ friends come up with it ourselves, almost two hundred miles, without 
¥ any guard at all; which, you may be sure, they would not have done 
‘if they had looked upon me to be such a man.’ The judge asked me, 
Whether it should be filed? or what I would do with it? I answered, 
Ye are judges, and able, I hope, to judge in this matter; therefore do 
with it what ve will; for I am the man these charges are against, and here 
ye see I have brought them up myself. Do ye what ye will with them, 
1 leave it to you. Then Judge Twisden beginning to speak some angry 
words, I appealed to judge Foster and judge Mallet, who had heard me 
over night. Whereupon they said, ‘They did not accuse me, for they 
had nothing against me.’ Then stood up ’squire Marsh, and told the 
judges ‘It was the king’s pleasure that I should be set at liberty, seeing 


; 


660) GEOKGE FOX’S JOURNAL. : 335 


no accuser came up against me.’ = asked me, ‘ Whether I would 

_ put it to the king and council ?? I said, ‘ Yes, with a good will.’ There- 
upon they sent the sheriff’s return, hick he made to the writ of Habeas 
Corpus, containing the matter charged against me in the mittimus, to the 
king, that he might see for what I was committed. The return of the 
sheriff of Lancaster was thus: 


‘ By virtue of his majesty’s writ to me directed, and hereunto annexed, 
«J certify, That before the receipt of the said writ, George Fox, in the 
*said writ mentioned, was committed to his majesty’s gaoi at the castle 
‘of Lancaster, in my custody, by a warrant from Henry Porter, esquire, 
*one of his majesty’s justices of peace within the couhty palatine afore- 
‘said, bearing date the fifth of June now last past; for that he, the said 
‘George Fox, was generally suspected to be a common disturber of the 

‘peace of this nation, an enemy to our sovereign Lord the king, and a 
‘chief upholder of the Quakers’ sect; and that he, together with others 
of his fanatick opinion, have of late sides oes to make insurrections 
‘in these parts of the country, and to embroil the whole kingdom in 
‘blood. And this is the cause of his taking and detaining. Nevertheless 
‘the body of the said George Fox I have ready before Thomas Mallet 
‘knight, one of his majesty’s justices, assigned to hold pleas before his 
‘majesty, at his chamber in Serjeant’s-inn, in Fleet-street, to do and re 
_ ceive those things which his majesty’s said justice shall determine con , 

cerning him i in this behalf, as by the aforesaid writ is required. 
‘ George Chetham, esquire, sheriff. 4 


Upon perusal of this, and consideration of the whole matter, the king 
being satisfied of my innocency, commanded his secretary to send an 
order to judge Mallet for my release; which the secretary did, thus: 


‘Ir is his majesty’s pleasure, That you give your order for the releas- 
‘ing and setting at full liberty the person of George Fox, late a prisoner 
‘in Lancaster gaol, and commanded hither by an Habeas Corpus. And 
* this signification of his majesty’s pleasure shall be your sufficient war- 
‘rant. Dated at Whitehall, the 24th of October, 1660. 

‘ Edward Nicholas.’ 
‘For Sir Thomas Mallet, knight, one 
‘of the justices of the king’s bench.’ 


_ 
3 
_ When this order was delivered to judge Mallet, he forthwith sent his 
warrant to the marshal of the king’s bench for my release; which war- 
rant was thus worded. 


‘ By virtue of a warrant which this morning I have received from the 
‘Right Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas, knight, one of his majesty’s 
principal secretaries, for the releasing and setting at liberty of George 
ae late a prisoner in Lancaster gaol, and from thence brought hither 

by Habeas Corpus, and yesterday committed unto your custody ; ; I do 
hereby require you accordingly to release and set the said prisoner 
George Fox at liberty: for which this shall be your warrant and dis- 


if 
"charge. Given under my hand the 25th day of October, in the year 
of our Lord God 1660. 


o Sir John Lenthal, knight, Thomas Mallet 
‘marshal of the king’s bench, 
‘or his deputy ’ 


_ at Reading; for the everlasting power of the Lord was over all, and his 

, blessed truth, life, and light shined over the nation, and great and glori- 
J ous meetings we had, and very quiet; and many flocked unto the truth. 
\ Richard Hubberthorn had been with the king, who said, ‘ None should 


336 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1666 
Thus, after I had been a prisoner somewhat more than twenty weeks, 


eY I was freely set at liberty by the king’s command, the Lord’s power 
— 


having wonderfully wrought for the clearing of my innocency, and Por 
ter, who committed me, not daring to appear to make good the charge 
he had falsely suggested against me. But after it was known I| was dis 
charged, a company of envious, wicked spirits were troubled, and terror 
took hold of justice Porter; for he was afraid I would take the advantage 
of the law against him for my wrong imprisonment, and thereby undo 
him, his wife, and children. And indeed I was pressed by some in au- 
thority to have made him and the rest examples; but I said, I should 
leave them to the Lord; if the Lord forgave them I should not trouble 
myself with them. . 

Now did I see the end of the travail which I lad in my sore exercise 


molest us so long as we lived peaceably,’-and promised this upon the 
word of a king; telling him, we might make use of his promise. Some 
friends were also admitted in the house of Lords, to declare their rea- 
sons, why they could not pay tythes, swear, nor go to the steeple-house- 
worship, or join with others in worship; and they heard them moder- 
vately. There being about seven hundred friends in prison, who had been 
committed under Oliver’s and Richard’s government, upon contempts 
(so called) when the king came in he set them all at hberty. There 
seemed at that time an inclination and intention in the government to 
have granted friends liberty, because they were sensible we had suffered 
as well as they under the former powers. But when any thing was 
going forward in order thereunto, some dirty spirits or other, that would 
seem to be for us, threw something in the way to stop it. It was said 
there was an instrument drawn up for confirming our liberty, which onl 
wanted signing; when on a sudden that wicked attempt of the Fifth- 
monarchy-people broke out, and put the city and nation in an uproar. 
This was on a first-day night, and very glorious meetings we had that 
day, wherein the Lord’s truth shined over all, and his power was exalted 
above all; but about midnight the drums beat, and the ery was, * Arm, 
‘Arm.’ I got out of bed, and in the morning took boat, and landing at 
Whitehall-stairs, walked through Whitehall. They looked strangely at 
me there; but I passed through, and went to Pall-mall, whither divers 
friends came to me, though it was now grown dangerous passing the 
streets; for by this time the city and suburbs were up in arms, and ex 
ceeding rude the people and soldiers were; insomuch that Henry Fell, 
going to a friend’s house, the soldiers knocked him down, and he had 
been killed if the duke of York had not come by. Great mischief was 
done in the city this week; and when first-day came, that friends went 
to their meetings, many were taken prisoners. JI staid at Pall-mall, in- 
tending to be at the meeting there; but on the seventh-day night a com- 
pany of troopers came and knocked at the door. The maid letting them 
in, they strait laid hold of me; and there being amongst them one, that 
had served under the parliament, he clapped his hand to my pocket, and 
asked, ‘ Whether I had any pistols?’ I told him, He knew I did not use 
to carry pistols; why did he ask such a question of me, who he knew to 
be a peaceable man? Others of the soldiers ran up into the chambers, 


1660) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 337 


and there found in bed ’squire Marsh, who, though he was one of the 
king’s bed-chamber, out of his love to me had come and lodged where 
I did. When they came down again, they said, Why should we take 
this man away with us! We will let him alone. Oh! said the parliament- 
soldier, he is one of the heads and a chief ringleader. Upon this the sol- 
diers were taking me away ; but ’squire Marsh hearing of it, sent for the 
commander of the party, and desired him to let me alone, for he would 
see me forth-coming in the morning. In the morning, before they could 
fetch me, and before the meeting was gathered, there came a company 
of foot to the house, and one of them, drawing his sword, held it ever 
my head. I asked him, ‘ Why he drew his sword at a naked man” At 
which his fellows being ashamed bid him put up his sword. These sol- 
diers took me away to Whitehall before the troopers came for me. As 
I was going out several friends were coming in to the meeting, whose 
boldness and cheerfulness I commended, and encouraged them to perse 
vere therein. When I was brought to Whitehall, the soldiers and people 
were exceeding rude, yet I declared truth to them; but some great per- 
sons coming by, who were very full of envy, ‘ What,’ said they, ‘do ye 
‘Jet him preach? Put him into such a place where he may not stir.’ So 
into that place they put me, and the soldiers watched over me. I told 
them, Tho’ they could confine my body and shut that up, they could not 
stop up the word of life. Some thereupon came, and asked me, ‘ What 
‘Iwas’ I told them, I was a preacher of righteousness. After I had 
been kept there two or three hours, ’squire Marsh spoke to lord Gerrard, 
who came and bid them set me at liberty. The marshal, when I was 
discharged, demanded fees. I told him, I could not give him any, neither 
was it our practice. I asked him, How he could demand fees of me who 
was innocent? Then I went through the guards, the Lord’s power being 
over them; and after I had declared truth to the soldiers, I went up the 
streets with two Irish colonels that came from Whitehall to an inn, 
where many friends were prisoners under a guard. I desired those 
colonels to speak to the guard to let me go in to visit my friends that 
were prisoners there; but they would not. Then I stept to the sentry, 
and desired him to let me go up; which he did. While I was there the 
soldiers went to Pall-mall again to search for me; but not finding me 
they turned towards the inn, and bid all come out that were not prison 
ers; so they went out. But I asked the soldiers within, Whether I might 
not stay awhile with my friends? They said, Yes. I staid, and escaped 
their hands again. Towards night I went to Pall-mall, to see how it 
was with friends there, and after went into the city. Great rifling of 
houses there was at that time to search for people. I went to a private © 
friend’s house and Richard Hubberthorn with me. There we drew up 
a declaration against plots and fightings, to be presented to the king and 
council; but when we had finished it, and sent it to the press, it was 
taken in the press. 

Upon this insurrection of the Fifth-monarchy-men great havock was 
‘made both in city and country, so that it was dangerous for sober people 
to stir abroad several weeks after; and hardly could either men or 
women go up and down the streets to buy provisions for their families 
without being abused. In the country they dragged men and women out 
of their houses, and some sick men out of their beds by the legs. Nay, 
one that was in a fever the soldiers dragged out of his bed to prison: 

28 


338 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [i060 


ani when he was brought thither he died. His name was Thomas 
Patching. . 

Margaret Fell went to the king, and told him what sad work there 
was in the city and nation, and shewed him we were an innocent peace- 
able people, and that we must keep our meetings as we used to do what- 
ever we suffered ; but it concerned him to see that peace was kept, that 
no innocent blood might be shed. 

Now were the prisons every where filled with friends and others in 
the city and country, and the posts were so laid for the searching of 
letters, that none could pass unsearched. We heard of several thousands 
of our friends that were cast into prison in several parts of the nation, 
and Margaret Fell carried an account of them to the king and council. 
The next week we had an account of several thousands more that were 
cast into prison, and she went and laid them also before the king and 
council. They wondered how we could have such intelligence; seeing 
they had given such strict charge for the intercepting of all letters; but 
the Lord did so order it that we had an account notwithstanding all 
their stoppings. In the deep sense I had of the grievous sufferings friends 
underwent, and of their innocency towards God and man, I was moved 
to send the following epistle to them, as a word of consolation, and to 
put them upon sending up their sufferings. * 

L 
‘ My dear friends, 
‘In the immortal seed of God, which will plead its own innocency, 


‘ who are inheritors of an everlasting kingdom, which is incorruptible, and | 


‘of a world and riches that fade not away, peace and mercy be multi- 
‘plied amongst you in all your sufferings; whose backs were not un- 
‘ready, but your hair and cheeks prepared; who never feared suffer- 


‘ings, as knowing it is your portion in the world, from the foundation of — 


‘which the Lamb was slain; who reigns in his glory, which he had with 
‘his Father before the world began. He is your rock in all floods and 


‘waves, upon which you can stand safe, with a cheerful countenance, — 


‘beholding the Lord God of the whole earth on your side. So in the 

seed of God, which was before the unrighteous world in which the suf- 
‘ ferings are, live and feed, wherein the bread of life is felt, and no cause 
‘of complaint of hunger or cold. Friends, your sufferings all, that are 
‘or have been of late in prison, I would have you send up an account 
‘of, and how things are amongst you, that it may be delivered to the 


‘king and his council ; for things are pretty well here after the ra 
‘G. F? 


‘ London, the 28th of the 
‘11th month, 1660.’ 


Having lost our former declaration in the press, we made haste -and 
drew up another against plots and fighting, got it printed, and sent some 
copies to the king and council; others were sold up and down the 

treets, and at the Exchange. Which Declaration was some yeas 
after reprinted. 


‘A declaration from the harmless innocent people of God, called 


‘Quakers, against all sedition, plotters, and fighters in the world; 


‘for removing the ‘ground of jealousy and suspicion from both 
‘magistrates and people in the kingdom concerning wars and 
‘ fightings. 


ee a 


a a ee 


= GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 3a3 


; ‘ Presented to the king the 21st day of the 11th month, 166v. 


‘Our principle is and our practices have always been to seek peace 
and ensue it; to follow after righteousness and the knowledge of God; 
seeking the good and welfare, and doing that which tends to the peace 
of all. We know that wars and fightings proceed from the lusts of 
men, as Jam. iv. 1, 2, 3, out of which lusts the Lord hath redeemed us, 
and so out of the occasion of war. The occasion of war and the war 
- itself, wherein envious men, who are lovers of themselves move than 
lovers of God, lust, kill, and desire to have men’s lives or estates, 
*ariseth from the lust. All bloody principles and practices we, as to 
_ our own particulars, do utterly deny, with all outward wars, st:ife, and 
*aghting with outward weapons for any end, or under any pretence 
* whatsoever: this is our testimony to the whole world. 

‘ And whereas it is objected : 

‘But although you now say, “That you cannot fight nor take up 
“arms at all; yet if the Spirit move you, then you will change your 
“principle, you will sell your coat and buy a sword, and fight for the 
“kingdom of Christ.” 

‘'To this we answer, Christ said to Peter, “ Put up thy sword in his 
“place :” though he had said before, he that had no sword might sell his 
*coat ard buy one (to the fulfilling of the law and the scripture) yet 
*after, when he had bid him put it up, he said, “ He that taketh the 
“sword shall perish with the sword.” And Christ said to Pilate, 
“Thinkest thou, that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall 
“presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” And this 
‘might satisfy Peter, Luke xxii. 36, after he had put up his sword, when 
*he said to him, “ He that took it, should perish by it;” which satisfiech 
‘us, Mat. xxvi. 51, 52,53. In the Revelations it is said, “ He that kills 
“ with the sword shall perish with the sword; and here is the faith and 
“the patience of the saints.” So Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, 
‘therefore do not his servants fight, as he told Pilate, the magistrate 
‘who crucified him. And did they not look upon Christ as a raiser of 
‘sedition? and did not he pray, “ Forgive them?” But thus it is that 
‘we are numbered amongst transgressors, and amongst fighters, that 
«the scriptures might be fulfilled. 

‘That the Spirit of Christ, by which we are guided, is not changea- 
*ble, so as once to command us from a thing, as evil, and again to 
‘move unto it. We certainly know and testify to the world, That the 
‘Spirit of Christ, which leads us into all truth, will never move us to 
‘fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the 
‘kingdom of Christ nor for the kingdoms of this world. ; 

_ ‘First, Because the kingdom of Christ God will exalt, according to 
‘his premise, and cause it to grow and flourish in righteousness. “ Not 
“by mizht, nor by power (of outward sword) but by my Spirit, saith 
“the Lord,” Zech. iv. 6. So those that use any weapon to fight for 
‘Christ, or for the establishing of his kingdom or government, their 
‘spirit, principle, and practice we deny. 

_ ‘Secondly, We earnestly desire and wait, that, by the word of 
*God’s power, and its effectual operation in the hearts of men, the 
kingdoms of this world may become the kingdoms of the Lord, and 
“of his Christ; and that he may rule and reign in men by his Spirit 
‘and truth; that thereby all people, out of all different judgments 
“and professiors, may be brought into love and unity with God, and 


a 
<! 


340 GEORGE FOX’S JOURN. .L. [166 


one with another ; and that all may come to witness the prophet’s word 
‘fulfilled, who said, “ Nation shall not lift up sword against natior 
“ neither shall they learn war any more,” Isa. 11. 4. Mich. iv. 3. 

‘ Since we, whom the Lord hath called into the obedience of his trutl 
‘have denied wars and fightings, and cannot any more learn then 
‘This is a certain testimony unto all the world of the truth of our heart 
‘in this particular, that as God persuadeth every man’s heart to believe 
‘so they may receive it. For we have not, as some others, gone abou 

cunningly with devised fables, nor have we ever denied in practic 
‘what we have professed in principle; but in sincerity and truth, an 
‘by the word of God, have we laboured to be made manifest unto a 
‘men, that both we and our ways might be witnessed in the hearts o 
‘all. And whereas all manner of evil hath been falsely spoken of ui 
‘we hereby speak the plain truth of our hearts, to take away the occa 
‘sion of that offence, that so we, being innocent, may not suffer fo 
‘other men’s offences, nor be made a prey of by the wills of men fo 
‘that of which we were never guilty; but in the uprightness of ou 
‘hearts we may, under the power ordained of God for the punishmer 
‘of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well, live a peaceabl 
‘life in all godliness and honesty. For although we have always sufle: 
‘ed, and do now more abundanily suffer, yet we know it is for right 
‘eousness sake; “ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our con 
“sciences, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wi: 
“dom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in th 
“ world,” 2 Cor. i. 12, which for us is a witness for the convincing © 
‘our enemies. For this we can say to all the world, we have wronge 
‘no man, we have used no force nor violence against any man, we hav 
————__‘been found in no plots, nor guilty of sedition. When we have bee 
‘wronged we have not sought to revenge ourselves, we have not mad 
‘resistance against authority; but wherein we could not obey for con 
science sake, we have suffered the most of any people in the natior 
‘We have been counted as sheep for the slaughter, persecuied and de 
‘spised, beaten, stoned, wounded, stocked, whipped, imprisoned, hale 
‘out of the synagogues, cast into dungeons and noisome vaults, wher 
‘many have died in bonds, shut up from our friends, denied needful sus 
‘tenance for many days together, with other the like cruelties. Ant 
‘the cause of all these our sufferings is not for any evil, but for thi 
‘ relating to the worship of our God, and in obedience to his requirings 
“ For which cause we shall freely give up our bodies a sacrifice, rathe 
“than disobey the Lord ;” knowing, as the Lord hath kept us innocen 
‘he will plead our cause when there is none in the earth to plea 
‘it. So we, in obedience to his truth, do not love our lives unto death 
that we may do his will, and wrong no man in our generation, bu 
seek the good and peace of all men. He who hath commanded us 
‘That we shall not swear at all,” Matth. v. 34, hath also commande 
us, “ That we shall not kill,” Matth. v. So that we can neither kil 
men, nor swear for nor against them. This is both our principle ant 
our practice, and hath been from the beginning; so that if we suf 
fer, as suspected to take up arms or make war against any, it is with 
out any ground from us; for it neither is, nor ever was in our hearts 
since we owned the fruth of God; neither shall we ever do it, becaus 
it is contrary to the Spirit of Christ, his doctrine, and the practices 0 


1660] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 341 


‘his apostles; even contrary to him for whom we suffer all things and 
endure all things. 

‘And whereas men come against us with clubs, staves, drawn 
‘swords, pistols cock’d, and beat, cut, and abuse us; yet we neve 

_‘resisted them, but to them our hair, backs, and cheeks have been 
‘ready. It is not an honour to manhood or nobility to run upon 
‘harmless people, who lift not an hand against them, with arms and 
weapons. 

‘Therefore consider these things, ye men of understanding; for 
‘»lottars, raisers of insurrections, tumultuous ones, and fighters, run- 
‘ning with swords, clubs, staves, and pistols, one against another; we 
‘say, these are of the world, and have their foundation from this un- 
‘righteous world, from the foundation of which the Lamb hath been 
‘slain: which Lamb hath redeemed us from this unrighteous world ; 
‘we are not of it, but are heirs of a world of which there is no end, a 
-*kingdom where no corruptible thing enters. Our weapons are spirit 
‘ual, not carnal, yet mighty through God to the pulling down of the 
‘strong holds of sin and Satan, who is the author of wars, fighting, 
‘murder, and plots. Our swords are broken into plough-shares, and 

spears into pruning-hooks, as prophesied of in Micah iv. Therefore 
‘we cannot learn war any more, neither rise up against nation or 
‘kingdom with outward weapons, though you have numbered us 
‘amongst the transgressors and plotters. The Lord knows our inno- 
‘cency herein, aud will plead our cause with all people upon earth at 
‘the day of their judgment, when all men shall have a reward accord- 
‘ing to their works. 

‘Therefore in love we warn you for your souls’ good, not to wrong 
‘the innocent, nor the babes of Christ, which he hath in his hand, and 
“tenders as the apple of his eye; neither seek to destroy the heritage of 
‘God, nor turn your swords backward upon such as the law was not 
‘made for, i. e. the righteous; but for the sinners and transgressors, to 
‘keep them down. For those are not peace-makers nor lovers of ene- 
‘mies, neither can they overcome evil with good, who wrong them that 
‘are friends to you and all men, and wish your good and the good of all 
‘people upon earth. If you oppress us as they did the children of Israel 
‘in Egypt, if you oppress us as they did when Christ was born, and as 
‘they did the Christians in the primitive times, we can say, “The Lord 
“forgive you;” leave the Lord to deal with you, and not revenge our- 
‘selves. If you say, as the council said to Peter and John, “ You must 
‘speak no more in that name;” and if you serve us as they served the 
‘three children spoken of in Daniel, God is the same as he ever was, that 

lives for ever and ever, who hath the innocent in his arms. 

Oh! friends! offend not the Lord and his little ones, neither afflict his 
‘people ; but consider and be moderate. Run not hastily into things, 
‘but mind and consider mercy, justice, and judgment; that is the way 

for you to prosper and get the favour of the Lord. Our meetings were 
‘stopped and broken up in the days of Oliver, under pretence of plotting 
‘against him; in the days of the Committee of Safety we were looked 
‘upon as plotters to bring in king Charles; and now our peaceable meet- 
‘ings are termed seditious. Oh! that men should lose their reason, and 
‘go contrary tc their own consciences; knowing that we have suffered 
‘ail things, and have been accounted plotters all along, though we have 
_‘aiways declared against them both by word of mouth and printing, and 


/ 


342 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. . a 


‘are clear from any such thing! Though we have suffered all along, be 
‘cause we would not take up carnal weapons to fight against any, and 
‘are thus made a prey upon because we are the innocent lambs of Christ, 
‘and cannot avenge ourselves! These things are left upon your hearts 
‘to consider; for we are out of all those things in the patience of the 
‘ saints, and we know as Christ said, “ He that takes the sword shall 
“perish with the sword,” Matth. xxvi. 52. Rev. xiii. 10. : 


“ This is given forth from the people called Quakers, to satisfy the 
“king and his council, and all that have any jealousy concerning 
“us, that all occasion of suspicion may be taken away, and our 
“innocency cleared.” 


‘POSTSCRIPT. 


‘Though we are numbered amongst transgressors, and have been 
‘given up to rude, merciless men, by whom our meetings are broken up, 
‘in which we edified one another in our holy faith, and prayed together 
‘to the Lord that lives for ever, yet he is our pleader in this day. They 
‘Lord saith, “ They that feared his name spoke often together,” as in 
‘ Malachi; which were as his jewels. For this cause, and no evil doing, 
‘are we cast into holes, dungeons, houses of correction, prisons, sparing 
‘neither old nor young, men nor women, and made a prey of in the sight 
‘of all nations, under pretence of being seditious, &c. so that all rude 
‘ people run upon us to take possession ; for which we say, The Lord for-- 

give them that have thus done to us; who doth and will enable us to 
‘suffer; and never shal] we lift up hand against any man that doth thus 
‘use us; but that the Lord may have mercy upon them, that they may 
‘consider what they have done. For how is it possible for them to re- 
‘ quite us for the wrong they have done to us? Who to all nations have’ 
‘sounded us abroad as seditious or plotters, who were never plotters’ 
‘against any power or man upon the earth, since we knew the life and 
‘ power of Jesus Christ manifested in us, who hath redeemed us from the 
‘world and all works of darkness, and plotters therein, by which we 
‘know the election before the world began. So we say, The Lord have 
‘mercy upon our enemies, and forgive them for what they have done 
‘unto us. 

‘Oh! do as you would be done by; do unto all men as you would i 
‘them do unto you; for this is the law and the prophets. | 

‘ All plots, insurrections, and riotous meetings, we deny, knowing them 
‘to be of the devil, the murderer; which we in Christ, who was before 
‘they were, triumph over. And all wars and fightings with carnal wea-— 
*pons we deny, who have the sword of the Spirit; and all that wrong 

us, we leave to the Lord. This is to clear our innocency from that as” 
persion cast upon us, “ That we are seditious or plotters.” 


Added in the reprinting. 
‘ Courteous reader, 


| 
. 
‘ Tuts was our testimony above twenty years ago, and since then dl 
have not been found acting contrary to it, nor ever shall; for the truth 
that is our guide is unchangeable. ‘This is now reprinted to the men 
of this age, many of whom were then children, and doth.stand as our 
certain testimony against all plotting and fighting with carnal weapons 
And if any, by departing from the truth, should do so, this is our testi 


660) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 343 


‘mony in the truth against them, and will stand over them, and the truth 
‘will be clear of them.’ 
This Declaration did somewhat clear the dark air that was over the 
city and country; and soon after the king gave forth a proclamation, 
- ¢ That no soldier should search any house without a constable.’ But the 
gaols were still full, many thousands of friends being in prison; which 

mischief was occasioned by the wicked rising of those Fifth-monarchy- 
men, But when those of them that were taken came to be executed, 

they did us the justice to clear us openly from having any hand in or 
knowledge of their plot. After that the king, being continually impor- 
tuned thereunto, issued forth a Declaration, “ That friends should be set 
“at libertywithout—paying fees.” But great labour, travail, and pains 
were taken before this was obtained; for Thomas Moor and Margaret 
Fell went often to the king about it. 

\ - Much blood was shed this year, many of the old king’s judges being 
hanged, drawn, and quartered. Amongst those that suflered colonel 
Hacker was one, who sent me prisoner from Leicester to London in Oli- 
ver’s time. A sad day it was, and a repaying of blood with blood. For 
in the time of O. Cromwell, when several were hanged, drawn, and quar- 
tered for pretended treasons, I felt from the Lord God that their blood 
would not be put up, but would be required, and I said as much then to 
several, and now also upon the king’s return, when several that had been 
against the king were put to death, as the others that were for the king 
had been before by Oliver. This was sad work, destroying people con- 
trary to the nature of Christians, who have the nature of lambs and 
sheep. But there was a secret hand in bringing this day upon that hypo- 
critical generation of professors, who being got into power grew proud, 
haughty, and cruel beyond others, and persecuted the people of God 
without pity. Therefore when friends were under cruel persecutions 
and sufferings in the commonwealth’s time, I was moved of the Lord to 
write unto them, to draw up their sufferings, and lay them before the 
justices at their sessions; and if they would not do them justice, then to 
lay them before the judges at the assize; and if they refused them jus- 
tice, to lay it before the parliament, and before the protector and his 
council, that they might all see what was done under their government; 

and if they would not do justice, then to lay it before the Lord, who 

would hear the cries of the oppressed, the widows, and fatherless, whom 
they had made so. For that which we suffered for, and which our 
goods were spoiled for, was our obedience to the Lord in his Power and 
in his Spirit, who is able to help and succour, and we had no helper in 
the earth but him. And he heard the cries of his people, and brought 
an overflowing scourge over the heads of all our persecutors, which 

brought a quaking, a dread, and a fear amongst and on them all; so that 

tnose who had nick-named us (who are the children of light) and in scorn 
called us Quakers, the Lord made to quake, and many of them would 
have been glad to have hid themselves amongst us; and some of them, 

_ through the distress that came upon them, did at length confess to the 
truth. Oh! the daily reproaches, revilings, and beatings we underwent 

amongst them, even in the highways, because we could not put off our 

hats to them, and for saying Thou and Thee to them! Oh! the havock 
and spoil the’ priests made of our goods, because we could not put into 

_ their mouths and give them tythes! Besides casting into prisons, and be- 

sides the great fines laid upon us because we could not swear! But for 


a 


344 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1660 


all these things did .he Lord God plead with them. Yet some of them 
were so hardened in their wickedness, that when they were turned out 
of their places and offices, they said, ‘If they had power they would de 
‘the same again.’ And when this day of overturning was come upox 
them. they said, ‘It was all along of us.’ Wherefore I was moved to 
write to them, and to ask, ‘ Did we ever resist them when they took away 
‘our ploughs and plough-gears, our carts and horses, our corn and cattle, 
‘our kettles and platters from us, and whipped us, and set us in the stocks 
‘and cast us into prison, and all this only for serving and worshipping 
‘God in spirit and truth, and because we could not conform to their re- 

ligions, manners, customs, and fashions? Did we ever resist them? Did 

we not give them our backs to beat, our cheeks to pull off the hair, and 
‘our faces to spit on? Had not their priests, that prompted them on to 
‘such work, plucked them with themselves into the ditch? Why then 
‘would they say, “ It was all along of us?” when it was owing to them- 
‘selves and their priests, their blind prophets, that followed their own 
‘spirits, and could foresee nothing of these times and things that are 

come upon them, which we had long forewarned them of; as Jeremiah 
‘and Christ had forewarned Jerusalem. They thought to have wearied 
. £us out and undone us; but they undid themselves. Whereas we could 
‘praise God, notwithstanding all their plundering of us, that we had a 
‘ kettle, a platter, an horse, and plough still.’ 

Many ways were these professors warned, by word, by writing, and 
by signs; but they would believe none till it was too late. William Symp- 
son was moved of the Lord to go at.several times.for three years naked 
and bare-footed before them, as a sign to them, in markets, courts, towns, 
cities, to priests’ houses, and to _great.men’s houses; telling them, “So 
“should they be stripped naked as he was stripped naked!” And some- 
times he was moved to put on hair-sackcloth, and to besmear his face, 
and to tell them, “So would the Lord God besmear all their religion as 
‘«he was besmeared.” Great sufferings did that poor man undergo, sore 
whippings with horse-whips and coach-whips on his bare body, grievous 
stoning and imprisonments in three years’ time, before the king came in, 
that they might have taken warning; but they would not, and rewarded 
his love with cruel usage. Only the mayor of Cambridge did nobly to 
him, for he put his gown about him, and took him into his house. 

Another friend, Robert Huntingdon, was moved of the Lord to go into 
Carlisle steeple-house with a white sheet about him, amongst the great 
Presbyterians and Independents there, to shew them that the surplice 
was coming up again; and he put an halter about his neck to shew them 
that an halter was coming upon them; which was fulfilled upon some of 
our persecutors not long after. 

Another, Richard Sale, living near Westchester, being constable of 
the place where he lived, had a friend sent to him with a pass, whom 
those wicked professors had taken up for a vagabond, because he trav- 
elled up and down in the work of the ministry, and this constable, being 
convinced by the friend thus brought to him, gave him his pass and lib 
erty, and was afterwards himself cast into prison. After this, on a lec- 
ture-day, Richard Sale was moved to go to the steeple-house in the time 
of their worship, and to carry those persecuting priests and people a 
lanthorn and candle, as a figure of their darkness; but they cruelly abused 
rim, and like dark professors as they were put him into their prison called 
Little Ease, aiid so squeezed his body therein that not long after he died” 


Oe — eee 


16631 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 345 


_ Many warnings of divers sorts were friends moved in the power of the 
_ Lord to give unto that generation; which they not only rejected, but 
_ abused friends, calling us giddy-headed Quakers, but God brought his 
judgments upcn those persecuting priests and magistrates. For when 
the king came in, most of them were turned out of their places and bene- 
fices, the spoilers were spoiled; and then we could ask them, Who were 
the gddy-heads now? Then many confessed we had been true prophets 
_ to the nstion, and said, Had we cried against some priests only they 
_ should have liked us then; but we crying against all, that made them dis- 
_ like us. But now they saw that those priests, then looked upon to be the best, 
__ were as bad as the rest. For indeed some of those that were counted 
the most eminent priests were the bitterest and greatest stirrers up of the 
magistrates to persecution. and it was a judgment upon them to be de- 
nied the free liberty of their consciences when the king came in, because 
when they were uppermost they would not have liberty of conscience 
granted to others. One Hewes, of Plymouth, a priest of great note in 
Oliver’s days, when some liberty was granted, prayed, ‘ That God would 
‘put it into the hearts of the chief magistrates of the nation to remove 
‘this cursed Toleration.’ Others of them prayed against it by the name 
of Intolerable Toleration. But awhile after, when the king was come 
in, and priest Hewes turned out of his great benefice for not conforming 
to the Common Prayer, a friend from Plymouth meeting with him, asked 
him, ‘ Whether he would account Toleration accursed now? and whether 
‘he would not now be glad of a Toleration” To which the priest re- 
turned no answer, save by the shaking of his head. But as stiff «us this 
sort of men were then against Toleration, it is well known many of them 
. petitioned the king for Toleration and for meeting-places, and paid for 
licences too. But to return to the present time, the latter end of the year 
1660 and the beginning of 1661. 

Although those friends, who had been imprisoned upon the rising of 
those Monarchy-men, were set at liberty, yet meetings were much dis- 
turbed, and great sufferings friends underwent; for besides what wa- 
done by officers and soldiers, many wild fellows and rude people ofte. 
came in. There came one time, when I was at Pall-mall, an ambassador 
with a company of Irishmen with rude fellows: the meeting was over 
before they came, and I was gone up into a chamber, where I heard one 
of them say, he would ‘kill all the Quakers.” I went down to him, ana 
Was moved in the power of the Lord to speak to him. I told him, the 
law said, ‘ An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;’ but thou threat- 
enest to ‘kill all the Quakers, though they have done thee no hurt.’ But, 
said I, here is gospel for thee: ‘ Here’s my hair, here’s my cheek, here’s my 
‘shoulder,’ turning it to him. This éame so over him, that he and his com- 
panions stood as men amazed, and said, If that was our principle. and if 

1 we were as we said, they never saw the like in their lives. I told them, 
What I was in words, I was the same in life. Then the ambassador whe 
had stood without, came in; for he said that Irish colonel was such ¢ despe- 
rate man, he durst not come in with him for fear he should have done us 

_ some mischief; but truth came over him, and he carried himself lovingly 

_ towards us, as also did the ambassador; for the Lord’s power was over 

them all. 

___ At Mile-end friends were kept out of their meeting-place by soldiers; 

__ but friends stood nobly in the truth, valiant for the Lord’s name, and at 


a the truth gave them dominion. 


. 


2T 


846 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [661 


, About this time we had an account that John Love, a frienu that was 
, moved to go and bear testimony against the idolatry of the Papists, was 
)dead in prison at Rome: it was suspected he was privately put to death. 
John Perrot was also prisoner there, and being released came over again ; 
but after his arrival here, he, with Charles Baily and some others, turned 
aside trom the unity of friends and truth. Whereupon I was moved to 
give forth a paper, declaring how the Lord would blast him and his fol- 
lowers, if they did not repent and return, and that they should wither 
like the grass on the house-top; which many of them did: but others re- 
pented and returned. 
Also before this time we received account from New-England, ‘ That 
the government there had made a law to banish the Quakers out of their 
‘colonies, upon pain of death in case they returned; that several of our 
‘friends, having been so banished and returning, were thereupon taken 
‘and actually hanged, and that divers more were in prison, in danger of 
‘the like sentence to be executed upon them.’ When those were put to 
_ death, I was in prison at Lancaster, and had a perfect sense of their suf- 
ferings as though it had been myself, and as though the halter had been 
put about my own neck, though we had not at that time heard of it. But 
as soon as we heard of it, Edward Burrough went to the king, and told 
him, ‘ There was a vein of innocent blood opened in his dominions, which 
‘if it were not stopped would over-run all.’ To which the king replied, 
‘ But I will stop that vein.’ Edward Burrough said, ‘ Then do it speedily 
‘for we know not how many may soon be put to death.’ The king an 
swered, ‘ As speedily as ye will. Call (said he to some present) the sec- 
‘retary, and I will do it presently.’ The secretary being called, a man- 
damus was forthwith granted. A day or two after, Edward Burrough 
going again to the king to desire the matter might be expedited, the king 
said, He had no occasion at present ‘to send a ship thither, but if we 
would send one we might do it as soon as we would. Edward then 
asked the king, If it would please him to grant his deputation to one 
called a Quaker to carry the mandamus to New-England ? He said, ‘ Yes, 
‘to whom ye will. Whereupon E. B. named Samuel Shattock, who 
being an inhabitant of New-England was banished by their law, to, be 
hanged if he came again, and to him the deputation was granted. Then 
he sent for Ralph Goldsmith, an honest friend, who was master of a good 
ship, and agreed with him for three hundred pounds (goods or no goods) 
to sail in ten days. He forthwith prepared to set sail, and with a pros- 
perous gale, in about six weeks’ time, arrived before the town of Boston 
in New-England, upon a first-day morning. With him went many pas- 
sengers, both of New and Old England, friends, whom the Lord moved 
to go to bear their testimony against those bloody persecutors, who had 
exceeded all the world in that age in their bloody persecutions. The 
townsmen at Boston, seeing a ship come into the bay with English col- 
ours, soon came on board and asked for the captain. Ralph Goldsmith 


told him, He was the commander. They asked him, If he had any let- — 


ters? He said, Yes. They asked, If he would deliver them? He said, 
‘No, not to-day.’ So they went ashore, and reported, There was a ship 
full of Quakers, and that Samuel Shattock was among them, who they 
knew was by their law to be put to death for coming again after banish- 
ment; but they knew not his errand nor his authority. So all being kept 
close that day, and none of the ship’s company suffered to go on shore, 
next morning Samuel Shattock, the king’s deputy, and Ralph Goldsmith 


661] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 847 


went on shore, and sending back to the ship the men that landed them, 
-hey two went through the town to the governor’s, John Endicott’s door, 
and knocked. He sent out a man to know their business. They sent 
him word their business was from the king of England, and they would 
deliver their message to none but the governor himself. ‘Thereupon they 
were admitted in, and the governor came to them; and having received 
the deputation and the mandamus, he put off his hat and looked upon 
them. Then going out, he bid the friends follow him. He went to the 
deputy-governor, and after a short consultation came out to the friends, 
and said, ‘ We shall obey his majesty’s commands.’ After this the mas- 
ter gave liberty to the passengers to come on shore, and presently the 
noise of the business flew about the town; and the friends of the town 
and the passengers of the ship met together to offer up their praises and 
thanksgivings to God, who had so wonderfully delivered them from the 
teeth of the devourer. While they were thus met, in came a poor friend, 
who, being sentenced by their bloody law to die, had lain some time in 
irons expecting execution. This added to their joy, and caused them to 
lift up their hearts in high praises to God, who is worthy for ever to have 
the praise, the glory, and the honour; for he only is able to deliver, to 
save, and support all that sincerely put their trust in him. Here follows 
a copy of the mandamus. 


‘CHARLES R. 

‘Trusty and well-beloved, We greet you well. Having been inform- 
‘ed, that several of our subjects amongst you, called Quakers, have been 
‘and are imprisoned by you, whereof some have been executed, and 
‘ others (as hath been represented unto us) are in danger to undergo the 
‘like, we have thought fit to signify our pleasure in that behalf for the 
‘future; and do hereby require, that if there be any of those people call- 
‘ed Quakers amongst you, now already condemned to suffer death or 
‘ other corporal punishment, or that are imprisoned and obnoxious to the 
‘like condemnation, you are to forbear to proceed any further therein ; 
‘but that you forthwith send the said persons (whether condemned or 


imprisoned) over into this our kingdom of England, together with the 


‘ respective crimes or offences laid to their charge, to the end such course 
‘may be taken with them here as shall be agreeable to our laws and 
‘their demerits. And for so doing, these our letters shall be your suffi- 
‘cient warrant and discharge. Given at our court at Whitehall, the 9th 
‘day of September, 1661, in the 13th year of our reign.’ 


Subscribed : ‘ To our trusty and well-beloved John Endicott, esquire, 
‘and to all and every other the governor or governors of our 
‘plantations of New-England, and of all the colonies thereunto 
‘belonging, that now are or hereafter shall be, and to all and 

every the ministers and officers of our plantations and colonies 

waatsoever within the continent of New-England. 

‘ By his majesty’s command, 
‘ William Morris.’ 

Some time after this several New-England magistrates came over, 
with one of their priests. We had several discourses with them con- 
cerning their murdering our friends, the servants of the Lord; but they 
were ashamed to stand to their bloody actions. At one of those meet- 
ings I asked Simon Broadstreet, one of the New-England magistrates. 
Whether he had not an hand in putting to death those four servants of 


348 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [166 


God, whom they hanged for being Quakers only, as they had mi :k-namea 
them? He confessed, He had. [| then asked him, and the rest of his as- 
sociates then present, Whether they would acknowledge themselves to 
be subjects to the laws of England! And if they did, by what law they 
had put our friends to death! They said, They were subjecis to the laws 
of England, and they had put our friends to death by the same law as 
the Jesuits were put to death here in England. I asked them then, Whe- 
ther they did believe those friends of ours, whom they had put to death, 
were Jesuits or jesuitically affected! They said, Nay. ‘Then, said I, ye 
have murdered them, if ye have put them to death by the law that Je- 
suits are put to death here in England, and yet confess they were no Je- 
suits. By this it plainly appears ye have put them to death in your own 
wills, without any law. ‘Then Simon Broadstreet, finding himself and 
his company ensnared by their own words, said, Did we come to catch 
them? I told them, They had catched themselves, and they might justly 
be questioned for their lives; and if the father of William Robinson, who 
was one of those that were put to death, was in town, it was probable 
he would question them, and bring their lives into jeopardy. Hereupon 
they began to excuse themselves, saying, ‘There was no persecution 
‘now amongst them;’ but next morning we had letters from New-Eng- 
land, giving us account that our friends were persecuted there afresh. 
Thereupon we went to them again, and shewed them our letiers, which 
put them both to silence and to shame. In great fear they seemed to be, 
lest some should cal] them to account and prosecute them for their lives, 
especially Simon Broadstreet; for he had at first before so many wit- 
nesses confessed, ‘ He had a hand in putting our friends to death,’ that 
he could not get from it; though he afterwards through fear shuffled, 
and would have unsaid it again. After this he and the rest soon left the 
tity, and got back to New-Engiand again. I went also to governor 
Winthorp, and discoursed with him about these matters; but he assured 
me, ‘ He had no hand in putting our friends to death, or in any way per- 
*secuting of them, but was one of them that protested against it’ These 
stingy persecutors of New-England were a people that fled out of Old 
England thither from the persecution of the bishops here ; but when they 
had got power into their hands, they so far exceeded the bishops in 
severity and cruelty, that whereas the bishops had made them pay twelve 
pence a Sunday (so called) for not coming to their worship here, they 
imposed a fine of five shillings a day upon such as should not conform 
to their will-worship there, and spoiled the goods of friends that could 
not pay it. Besides, many they imprisoned, divers they whipped, and 
that most cruelly; they cut the ears off some, and some they hanged: 
as the books of friends’ sufferings in New-England largely shew, partic- 
ularly one written by George Bishop of Bristol, intituled, New-England 
judged: in two parts. Some of the old Royalists were earnest with 
friends to have prosecuted them; but we told them, we left them to the 
Lord, to whom vengeance belonged, and he would repay it. And the 
judgments of God have since fallen heavy on them; for the Indians 
have been raised up against them, and have cut off many of them. 
About this time I lost a very good book, being taken in the printers 
hands: it was a useful, teaching book, containing the signification and 


explanation of Names, Parables, Types, and Figures in the scriptures. 


Those who took it were so affected therewith that they were loth to de- 
stroy it; but thinking to have made a great advantage of it, they would 


i 


ieee 


1661] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 34g 


nave let us liad it again, if we would have giver. them a great sum of 
money for it; which we were not free to do. 

Before this, while I was prisoner in Lancaster castle, the book called 
the Battledore came forth, which was written to shew that in all lan 
guages Thou and Thee is the proper and usual form of speech to a single 
person. and You to more than one. This was set forth in examples or 
instances taken out of the scriptures, and out of books of instruction in 


' about thirty languages. John Stubbs and Benjamin Furly took great 
» pains in compiling it, which I put them upon; and some things I added 
' to it. When it was finished, some of them were presenied to the king 
and his council, to the bishops of Canterbury and London, and to the two 


universities one apiece; and many bought of them. The king said, ‘ It 
‘was the proper language of all nations.’ The bishop of Canterbury, 
being asked what he thought of it, was so at a stand that he could not 
tell what to say to it. For it did so inform and convince people, that 
few afterwards were so rugged towards us for saying Thou and Thee 
to a single person, which before they were exceeding fierce against us 
for. For Thou and Thee was a sore cut to proud fiesh, and them that 
sought self-honour; who, though they would say it to God and Christ, 
would not endure to have it said to themselves. So that we were often 
beat and abused, and sometimes in danger of our lives for using those 
words to seme proud men, who would say, ‘ What! you ill-bred clown, 
do you Thou me!’ as though there lay christian breeding in saying You 
to one, which is contrary to their grammars and teaching books, by 
which they instructed their youth. 

Now the bishops and priests being busy and eager to set up their 
form of worship, and compel all to come to it, 1 was moved to give 
forth the following paper, to open the nature of the true worship which 
Christ set up, and which God accepts; thus : 


‘Curist’s worship is free in the Spirit.to all men; and such as worship 
‘in the Spirit and in the truth are those that God seeks to worship him; 
‘for he is the God of truth, and is a Spirit, and the God of the spirits 
‘of all flesh. He hath given to all nations of men and women breath 
‘and life, to live, move, and have their being in him, and hath put into 
‘them an immortal soul. So all nations of men and women are to be 
‘temples for him to dwell in; and they that defile his temple will he 
‘destroy. Now as the outward Jews, while they had their outward 
‘temple at Jerusalem, were to go thither to worship, which temple God 
‘hath long since thrown down, and destroyed that Jerusalem, the vision 
‘of peace, and cast off the Jews and their worship, and in the room 

thereof hath set up his gospel-worship in the Spirit and in the truth, 
so now all are to worship in the Spirit and in the truth. This ’s a free 
‘worship; for where the Spirit of the Lord is and ruleth, there 1s liber- 
‘ty; the fruits of the Spirit are seen, and will manifest themselves; and 
‘the Spirit is not to be limited, but to be lived and walked in, that the 
‘fruits of it may appear. The tares are such as hang upon the wheat, 
‘and thereby draw it down to the earth; yet the tares and the wheat 
‘must grow together till the harvest, lest they that take upon them to 
‘pluck up the tares should pluck up the wheat with the tares. The 
‘tares are such as worship not God in the Spirit and in the truth, but 
‘ srieve the Spirit, vex and quench it in themselves, and walk not in the 
‘truth; yet will hang about the wheat, the true worshippers in the 


350 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ot 


‘Spirit ana in the truth. Christ’s church was never establisned by 
‘blood, nor held up by prisons; neither was the foundation of it laia 
‘by carnal armed men, nor is it preserved by such. When men went 
‘from the Spirit and truth, they took up carnal weapons to maintain 
‘their outward forms, and yet cannot preserve them with their carnal 
‘weapons; for one plucketh down another’s form with his outward 
‘weapons. And this work hath been among the Christians in name 
‘ since they lost the Spirit, and spiritual weapons, and the true worship 
‘which Christ set up, that is in the Spirit and in the truth; which 
‘Spirit and truth they that worship in are over all the tares. All that 
‘would be plucking up the tares are forbidden by Christ, who hath all 
‘power in heaven and earth given to him; for the tares and the wheat 
‘must grow together till the harvest, as Christ hath commanded. ~The 
‘stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the 
‘whole earth; now if the stone do fill the whole earth, all nations must 
‘be temples for the stone. All that say they travail for the seed, and 
‘ yet bring forth nothing but a birth of strife, contention, and confusion, 
‘their fruit shews their travail to be wrong; for by the fruit the end of 
‘every one’s work is seen of what sort it is. G. FY’ 


About this time many Papists and Jesuits began to fawn upon friends, 
and talked up and down where they came, that of all the sects the 
Quakers were the best and most self-denying people; and said, ‘ It was 
‘great pity that they did not return to the holy mother church.’ Thus 
they made a buzz among the people, and said, ‘They would willingly 
‘ discourse with friends.’ But friends were loth to meddle with them, 
because they were Jesuits, looking upon it to be both dangerous and 
scandalous. But when I understood it, I said to friends, ‘ Let us dis- 
‘ course with them, be they what they will.’ So a time being appointed 
at Gerrard Roberts’s, there came two of them like courtiers. They 
asked our names, which we told them; but we did not ask their names, 
for we understood they were called Papists, and they knew we were 
called Quakers. I asked them the same question that I had formerly 
asked a Jesuit, namely, ‘ Whether the church of Rome was not degene- 
‘rated from the church in the primitive times, from the Spirit, power, 
‘and practice that they were in in the apostles’ times” He to whom I 
e this question, being subtle, said, ‘He would not answer it’ I asked 

im, Why? But he would shew no reason. His companion said, he 
would answer me; and said, ‘They were not degenerated from the 
‘church in the primitive times.’ I asked the other, ‘Whether he was 
‘of the same mind?’ He said, Yes. Then I replied, for the better un- 
derstanding one another, and that there might be no mistake, | would 
repeat my question over again after this manner: ‘ Whether the church 
‘of Rome now was in the same purity, practice, power, and Spirit, that 
‘the church in the apostles’ time was in” When they saw we would 
be exact with them, they flew off, and denied that, saying, ‘It was pre- 
‘sumption in any to say they had the same power and Spirit which the 
‘apostles had.’ I told them, It was presumption in them to meddle 
with the words of Christ and his apostles, and make people believe they 
succeeded the apostles, vet be forced to confess, ‘ They were not in the 
‘same power and Spirit that the apostles were in?’ This, said I, is @ spirit 
of presumpti »n, and rebuked by the apostles’ Spirit. I shewed them how 


different heir fruits and practices were from the fruits and practices of the — 


1661) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 35] 


ee hati - 


_ apostles. Then got up one of them, and said, ‘ Ye are a company of dream 
‘ers.’ Nay, said I, ye are the filthy dreamers, who dream ye are the apos- 
_ tles’ successors, and yet confess, ‘ Ye have not the same power and Spirit 
‘which the apostles were in.’ And are not they defilers of the flesh, 
_ who say, ‘It is presumption for any to say, they have the same power 
‘and Spirit which the apostles had? Now, said I, if ye have not the 
same power and Spirit which the apostles had, then it is manifest that 
ye are led by another power and spirit than the apostles and church in 
the primitive times were led by.. Then I began to tell them how that 
_ evil spirit, which they were led by>had led them to pray by beads and 
_ to images, and to set up nunneries, friaries, and monasteries, and to put 
people to death for religion; which practice I shewed them was below 
the law, and far short of the gospel, in which is liberty. They were 
soon weary of this discourse and went their way, and gave a charge, 
as we heard, to the Papists, ‘ That they should not dispute with us, nor 
‘read any of our books.’ So we were rid of them; but we had reasonings 
with all the other sects, Presbyterians, Independents, Seekers, Baptists, 
Episcopal-men, Socinians, Brownists, Lutherans, Calvinists, Arminians, 
Fifth-monarchy-men, Familists, Muggletonians, and Ranters; none of 
which would affirm they had the same power and Spirit that the apos- 
tles had and were in; so in that power and Spirit the Lord gave us do- 
minion over them all. 

As for the-Fifth-monarchy-men I was moved to give forth a paper, 
to manifest their error to them; for they looked for Christ’s personal 
coming in an outward form and manner, and fixed the time to the year 
1666; at which time some of them prepared themselves when it thun- 
dered and rained, thinking Christ was then come to set up his kingdom, 
and they imagined they were to kill the whore without them. But 1 
told them the whore was alive in them, and was not burned with God’s 
fire, nor judged in them with the same power and Spirit the apostles 
were in. And their looking for Christ’s coming outwardly to set up his 
kingdom, was like the Pharisees ‘Lo here,’ and ‘Lo there.’ But 
Christ was come and had set up his kingdom above sixteen hundred 
years ago, according to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s prophe- 
cy, and he had dashed to pieces the four monarchies, the great image, 
with its head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of 
brass, legs of iron, and feet part of iron part of clay; and they were 
all blown away with God’s wind, as the chaff in the summer threshing- 
floor. And when Christ was on earth, he said, His kingdom was 
not of this world; if it had, his servants would have fought; but 
it was not, therefore his servants did not fight. Therefore all the 

_ Pifth-monarchy-men, that are fighters with carnal weapons, are none 
‘of Christ’s servants, but the beast’s and the whore’s. Christ said, ‘ All 
_ ‘power in heaven and in earth is given to me;’ so then his kingdom was 
set up above sixteen hundred years ago, and he reigns. And we see 
Jesus Christ reign, said the apostle, and he shall reign till all things be 
put under his feet; tho’ all things are not yet put under his feet, nor 
subdued. 

’ This year several friends were moved to go beyond sea, to publish 
‘truth in foreign countries. John Stubbs, Henry Fell, and Richard Cos- 
trop were moved to go towards China, and Prester John’s country ; but 
“no masters of ships would carry them. With much ado they got a war- 
tant from the king; but the East-India company found ways to avoid it. 


a 


a 


om 


F - 


352 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1661 | 


and the masters of their ships would not carry them. Then they went 
into Holland, hoping to have got passage there; but no passage could 
they get there neither. Then John Stubbs and Henry Fell took shipping 
for Alexandria in Egypt, intending to go by the caravans from thence. 
Meanwhile Daniel Baker being to go to Smyrna, drew Richard Costrop, 
contrary to his own freedom, along with them; and in the passage, 
Richard falling sick, D. Baker left him sick in the ship; where he died: 
but that hard-hearted man afterwards lost his own condition. 

John Stubbs and Henry Fell got to Alexandria; but they had not call 
_ long there before the English consul banished them from thence; yet be- 
fore they came away, they dispersed many books and papers for the 
opening the principles and way of truth to the Turks and Grecians. — 
, ‘They gave the book called, ‘The Pope’s strength broken,’ to an old friar, 
_ for him to give or send to the pope; which book, when the friar had pe- 
rused, he clapped his hand upon his breast, and confessed, ‘ What was © 
‘ written therein was truth ; but,’ said he, ‘if I should confess it openly, 
‘they would burn me’ J ohn Siubbs and Henry Fell, not being suffered 
to go farther, returned to England, and came to London again. John | 
had a vision that the English “and Dutch, who had joined together not. 
to carry them, ‘ would fall out one with the other. “And so it came to 

ass. 

: Having staid in London some time, I felt drawings to visit friends in 
Essex. I went to Colchester, where I had very large meetings, and 
from thence to Coggeshall; not far from which there was a priest con- 
vinced, and | had a meeting at his house. So travelling a little in those 
parts, visiting friends in their meetings, I returned pretty quickly to Lon- 
don, where I found great service for the Lord; for a large door was 
opened, many flocked in to our meetings, and the Lord’s truth spread 
mightily this year. Yet friends had great travail and sore labour, the 
rade people having been so heighteried by the Monarchy-men’s rising a 
litile before. But the Lord’s power was over all, and in it friends had 
dominion; though we had not only those sufferings without, but suffer- 
ings within also, by John Perrot and his company ; ; who giving heed to a 
spirit of delusion, ‘sought to introduce among friends that evil and un- 
_ comely practice of ‘ keeping on the hat in the time of publick prayers.’ 
\ Friends had spoken to him and divers of his followers about it, and I had 
written to them concerning it; but he and some others rather strength- 
ened themselves against us. Wherefore feeling the judgment of tru 
rise against it, I gave forth the following lines, as a warning to all con- 
cerned therein. 


‘Wnuosorver is tainted with this spirit of John Perrot, it will pensh. 

‘ Mark theirs and his end, that are turned into those outward things and 
‘janglings about them, and that which is not savoury; all which is for 
‘perpetual judgment, and is to be swept and cleansed out of the camp 
‘of God’s elect. This is to that spirit that is gone into jangling about 
‘that which is below (the rotten principle of the old Ranters) gone from 
‘ the invisible power of God, in which is the everlasting fellowship; so 
‘many are become like the corn on the house-top, and like the untimely 
figs, who now clamour and speak against them that are in the power 
of God. Oh! consider! the light and power of God goes over you all. 
and leaves you in the fretting nature, out of the unity which is in the 
everlasting light, life, and power of God. Consider this before the day 


1661] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 353 


‘be gone from you, and take heed that your memorial be not rooted out 
‘from among the righteous. G. FY 


Among the exercises and troubles that friends had from without, one 
was concerning friends’ marriages, which sometimes were called in 
question. In this year there happened to be a cause tried at the assize 
at Nottingham concerning a friend’s marriage. The case was thus: 
Some years before two friends were joined together in marriage amongst 
friends, and lived together as man and wife about two years. ‘Then the 
man died leaving his wife with child, and leaving an estate in lands of 
copyhold. When the woman was delivered, the jury presented the child 
heir to its father’s lands, and accordingly the child was admitted; after- 
wards another friend married the widow. And after that a person near 
of kin to her former husband, brought his action against the friend who 
had last married her, endeavouring to dispossess them, and deprive the 
child of the inheritance, and to possess himself thereof, as next heir to 
the woman’s first husband. To effect this, he endeaveured to prove the 
child illegitimate, alleging, ‘The marriage was not according to law.’ 
In opening the cause, the plaintiff’s counsel used unseemly words con- 
cerning friends, saying, ‘ they went together like brute beasts,’ with other 
ill expressions. After the counsel on both sides had pleaded, the judge, 
(viz. judge Archer) took the matter in hand, and opened it to them, tell- 
ing them, ‘ There was a marriage in paradise when Adam took Eve, and 
‘Eve took Adam, and that it was the consent of the parties that made a 

, marriage. And for the Quakers (he said) he did not know their opin- 
‘ions; but he did not believe they went together as brute beasts, as had 
‘been said of them, but as Christians; and therefore he did believe the 
‘marriage was lawful, and the child lawful heir.’ The better to satisfy 
the jury, he brought them a case to this purpose, ‘ A man that was weak 
‘of body, and kept his bed, had a desire in that condition to marry, and 
“did declare before witnesses, that he did take such a woman to be his 
‘ wife, and the woman declared that she took that man to be her husband 
‘ This marriage was afterwards called in question, (and as the judge said) 
‘all the bishops did conclude it to be a lawful marriage.’ Hereupon the 
jury gave in their verdict for the friend’s child against the man that 
would have deprived it of its inheritance. 

About this time the oaths of allegiance and supremacy were tendered 
to friends as a snare, because it was known we could not swear, and 
thereupon many were imprisoned, and divers premunired. ‘Upon that 
occasion friends published in print, ‘ The grounds and reasons why they 
‘refused to swear ;’ besides which, I was moved to give forth these few 
lines following, to be given to the magistrates: 


-*Tuer world saith, “ Kiss the book ;” but the book saith, “Kiss the 
“Son, lest he be angry;” and the Son saith, “ Swear not at all;” but 
‘keep to Yea and Nay in all your communication; for whatsoever is 
‘more than this cometh of evil. Again, the world saith, “Lay your 
“hand on the book ;” but the book saith, “ Handle the word;” and the 
word saith, “ Handle not the traditions,” nor the inventions, nor the ru- 
*diments of the world. And God saith, “ This is my beloved Son, hear 
“him ;” who is the life, the truth, the light, and the way to God. 

‘G. FY 

Abundance of friends being in prison, Richard Hubberthorn and | 
drew up a paper concerning them; and got it delivered to the king, that 

20 


354 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [662 


he might understard how we were dealt with by his officers. It was 
directed thus: 


‘To the KING. 


‘Frrenp, who art the chief ruler of these dominions, here is a list of — 
some of the sufferings of the people of God, in scorn called Quakers, 
‘that have suffered under the changeable powers before thee, by whom 
‘there have been imprisoned, and under whom there have suflered for 
‘ good conscience-sake, and for bearing testimony to the truth, as it is ir 
‘ Jesus, “ three thousand one hundred seventy-three persons;” and there 
‘lie yet in prison in the name of the commonwealth, “ seventy-three per- 
“sons,” that we know of. And there have died in prison, in the time of 
‘the commonwealth, and of Oliver and Richard, the protectors, through 
‘crue. and hard imprisonments, upon nasty straw and in dungeons, 
“thirty-two persons.” There have been also imprisoned in thy name, 
‘since thy arrival, by such as thought to ingratiate themselves thereby 
‘ with thee, “ three thousand sixty and eight persons.” Besides this, our 
‘meetings are daily broken up by men with clubs and arms (though we 
‘meet peaceably, according to the practice of God’s people in the primi- 
tive times) our friends are thrown into waters, and trod upon till the 
‘very blood gusheth out of them; the number of which abuses can hard- 
‘ly be uttered. Now this we would have of thee, to set them at liberty 
‘that lie in prison in the names of the commonwealth and of the twall 
‘protectors, and them that lie in thy own name, for speaking the truth, 
«and for a good conscience-sake, who have not lifted up an hand against 
‘thee nor any man; and that the meetings of our friends, who meet 
‘ peaceably together in the fear of God to worship him, may not be bro- 
«ken up by rude people, with their clubs, swords, and staves. One of” 
‘the greatest things that we have suffered for formerly, was because we 
«could not swear to the protectors and all the changeable governments ; 
«and now we are imprisoned because we cannot take the oath of alle- 
«giance. Now, if Yea be Yea, and Nay Nay, to thee, and to all men 
‘upon the earth, let us suffer as much for breaking of that as others do 
‘for breaking an oath. We have suffered these many years both in lives 
“and estates under these changeable governments, because we cannot 
‘swear, but obey Christ’s doctrine, who commands “ we should not 
“swear at all,” Matth. v. James v. and this we seal with our lives and 
‘estates, with our Yea and Nay, according to the doctrine of Christ. 
‘Hearken to these things, and so consider them in the wisdom of thy 
‘God, that by it such actions may be stopped; thou that hast the gov- 
«ernment, and inay’st do it. We desire all that are in prison may be set 
«at liberty, and that for the time to come they may not be imprisoned 
« for conscience and for the truth’s sake. If thou question the innoceney 
‘of their sufferings, let them and their accusers be brought before thee, 
and we shall produce a more particular and full account of their suffer- 
ings, if required. G. FL .& 3. Eo 


I mentioned before, that in the year 1650 I was kept prisoner six 
months in the house of correction at Derby, and that the keeper of the 
prison, being a cruel man, and had dealt very wickedly by me, was 
smitten himself, the plagues and terrors of the Lord falling upon him 
because thereof: this .man, being afterwards convinced of truth, wrote 
me the following letter. 


1662] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 355 
‘ Dear friend, : 


‘ Havine such a convenient messenger, I could do no less than give 
‘thee an account of my present condition; remembering, that to the first 
‘awakening of me to a sense of life, and of the inward principle, God 

was pleased to make use of thee as an instrument. So that sometimes 

I am taken with admiration that it should come by such,a means as it 

did; that is to say, that Providence shoula order thee to the my prison- 
‘er, to give me my first real sight of the truth. It makes me many 

times to think of the gaoler’s conversion by the apostles. Oh! happy 
‘George Fox! that first breathed that breath of life within the walls of 
‘my habitation! Notwithstanding my outward losses are since that time 
‘such that Iam become nothing in the world, yet I hope I shall find 

that all these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, will work 
‘for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. They have 
‘taken all from me; and now, instead of keeping a prison, I am rather 

waiting when I shall become a prisoner myself. Pray for me, that my 
‘faith fail not, and that I may hold out to the death, that I may receive 
‘a crown of life. I earnestly desire to hear from thee, and of thy condi- 
‘tion, which would very much rejoice me. Not having else at present, 
‘but my kind love unto thee and all Christian friends with thee, in haste,. 
‘] rest thine in Christ Jesus, 


‘ Thomas Sharman.’ 
‘ Derby, the 22d of the 
‘4th month, 1662.’ 


There were two of our friends in prison in the inquisition at Malta, 
both women; Catherine Evans and Sarah Chevers. I was told that one 
called the Lord D’Aubeny could procure their liberty ; wherefore I went 
to him: and having informed him concerning their imprisonment, desired 
him to write to the magistrates there for their release. He readily 
promised me he would; and said, ‘ If I would come again within a month 
‘he would acquaint me of their discharge.’ J went again about that 
time, and he said, ‘ He thought his letters had miscarried, because he 
‘had received no answer.’ But he promised he would write again, and 
did so: whereupon they were set at liberty. 

With this great man I had a great deal of reasoning about religion, 
and he confessed that ‘Christ hath enlightened every man that cometh 
‘into the world with his spiritual light ; that he had tasted death for every 
‘man: that the Grace of God, which brings salvation, hath appeared to 
‘all men; and that it would teach them, and bring their salvation, if they 
‘did obey it.’ I asked him, What would they (the Papists) do with all 
their relicks and images, if they should own and believe in this light, and 
receiv ‘he grace to teach them and bring their salvation? He said, 

Thasz things were but policies to keep people in subjection.’ Very free 

he was in discourse. I never heard a Papist confess so much as he did 

Tho’ several about the court began to grow kind to friends, vet the per- 

secution was very hot, and several friends died in prison. Whereupon 

_ I gave forth a little paper concerning the grounds and rise of persecu- 
tion ; which was thus: 


‘ Act the sufferings of the people of God in all ages were because they 
} could not join to the national religions and worships which men have 
_ ) made and set up, and because they would not forsake God’s religion and 


356 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1162 


his worship which he had set up. You may see through all chronicles 
and histories, that the priests joined with the powers of the nations; the 
‘ magistrates, sooth-sayers, and fortune-tellers, all joined against the peo- 
‘ple of God, and did imagine vain things against them in their councils 
‘When the Jews did wickedly, they turned against Moses; when the 


‘ Jewish kings transgressed the law of God, they persecuted the prophets; — 
‘as may be seen in the prophets’ writings. When Christ, the substance, ~ 


came, the Jews persecuted Christ, his apostles, and disciples. And when 


the Jews had not power enough of themselves to persecute answerab’e ~ 


‘to their wills, then they got the heathen Gentiles to help them against 
‘Christ, and against his apostles and disciples, who were in the Spirit 
‘and power of Christ. G. FY 


After I had made some stay in London, and had cleared myself of 
what lay upon me there, I went into the country, having with me Alex- 
ander Parker and John Stubbs. We travelled through the country, vis- 
iting friends’ meetings, till we came to Bristol. There we understood. 
that the officers were likely to come and break up the meeting; yet on 
first-day we went to the meeting at Broad-mead, and Alexander Parker 
standing up first, while he was speaking, the officers came and took him 
away. After he was gone, I stood up and declared the everlasting truth 
of the Lord God in his eternal power, which came over all, and the meet- 
ing was quiet the rest of the time, and broke up peaceably. I tarried till 
first-day following, visiting friends, and being visited by friends. On first- 
day morning several friends came to Edward Pyot’s, where I lay the 
night before, and used endeavours to persuade me not to go to the meet- 
ing that day; for the magistrates had threatened to take me, and had 
raised the trained-bands. I wished them to go to the meeting, not telling 
them what I intended to do; but I told Edward Pyot I intended to go, 
and he sent his son to shew me the way from his house by the fields. As 
I went I met divers friends, who did what they could to stop me: 
‘ What,’ said one, ‘ wilt thou go into the mouth of the beast? * Wilt thou 
‘ go into the mouth of the dragon” said another. I put them by and went 
on. When I came to the meeting, Margaret Thomas was speaking. 
When she had done, I stood up. I saw a concern and fear upon friends 
for me; but the power of the Lord, in which I declared, soon struck the 
fear out of them. Life sprang, and an heavenly glorious meeting we 
had. After I had cleared myself of what was upon me from the Lord 
to the meeting, I was moved to pray, and after prayer to stand up 
again, and tell friends, ‘ Now they might see there was a God in Israel 
‘that could deliver.’ A very large meeting this was, and very hot; but 
truth was over all, and the life was exalted which carried through all, 
and the meeting broke up in peace. The officers and soldiers had been 
breaking up another meeting, which had taken up their time; so that our 
meeting was ended before they came. But I understood afterwards they 
were in a great rage, because they had missed me; for they were heard 
to say one to another before, ‘J’ll warrant we shall have him;’ but the 
Lord prevented them. I went to Joan Hily’s, where many friends came 
to see me; rejoicing and blessing God for our deliverance. In the eyen- 
ing I had a fine fresh meeting at a friend’s house over the water, where 
we were much refreshed in the Lord. After this I staid most part of 
that week in Bristol, and at Edward Pyot’s. Edward was brought so 
low and weak with an ague, that when I first came he was lookee unon 


1662) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. : 357 
_ as a dying man; but it pleased the Lord to raise him up again, so that, 


before I went away, | is ague left him, and he was finely well. 

Having been two first-days at the meeting at Broad-mead, and feeling 
my spirit clear of Bristol, I went next first-day to a meeting in the coun- 
try not far distant. And after the meeting, some friends from Bristol! 
told me, the soldiers that day had beset the meeting-house round at Bris: 
tol, and then went up, saying, ‘They would be sure to have me now; 


_ but when they found me not there, they were in a great rage, and kept 


friends in the meeting-house most part of the day before they would let 
them go home; and queried of them, ‘Which way I was gone, and how 
‘they might send after me? For the mayor,’ they said, ‘ would fain 
‘have spoken with me.’ I had a vision of a great mastiff dog, that would 
have bit me; but I put one hand above his jaws, and the other hand be- 
low, and tore his jaws in pieces. So the Lord by his power tore their 
power to pieces, and made way for me to escape them. Then I passed 
through the country, visiting friends in Wiltshire and Berkshire, till I 
came to London, having great meetings amongst friends as I went. The 
Lord’s power was over all, and a blessed time it was for the spreading 
of his glorious truth. It was indeed the immediate power of the Lord 
that preserved me out of their hands at Bristol, and over the heads of all 
our persecutors; and the Lord alone is worthy of all the glory, who did 
uphold and preserve for-his name and truth’s sake. 

At London I staid not long, being drawn in spirit to visit friends 
northward as far as Leicestershire. John Stubbs was with me. We 
travelled down, having meetings amongst friends as we went; and at 
Skegby we had a great meeting. Thence we came to Barnet-hills, 
where lived captain Brown, a Baptist, whose wife was convinced of 
truth. This captain Brown, after the act for ‘breaking up meetings’ 
came forth, being afraid his wife should go to meetings, and be cast into 
prison, left his house at Barrow, and took a place on these hills, saying, 
* His wife should not go to prison.’ And this being a free place, many 
priests and others fled thither as well as he. But he, who would neither 
stand to truth himself nor suffer his wife, was in this place, where he 
thought himself safe, found out by the Lord, whose hand fell heavy upon 
him for his unfaithfulness; so that he was sorely plagued, and grievous- 
ly judged in himself for flying and drawing his wife into that private 
place. We went to see his wife, and being in the house, I asked him, 
how he did? ‘How do I!’ said he, ‘The plagues and vengeance of 
‘God are upon me, a runagate, a Cain as] am. God may look for a 
‘witness for me, and such as me; for if all were not faithfuller than I. 
* God would have no witness left in the earth.’ In this condition he lived 
on bread and water, and thought it was too good for him. At length he 
got home again with his wife to his own house at Barrow, where after- 
wards he was convinced of God’s eterna] truth, and died init. A little 
before his death he said, ‘ Though he had not borne a testimony for 
‘truth in his life, he would bear a testimony in his death, and would be 
‘buried in his orchard ;’ and was so. He was an example to all the fly- 
ing Baptists in the time of persecution, who could not bear persecution 
themselves, yet persecuted us when they had power. 

From Barnet-hills we came to Swanington, in Leicestersnire, where 


William Smith and some other friends visited me; but went away 


towards night, leaving me at a friend’s house in Swanington. At night, 
as I was sitting in the hall speaking to a widow-woman and her daugh 


* Whether we would take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy?’ I 


aninn. ‘The master of the house seemed to be troubled that we should 


850 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. flees 


ter, lord Beaumont came with a company of soldiers, who, slappiag their 
swords on the door, rushed into the house with swords and pistols in 
their hands, crying, ‘ Put out the candles, and make fast the doors.” Then 
they seized upon the friends in the house, and asked, ‘ If there were nv 
‘more about the house?’ The friends told them, there was one ma 

more in the hall. There being some friends out of Derbyshire, one o 

them was named Thomas Fauks: lord Beaumont, after he had asked all 
their names. bid his man set down that man’s name Thomas Fox. The 
friend said, Nay, his name was not Fox, but Fauks. In the mean time 
some of the soldiers came, and fetched me out of the hall to him. He 
asked my vame. I told bim my name was George Fox, and that I was 
well known by that name. ‘ Aye,’ said he, ‘ you are known all the world 
‘over.’ I said, ] was known for no hurt, but for good. Then he put 
his hands into my pockets to search them, and plucked out my comb- 
case, and afterwards commanded one of his officers to search further 
for letters. I told him, I was no letter-carrier, and asked him, Why he 
came amongst a peaceable people with swords and pistols, without a 
constable, contrary to the king’s proclamation and to the late act? For 
he could not say, there was a meeting, I being only talking with a poor 
widow-woman and her daughter. By reasoning thus with him, he came 
somewhat down; yet sending for the constables, he gave them charge 
of us that night, and to bring us before him next morning. Accordingly 
the constables set a watch of the town’s people upon us that night, and 
had us next morning to his house about a mile from Swanington. When 
we came before him, he told us, ‘ We met contrary to the Act.’ I de- 
sired him to shew us the act. ‘Why,’ says he, ‘you have it in your 
‘pocket.’ I told him, he did not find us in a meeting. Then he asked, 


told him, I never took any oath in my life, nor engagement, nor the coy- 
enant. Yet still he would force the oath upon us. I desired him to shew 
us the oath, that we might see whether we were the persons it was to 
be tendered to, and whether it was not for the discovery of popish re- 
cusants. At length he brought a little book, but we called for the statute- 
book. He would not shew us that, but caused a mittimus to be made, 
which mentioned, ‘ That we were to have had a meeting.’ With this” 
mittimus he delivered us to the constables to convey us to Leicester gaoi. 
But when the constables had brought us back to Swanington, being har- 
vest-time, it was hard to get any body to go with us. The people were 
loth to take their neighbours to prison, especially in such a busy time. 
They would have given us our mittimus to have carried ourselves to the 
gaol; for it had been usual for constables to give friends their own mit- 
timuses, and they have gone themselves with them to the gaoler. But 
we told them, though our friends had sometimes done so, we would not 
take this mittimus; but some of them should go with us to the gaol. At 
last they hired a poor labouring man, who was loth to go, though hired. 
So we rode to Leicester, being five in number; some carried their 
bibles open in their hands, declaring truth to the people as we rode ir 
the fields and through the towns, and telling them, ‘ We were prisoners 
‘of the Lord Jesus Christ, going to suffer bonds for his name and truth 
‘sake.’ One woman friend carried her wheel on her lap to spin on in 
prison, and the people were mightily affected. At Leicester we went to 


go to prisor ; and being himself in commission, he sent for lawyers in 


‘ 
* 


1662] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 359 


the town to advise with, and would have taken up the mittimus, and 
kept us in his own house, and not have let us gone into the gaol. But 1 
told friends, it would be great charge to lie at an inn, many friends. and 
people would come to visit us, and it might be hard for him to bear 
meetings in his house: besides, we had many friends in the prison al- 


__ ready, and we had rather be with them. So we let the man know we 


were sensible of his kindness, and to prison we went; the poor man that 
brought us thither delivering both the mittimus and us to the gaoler. 
This gaoler had been a very wicked, cruel man. Six or seven friends 
being in prison before we came, he had taken some occasion to quarrel 
with them, and had thrust them into the dungeon amongst felons, where 
was hardly room for them to‘lie down. We staid all that day in the 
prison-yard, and desired the gaoler to let us have some straw. He sur- 
lily answered, ‘ You do not look like men that would lie on straw’ Af- 
ter awhile William Smith came to me, and being acquainted in the 
house, I asked him, What rooms were in the house, and what rooms 
friends had been usually put in before they were put into the dungeon? 
-L asked him also, Whether the gaoler or his wife was master? He said, 
The wife was master; and though she was lame, and sate mostly in her 
chair, not being able to go but on crutches, yet she would beat her hus- 
band when he came within her reach, if he did not as she would have 
him. I considered that many friends might probably come to visit us, 
and if we had a room to ourselves, it would be better for them to speak 


to me, and for me to pens to them in, as there should be occasion. 


Wherefore I desired William Smith to speak with the woman, and ac- 
quaint her, if she would let us have a room, suffer our friends to come out 


_ of the dungeon, and leave it to us to give her what we would, it might be 


better for her. He went, and after some reasoning with her she con- 
sented ; and we were had into a room. Then we were told, The gaoler 
would not suffer us to have any drink out of the town into the prison, 
but what beer we drank we must take of him. I told them, I would 
remedy that if they would; for we would get a pail of water, and a 
little wormwood once a day, and that might serve us; so we should 
have none of his beer, and the water he could not deny us. 

Before we came, when those few friends that were prisoners met to- 
gether on first-days, if any of them was moved to pray to the Lord, 
the gaoler would come up with his quarter-staff in his hand, and his 
mastiff-dog at his heels, and pluck them down by the hair of the head, 
and strike them with his staff; but when he struck friends, the mastiff- 
dog, instead of falling upon them, would take the staff out of his hand. 

When first-day came, I spoke to one of my fellow prisoners to car1y 
a stool and set it in the yard, and give notice to the debtors and felons 
that there would be a meeting in the yard, and they that would hear the 
word of the Lord declared might come thither. So the prisoners 
gathered in the yard, and we went down and had a very precious meet- 


/ ing, he gaoler not meddung. Thus every first-day we had a meeting 


as long as we staid in prison, and several came out of the town and 


_ country. Many were convinced, and some received the Lord’s truth 


there, who stood faithful witnesses for it ever since. 

When the sessions came, we were brought before the justices, with 
more friends, to the number of about twenty. Being brought into the 
court, the gaoler put us in the place where the thieves were, and some 
of the justices began to tender the oaths of allegiance and supremacy 


360 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. r66. 


tous. I told them, I never took any oath in my life; and they knew 
we could not swear, because Christ and his apostle forbad it: therefore 
they put it but as a snare to us. We told them, if they could prove | 
that after Christ and the apostle had forbid swearing, they did ever 
command Christians to swear, we would take these oaths; otherwise | 
we were resolved to obey Christ’s command and the apostle’s exhorta- | 
tion. They said, ‘We must take the oath, that we might manifest our 
‘allegiance to the king’ 1 told them, I had been formerly sent 
eating by col. Hacker from that town to London, under pretence that _ 

held meetings to plot to bring in king Charles. I also desired them ‘o— 
read our mittimus, which set forth the cause of our commitment to be, 
that ‘ we were to have a meceting;’ and I said, lord Beaumont could not 
by that act send us to gaol, unless we had been taken at a meeting, and _ 
found to be such persons as the act speaks of; therefore we desired 
they would read the mittimus, and see how wrongfully we were im-— 
prisoned. They would not take notice of the mittimus; but called a _ 
jury, and indicted us ‘for refusing to take the oaths of allegiance and — 
‘supremacy.’ When the jury was sworn and instructed, as they were © 
going out, one who had been an alderman of the city bid them, ‘ Have 
‘a good conscience ;’ and one of the jury, being a peevish man, told 
the justices, there was one affronted the jury; whereupon they called 
him up, and tendered him the oath also, which he took. 

While we were standing where the thieves used to stand, a cut-purse 
had his hand in several friends’ pockets. Friends declared it to the jus- 
tices, and shewed them the man. They called him up before them, and — 
upon examination he could not deny it; yet they set him at liberty. 

It was not long before the jury returned, and brought us in guilty; 
and after some words, the justices whispered together, and bid the 
gaoler take us to prison again: but. the Lord’s power was over them, — 
and his everlasting truth, which we declared boldly amongst them. — 
There being a great concourse of people, most of them feliowed us; 
so that the crier and bailiffs were fain to call the peopie back again to — 
the court. We declared the truth as we went along the streets, till we 
came to the gaol, the streets being full of people. When we were in 
our chamber again, after some time the gaoler came to us, and desired 
all to go forth that were not prisoners. When they were gone, he said, 
‘Gentlemen, it is the court’s pleasure that ye should be set at liberty, — 
‘except those that are in for tythes: and you know there are fees due 
‘to me; but I shall leave it to you to give me what you will.’ 

Thus we were all set at liberty on a sudden, and passed every one ~ 
nto our services. Leonard Fell went with me again to Swanington. — 
f had a letter from lord Hastings, who hearing of my imprisonment — 
had wrote from London to the justices of the sessions to set me at 
liberty. I had not delivered this letter to the justices; but whether they ~ 
lad any knowledge of his mind from any other hand, which made them — 
discharge us so suddenly, I know not. But this letter I carried to .ora 
Beaumont, who sent us to prison; and when he had broke it open and — 
read ‘t, he seemed much troubled; but at last came a little lower; yet 
threatened us, if we had any more meetings at Swanington, he wouid 
break them up and send us to prison again. But notwithstanding bis ~ 
zhreats we went to Swanington, and had a meeting with friends there, — 
and he neither came nor sent to break it up. 

From Swanington we came to Twy-cross, where that great man 


= = 


1662] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 361 


formerly mentioned, whom the Lord raised up from his sickness in the 
year 1649 (whose serving-man came at me with a drawn sword to have 
‘done me a mischief) and his wife came to see me. From thence we 
travelled through Warwickshire, where we had brave meetings; and 
into Narthamptonshire and Bedfordshire, visiting friends till we came to 
London. 

I staid not long in London, but went into Essex, and so to Norfolk. 
having great meetings. At Norwich, when I came to captain Law- 
rence’s, there was a great threatening of disturbance; but the meeting 
was quiet. Passing from thence to Sutton, and into Cambridgeshire, I 
heard of Edward Burrough’s decease. And being sensible how great 
a orief and exercise it would be to friends to part with him, I wrote the 
following lines for the staying and settling of their minds. 


‘ Friends, 

‘ Bz still and quiet in your own conditions, and settled in the seed of 
‘God, that doth not change; that in that ye may feel dear E. B. among 
‘you in the seed, in which and by which he begat you to God, with 
‘whom he is; and that in the seed ye may all see and feel him, in which 
‘is the unity with him in the life; and so enjoy him in the life that doth 
‘not change, which is invisible. G. FY 


From thence I passed to Little-port and the Isle of Ely; where one 
that had been the mayor, with his wife, and the wife of the then present 
mayor of Cambridge, came to the meeting. ‘Travelling into Lincoln- 
shire and Huntingdonshire, I came to Thomas Parnel’s, where the mayor 
of Huntingdon came to see me, and was very loving. From thence I 
came into the Fen-country, where we had large and quiet meetings. 
While I was in that country, there came so great a flood, that it was 
dangerous to go out; yet we did get out, and went to Lynn, where we 
had a blessed meeting. Next morning I went to visit some prisoners 
there ; then back to the inn, and took horse. As I was riding out of the 
yard, the officers came to search the inn for me. I knew nothing of 
it then, only I felt a great burden come upon me as I rode out of the 
town, till 1 was got without the gates. When some friends that came 
after overtook me, they told me their officers had been searching for me 
in the inn, as soon as I was gone out of the yard. So by the good 
hand of the Lord I escaped their cruel hands. After this we passed 
through the countries, visiting friends in their meetings. The Lord’s 
power carried us over the persecuting spirits, and through many 
dangers; and his truth spread and grew, and friends were established 
therein: praises and glory to his name for ever ! 

Having passed through Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Hertfordshire 
we came to London again; where I staid awhile, visiting friends in 
their meetings, which were very large, and the Lord’s power was over 
all. After some time I left the city, and travelled into Kent, having 
Thomas Briggs with me. We went to Ashford, where we had a quiet 
and a very blessed meeting. On first-day we had a very good and 
peaceable meeting at Cranbrook. Then we went to Tenterden, and 
had a meeting there, to which friends came from several parts, and 
‘many other people came in and were reached by the truth. When the 
meeting was done, I walked with Thomas Briggs into a close, while 
our horses were getting ready; and turning my head, I espied a eap- 
tain coming, and a great company of soldiers with lighted matches and 

2 


362 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [i662 


muskets. Some of the soldiers came to Thomas and me, and said, 
‘We must go to their captain.’ When they had brought us before him, 
he asked, ‘ Where was George Fox? Which was he” I said, ‘I am 
‘the man.’ ‘Then he came to me, and was somewhat struck, and said, 
‘I will secure you among the soldiers.’ So he called for the soldiers to 
take me. Then he took Thomas Briggs and the man of the house, with 
many more; but the power of the Lord was mightily over them all. 
Then he came to me again, and said, ‘I must go along with him to the 
‘town ;’ and he carried himself pretty civilly, bidding the soldiers peas 
the rest after. As we walked, I asked him, ‘ Why they did thus? for 
had not seen so much ado a great while ;’ and I bid him be civil to his 
peaceable neighbours. When we were come to the town, they had us 
to an inn that was the gaoler’s house. After awhile the mayor of the 
town, this captain, and the lieutenant, who were justices, came together 
and examined me, ‘ Why I came thither to make a disturbance? I told 
them, I did not come to make a disturbance, neither had I made any 
disturbance since I came. They said, ‘ There was a law against the 
‘ Quakers’ meetings, made only against them.’ I told them, I knew no 
such law. Then they brought the act made against Quakers and others. 
I told them, that was against such as were a ‘terror to the king’s sub- 
‘jects, who were enemies, and held principles dangerous to the govern- 
‘ment ;’ and therefore it was not against us, for we held the truth; our 
principles were not dangerous, and our meetings were peaceable, as 
they knew, who knew their neighbours were a peaceable people. ‘They 
told me, ‘I was an enemy to the king.’ I answered, We loved all 
people, were enemies to none, and that I had been cast into Derby dun- 
geon about the time of Worcester fight, because I would not take up 
arms against him; and that I was afterwards brought by colonel 
Hacker to London, as a plotter to bring in king Charles, and was kept 
prisoner at London till I was set at liberty by Oliver. They asked me, 
‘Whether I was imprisoned in the time of the insurrection” I said, 
Yes; I had been imprisoned then and since, and had been set at liberty 
by the king’s own command. I opened the act to them, shewed them 
the king’s late declaration, gave them the examples of other justices, 
and told them also what the house of lords had said of it. I spoke 
also to them concerning their own conditions, exhorting them to live in 
the fear of God, to be tender towards their neighbours that feared God 
and to mind God’s wisdom by which all things were made and created, 
that they might come to receive it, be ordered by it, and by it order all 
things to God’s glory. They demanded bond of us for our appearance 
at the sessions ; but we, pleading our innocency, refused to give bond. 
Then they would have us promise to come no more there; but we kept 
clear of that also. When they saw they could not bring us to their 


terms, they told us, ‘We should see they were civil to us, for it was 


‘the mayor’s pleasure we should all be set at liberty.’ I told them, 
their civility was noble; and so we parted. 

Leaving Tenterden, we went to Newick in Sussex, where we visited 
some friends. From thence we passed through the country, visiting 
friends, and having great meetings; all quiet and free from disturbance 
(except by some jangling Baptists) till we came into Hampshire. Where, 
after a good meeting at Southampton, we went to Pulner, in the parish 
of Ringwood, where was to be a monthly meeting next day, to which 
many friends resorte| from Southampton, Pool, and other places; and 


—_— ee 


a 


ee 


662] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 363 


the weather being very bot, some came pretty early in the morning. 1! 
took a friend, and walked out with him into the orchard, enquiring of 
him how the affairs of truth stood amongst them? For many of them 
had been convinced by me before I was prisoner in Cornwall. While 
we were discoursing, a young man came and told us the trained bands 
were raising, and he heard they would break up the meeting. It was not 
yet meeting-time by about three hours, and there being other friends 
walking in the orchard, the friend I was discoursing with before desired 
me to walk into a corn-field adjoining to it, which we did. After awhile, 
the young man that spoke of the trained bands left us, and when he was 
gone a pretty way he stood and waved his hat. Whereupon I spoke to 
the other young man that was with me to go see what he meant. He 
went, but came not to me again, for the soldiers were come into the 
orchard. As I kept walking I could see the soldiers, and some of them, 
as | heard afterwards, did see me, but had no mind to meddle. So the 
soldiers coming so long before meeting-time, did not tarry; but took 
what friends they found at the house, and some they met in the lane, and 
had them away. After they were gone, it drew towards the eleventh 
hour, friends began to come in apace, and a large and glorious meeting 
we had; for the everlasting seed of God was set over all, and the people 
were seitled in the new covenant of life, upon the foundation Christ Jesus. 
Towards the latter end of the meeting there came a man in gay apparel, 
and looked in while I was declaring, and went away again presently. 
This man came with an evil intent; for he went forthwith to Ringwood, 
and told the magistrates, ‘ That they had taken two or three men at 
* Pulner, and had left George Fox there preaching to two or three hun- 
‘dred.’ Upon this the magistrates sent the officers aud soldiers again; 
but the meeting being near ended when the man looked in, and he having 
about a mile and a half to go with his information to fetch the soldiers, 
and they as far to come after they had received their orders, before they 
came our meeting was over; ending about the third hour peaceably and 
orderly. After the meeting, I spoke to the friends of the house where 
this was held (the woman of the house then lying dead in the house) and 
then some friends Jed me to another friend’s at a little distance; where 
afier we had refreshed ourselves, I took horse, having about twenty 
miles to ride that afternoon to one Frye’s, in Wiltshire, where a 
meeting was appointed to be held the next day. 

After we were gone, the officers and soldiers came in a great heat, 
who finding they had missed their prey were much enraged; and the 
officers were offended with the soldiers, because they had not seized my 
horse in the stable the first time they came. But the Lord, by his good 
providence, delivered me, and prevented their mischievous design. For 
the officers were envious men, and had an evil mind against friends; but 
the Lord brought his judgments upon them, so that it was taken notice 
of by their neighbours. For £as_before they were wealthy men, atte: 
‘this theirs estates wasted-_away 3 and John Line, the constable, who was 
‘not only very forward in putting on the soldiers to take friends, but 


_ ‘also carried those that were taken to prison, and took a false oath 


paeeinst them at tle assize, upon which they were fined and continued 
‘prisoners, was a sad pedals to behold. For his flesh rotting away 
‘ while he lived, he died in-a very miserable condition, wishing he had 
never meddled with the Quakers,’and confessing he never prospered 


ees 


364 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 63 


*since he had an hand in persecuting them; and that he thought the | 


‘hand of the Lord was against him for it.’ 

At F'-ye’s in Wiltshire we had a very blessed meeting, and quiet 
though the cfficers purposed to have broken it up, and were on their 
way in order thereunto. But before they were got to the meeting, wora 
was brought them, “ There was a house newly broken up by thieves, 
‘and they were required to go back again with speed to search after and 
‘pursue them;’ by which means our meeting escaped disturbance, and 
we were preserved out of their hands. 

We passed through Wiltshire into Dorsetshire, having large and good 
meetings. The Lord’s everlasting power was with us, and carried us 
over all; in which we sounded forth his saving truth and word of life, 
which many gladly received. Thus we visited friends till we came to 
Topsham, in Devonshire, travelling some weeks eight or nine score miles 
a week, and had meetings every day. At Topsham we met with Mar- 
garet Fell and two of her daughters, Sarah and Mary, and with Leonard 
Fell and Thomas Salthouse. From thence we passed to Totness, where 
we visited some friends, and then to Kingsbridge, and to Henry Pollex- 
fen’s, who had been an ancient justice of peace. There we had a large 
meeting. Thiseold justice accompanied us to Plymouth, and into Corn- 
wall, to justice Porter’s, and from thence to Thomas Mount’s, where we 
had a large meeting. After which we went to Humphrey Lower’s, 
where also we had a large meeting; and from thence to Loveday Ham- 
bley’s, where we had a general meeting for the whole country: and all 
was quiet. 

A little before this, Joseph Hellen, and G. Bewley had been at Loo to 
visit Blanch Pope, a Ranting woman, under pretence to convince and 
convert her; but before they left her, she had so darkened them with her 
principles, that they seemed to be like her disciples, especially Joseph 
Heilen. She asked them, ‘ Who made the devil? Did not God? This 
idle question so puzzled them, they could not answer her. ‘They after- 


wards asked me the question. I told them, No; for all that God made — 
was good and was blest, so was not the devil. He was called a serpent — 
before he was called a devil and an adversary, and then he had the title ~ 


of devil given him. Afterwards he was called a dragon, because he was 
a destroyer. The devil abode not in the truth; by departing from the 
truth he became a devil. So the Jews, when they went out of the truth, 


were said to be of the devil, and were called serpents. There is no 


promise of God to the devil, that ever he shall return into truth again ; 


but to man and woman, who have been deceived by him, the promise of — 


God is, that ‘ The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head ;’ 
shall break his power and strength to pieces. .When these things 
were opened more at large to the satisfaction of friends, those two, 
who had let up the spirit of that ranting woman, were judged by 
the truth; and one of them, viz. Joseph Hellen, ran quite out, and was 
denied by friends; but George Bewley was recovered, and afterwards 
became serviceable. 

We passed from Loveday Hambley’s to Francis Hodges’s, near Fai- 
mouth and Penryn, where we had a large meeting. From thence we 
went to Helstone that night, where friends came to visit us, and next 
day passed to Thomas Teage’s, where we had a large meeting, at which 
many were convinced. I was led to open ‘the state of the church in 

the primitive times, *he state of the church in the wilderness, the state 


1663] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 365 


of the false church that was got up since; and to shew, that now the 

everlasting gospel was preached over the head of the whore, beast, false 

prophets, and anti-christs, which had rose up since the apostles’ days; 

and now the everlasting gospel was received and receiving, which 
‘brought life and immortality to light, that they might see over the devil 
‘who had darkened them.’ The people received the gospel and the word 
of life gladly, and a glorious blessed meeting we had for the exalting the 
Lord’s everlasting truth and his name. After it was done I walked out, 
and coming in again, | heard a noise in the court. Approaching nearer, 
I found the man of the house speaking to the tinners and others, telling 
them, It was the ‘ everlasting truth that had been declared there that 
‘day ;’ and the people generally confessed to it. 

From thence we passed to the Land’s-end to John Hllis’s, where we 
had a precious meeting. Here was a fisherman, Nicholas Jose, that was 
convinced. He spoke in meetings, and declared the truth amongst the 
people; and the Lord’s power was over all. I was glad the Lord raised 
up his standard in those dark parts of the nation, where since there is a 
fine meeting of honest-hearted friends; many are come to sit under 
Christ’s teaching, and a great people the Lord will have in that country. 

From thence we returned to Redruth, and the next day to Truro, 
where we had a meeting. Next morning, some of the chief of the town 
desired to speak with me, amongst whom was colonel Rouse. I went, 
and had a great deal of discourse with them concerning the things of 
God. In their reasoning they said, ‘ The gospel was the four books of 

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John;’ and they called it natural. I told 
them, the gospel was the power of God, which was preached before 
Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John were written; and it was preached to 
every creature, of which a great part might never see nor hear of those 
four books, so that every creature was to obey the power of God; for 
Christ, the Spiritual Man, would judge the world according to the gos- 

pel, that is, according to his invisible power. When they heard this, they 
could not gainsay; for the truth came over them. I directed them to 
their teacher, the grace of God, and shewed them the sufficiency of it, 
which would teach them how to live, and what to deny; and being 
obeyed would bring them salvation. So to that grace I recommended 
them, and left them. 

Then we returned through the country, visiting friends, and had meet- 
ings at Humphrey Lower’s and Thomas Mount’s. Afterwards at George 
Hawkins’s at Stoke we had a large meeting, to which friends came from 
Lanceston and several other places. A living, precious meeting it was, 
in which the Lord’s presence and power was richly manifested amongst 
us, and J left friends there under the Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching. 

_ ‘In Cornwall I was informed there was one colonel Robinson, a very 
' wicked man, who after the king came in was made a justice of peace, 
and became a cruel persecutor of friends; of whom he sent many to 
prison. Hearing they had some little liberty, through the favour of the 
*gaoler, to go home sometimes to visit their wives and children, he made 
‘great complaint thereof to the judge at the assize against the gaoler: 
Whereupon the gaoler was fined an hundred marks, and friends were 
kept very strictly up for awhile. After he was come home from the 
__assize, he sent to a neighbouring justice to desire him to go a fanatick- 

hunting with him. He sent his man about with his horses, and walked 

himself on foot from his dwelling-house to a tenement where his cows 


866 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (166s 


and dairy were kept, and where his servants were then milking. When 
‘he came there, he askea for his bull. The servant-maids said, They had 
shut him into the field because he was unruly, and hindered their milk- © 
‘ing. Then went he into the field to the bull; and having formerly ac- 
‘customed himself to play with him, he began to fence at him with his 
‘staff. But the bull snuffed at him, and passed a little back; then turn- 
‘ing upon him again, ran fiercely at him, and struck his horn into his 
‘thigh, and heaving him upon his horn, threw him over his back, and 
‘tore up his thigh to his belly. When he came to the ground again he 
‘gored him with his horns, run them into the ground in his rage and 
‘violence, and roared, and licked up his master’s blood. The maid-ser- 
‘vant, hearing her master cry out, ran into the field, and took the bull by 
‘the horns to pull him off from her master. The bull, without hurting 
‘her, put her gently by with his horns, but still fell to goring of him, and 
‘licking up his blood.. Then she ran, and got some men that were at 
work not far off, to come and rescue her master; but they could not at 
‘all beat off the bull, till they brought mastiff-dogs to set on him; and 
‘then he fled in great rage and fury. Upv.. notice of it his sister came, 
‘and said to him, “ Alack! brother, what a heavy judgment is this that 
“is befallen you!” He answered, “ Ah! sister, it is an heavy judgment 
“ indeed.” Pray let the buli be killed, and the flesh given to the poor, 
‘said he. They carried him home; but he died soon after. The bull 
‘was grown so fierce, they were forced to shoot him with guns ; for no 
‘man durst come near to kill him. Thus does the Lord sometimes make 
‘examples of his just judgment upon the persecutors of his people, that — 
‘others may fear, and learn to beware.’ 

After I had cleared myself of Cornwall, and Thomas Lower had 
brought us over Horse-bridge into Devonshire again, we took our leave 
of him. Thomas Briggs, Robert Widders, and I came to Tiverton. It 
being their fair-time, and many friends there, we had a meeting amongst 
them; and the magistrates gathered in the street, but the Lord’s power 
stopped them. I saw them over against the door; but they had not 
power to come in to meddle with us, though they had will enough to 
have done it. 

After the meeting we passed to Collumpton and Wellington; for we 
had appointed a meeting five miles off, where we had a large one at a 
butcher’s house, and a blessed meeting it was. The people were directed 
to their Teacher, the Grace of God, which would bring them salvation, 
and many were settled under its teaching. The Lord’s presence was 
amongst us, and we were refreshed in him, in whom we laboured and 
travailed ; and the meeting was quiet. There had been very great per- — 
secution in that country, and in that town a little before, insomuch that 
some friends questioned the peaceableness of our meeting; but the Lord’s 
power chained all, and his glory shined over all. Friends told us, how 
they had broken up their meetings by warrants from the justices, and 
how by their warrants they were required to carry friends before the 
justices. The friends bid them, Carry them then. The officers told them, 
They must go; but they said, Nay, that was not according to their war- 
rants, which required them to carry them. Then they were forced to 
hire carts, waggons, and horses, and to lift them into their waggons and 
carts to carry them before a justice. When they came to a justice’s 
house, sometimes he happened to be from home, or if he was a moderate 
man he would get out of the way, and then they were obliged to carry 


1663) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 367 


them before them before another; so that they were many days carting 
and carrying friends up and down from place to place. And when after 
wards the othcers came to lay their charges for this upon the town, the 
town’s people would not pay it, but made them bear it themselves, which 
broke the neck of their persecution there for that time. The like was 
done in several other places, till the officers had shamed and tired them 
selves, and then were glad to give over. 

At one place they warned friends to come to the steeple-house 
Friends met to consider of it, and finding freedom to go, they met to 
gether there. ‘They sate down to wait upon the Lord in his power an 
Spirit, and minded the Lord Jesus Christ, their Teacher and Saviour 
but did not mind the priest. When the officers saw that, they came to 
them to put them out of the steeple-house again; but the friends told 
them, it was not time for them to break up their meeting yet. Awhile 
after, when the priest had done, they came to the friends agz’n, and 
would have had them go home to dinner; but the friends told them, they 
did not choose to go to dinner, they were feeding upon the bread of life. 
So there they sate, waiting upon the Lord, and enjoying his power and 
presence, till they found freedom in themselves to depart. Thus the 
priest’s people were offended, first because they could not get them to 
the steeple-house, and when there, they were offended, because they could 
not get them out again. 

From the meeting near Collumpton we went to Taunton, where we 
hed a large meeting. The next day we came to a general meeting 
in Somersetshire, which was very large; and the Lord’s everlasting word 
of life and truth was largely declared. The people were refreshed there- 
by, and settled upon Christ, their Rock and Foundation, and brought tc 
sit under his teaching; and the meeting was peaceable. About the sec 
ond hour of the night came a company of men, knocked at the door 
and bid open it, or they would break it open; for they wanted a mar 
that they came to search the house for. I heard the noise, and got up, 
and saw a man at the door with his sword by his side. When they hac 
let him in, he came into the chamber where I was, and looked on me. 
and said, ‘ You are not the man I looked for ;’ and went his way. 

We came from thence to Street, and to William Beaton’s at Puddi- 
more, where we had a very large general meeting; wherein the Lord’s 
everlasting truth was declared, the people refreshed, and all quiet. From 
thence we went to John Dandy’s, where we had another large and very 
precious meeting; and then passed to Bristol, where we had good ser- 
vice for the Lord, and all quiet. Here we met with Margaret Fell and 
her daughters again. After some time we went to Slattenford in Wilt- 
shire, where was a very large meeting in a great barn. Good service 
we had there; for the truth, as it is in Jesus, was published amongst 
them, and many were gathered by it into the name of the Lord. 

After this I passed into Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, having 
large meetings in each. In Hereford I had a meeting in the inn; after 
which, and I was gone, the magistrates hearing of it, came to search the 
inn for me, and were vexea they had missed me. But the Lord so or- 


dered it, that I escaped their hands, and friends were established upon 


_ Unrist, their Foundation, the Rock of Ages. 


Then I went into Radnorshire, in Wales, where I had severa! precious 
meetings. The Lord’s name and standard was set up, many were gath 


vy, 4 


368 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1663 


ered to it, and settled under the teaching of Christ Jesus, their Saviour 
who bought them. f 

After I was clear of Wales, J came to a market-town betwixt England 
and Wales, where was a great fair that day; and several friends being 
at the fair, we went to an inn, where they came to us. After a fine op- 


portunity with friends we parted and went our way. The officers of the 


town took notice, it seems, of our being there, and of friends gathering 
to us. They began also to get together to consult how to ensnare us, 
though it was the fair-time; but before they could do any thing we were 
gone, and so escaped them. 

From thence we came into Shropshire, where we had a large and 
precious meeting. After many meetings in those parts, we came into 
Warwickshire, visited friends there, and so into Derbyshire and Staf- 
fordshire, visiting meetings as we went. At White-haugh we had a 
large blessed meeting, and quiet; after which we took horse, and rode 
about twenty miles that night to captain Lingard’s. We heard after- 
wards, that when we were gone, the officers. came_to have seized us, and 


were much disturbed they missed us; but the Lord disappointed them, - 


and friends were joyful in the Lord that we escaped them. __ 

At captain Lingard’s we had a blessed meeting, the Lord’s presence 
being wonderfully amongst us. After which we passed thro’ the Peak- 
country in Derbyshire, and went to Synderhill-green, where we had a 
large meeting. Here John Whitehead and several friends came to me. 
Then I passed through the country, visiting friends, till I came to the 
farther end of Holderness, and by Scarborough, Whitby, and Malton, 
to York, having many meetings in the way, and the Lord’s eyerlastin 
power was over all. . 

We went from York to Boroughbridge, where I had a glorious meet- 
ing. ‘Thence we passed into the Bishoprick to one Richmond’s, where 
was a general meeting; and the Lord’s power was over all, though peo- 
ple were exceeding rude about this time. After the meeting we went to 


Henry Draper’s, where we staid all night. Next morning a friend came — 


as I was passing away, and told me, ‘If the priests and-justices could 
‘light on me, they would destroy me.’ 

Being clear of the Bishoprick, I went over Stainmore into Yorkshire, 
and to Stedberg; where having visited friends, I went into Westmore- 
land, visiting friends there also. From thence I passed into Lancashire, 
and came to Swarthmore, where I staid but a little while before I went 
over the Sands to Arnside; where I had a general meeting. After it 
was ended some men came to have broken it up, but understanding be- 
‘ore they got thither the meeting was over, they turned back. I went 
.o Robert Widders’s, and from thence to Underbarrow, where I had a 
glorious meeting ; and the Lord’s power was set over all. From thence 
I passed to Grayrigg, visited friends, and then to Ann Audland’s, where 
they would have had me to have staid their meeting the next day; but 
I felt a stop in my spirit. It was upon me to go to John Blaykling’s, in’ 
Sedberg, to be at the meeting there; which is large, and a precious peo. 
pie there is. We had_a very good meeting the next day; but the con 
stables went to Ann Audland’s meeting to look for me. Thus by the 
yood hand and disposing providence of the Lord I escaped their snare. 

[ went from John Blaykling’s with Leonard Fell to Strickland-head, 
where on first-day we had a very precious meeting on the common. 
That night we staid amongst our friends there, and the next day passed 


EE 


1063] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 369 


into Northumberland. After the justices heard of this meeting, they 
made search for me; but by the good hand of the Lord I escaped them, 
though there were Some very wicked justices. We went to Hugh Hutch- 
inson’s, in Northumberland, a friend in the ministry, from whence we 
visited friends thereabouts; and then to Derwent-water, where we had 
a very glorious meeting. ‘There came an ancient woman, and told me 
her husband remembered his love to me; she said, I might call him to 
mind by this token, that I used to call him, ‘ The tall white old man.’ She 
said, he was six score and two years old, and that he would have come 
to the meeting, but that his horses were all employed upon some urgent 
occasion. I heard he lived some years afier. 

When I had visited friends in those parts, and they were settled upon 
Christ, their Foundation, I passed through Northumberland, and came to 
old Thomas Bewley’s, in Cumberland. Friends came about me, and 
asked, ‘ Would I come there to go into prison?’ For there was great per- 
secution in that country at that time; yet I had a general meeting at 
Thomas Bewley’s, which was large and precious ; and the Lord's power 
was over all. 

One Musgrave was at that time deputy-governor of Carlisle, and I 
passing along that country, came to a man’s house that had been con- 
vinced, whose name was Fletcher; and he told me, ‘If Musgrave knew 
‘I was there, he would be sure to send me to prison, he was such a se- 
‘vere man.’ But I staid not, only called on the way to see this man, 
then went to William Pearson’s, near Wigton, where this meeting was, 
which was very large and precious. Some friends were then prisoners 
at Carlisle, whom | visited by a letter, which Leonard Fell carried. 
From William Pearson’s I visited friends till I came to Pardsey-crag, 

where we had a general meeting, which was large, quiet, and peaceable, 

and the glorious, powerful presence of the everlasting God was with us. 

So eager were the magistrates about this time to stir up persecution 
in those parts, that some offered five shillings, some a noble a day, to any 
that could apprehend the speakers amongst Quakers ; but it being now 

| the time of the quarter-sessions in that county, the men who were sc 
hired were gone to the sessions to get their wages, so all our meetings 
were at that time quiet. 

From Pardsey-crag we went into Westmoreland, calling in the way 
upon Hugh Tickell, near Keswick, and upon Thomas Laythes, where 
riends came to visit us: and we had a fine opportunity to be refreshed 
together. We went that night to Francis Benson’s, in Westmoreland, 
near justice Fleming’s. This justice was at that time ina great rage 
against friends, and me in particular ; insomuch that in the open sessions 

. at Kendal, just before, he had bid ‘ Five pounds to any man that should 
‘take me,’ as Francis Benson told me. And it seems, as I went to this 


| 


- 


friend’s house, J met one man coming from the sessions that had this five 
‘0 inds offered him to take me, and he knew me; for as I passed by him, 
"he said to his companion, ‘ That is George Fox’ yet he had not power to 
touch me; for the Lord preserved me over them all. The justices being 
so eager to have me, and I being so often nigh them, and yet they miss- 
ing me, it tormented them the more. 
I went from thence to James Taylor’s at Cartmel, in Lancashire, 
__ where I staid first-day, and had a precious meeting. After which I came 
: over the Sands to Swarthmore. 
There they told me colonel Kirby had sent his lieutenant, who haa 
| 2 W 
. 


370 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1663, 


searched trunks ard chests for me. That night as I was in bed, 1 was 
moved of the Lord to go next day to Kirby-hall, -which was colone 
Kirby’s house about five miles off, to speak with him. When I ca 

- thither, I found the Flemings, and several others of the_gentry (so called 
of the country, who were come to take their leave of colonel Kirby, he 
_ being then to go up to London to the parliament. I was had into the 
_ parlour amongst them; but colonel Kirby was not then within, being 
gone out a little way. They said little to me, nor I much to them. But 
after a little while colonel Kirby came in, and I told him, ‘I came to visit 
‘him, understanding he was desirous to see me, to know what he had to 
‘say to me, and whether he had any thing against me?’ He said before 
all the company, ‘ As he was a gentleman, he had nothing against me. 
* But, said he, ‘ mistress Fell must not keep great meetings at her house, 
‘for they met contrary to the act.’ I told him, ‘That act did not take 
‘hold on us, but on such as “met to plot and contrive, and to raise in- 
“surrections against the king ;” whereas we were no such people: for 
‘he knew they that met at Margaret Fell’s were his neighbours, and a 
‘peaceable people.’ After many words had passed, he shook me by the © 
hand, and said again, ‘ He had nothing against me;’ and others of them 
said, ‘I was a deserving man.’ So we parted, and I returned to 
Swarthmore. 

Shortly after, when colonel Kirby was gone to London, there was a 
private meeting of the justices and deputy-lieutenants at Houlker-hall, 
where justice Preston lived; where they granted a warrant to apprehend 
me. I heard over night both of their meeting and of the warrant, and 
could have gone out of their reach if I would; for I had not appointed 
any meeting at that time, and I had cleared myself of the north, and the ~ 
Lord’s power was over all. But I considered, there being a noise of a 
plot in the north, if I should go away they might fall upon friends; but — 
if I gave myself up to be taken, it might prevent them, and friends should 
escape the better; so I gave myself up to be taken, and prepared against 
they came. Next day an officer came with his sword and pistols to take 
me. I told him, ‘I knew his errand before, and had given myself to be 
‘taken; for if I would have escaped their imprisonment, I could have 
‘ been forty miles off before he came; but I was an innocent man, and so 
‘mattered not what they could do to me.’ He asked me, ‘ How I heard — 
‘of it, seeing the order was made privately in a parlour?’ I said, it was 
no matter for that, it was sufficient that I heard it. I asked him to let 
me see his order; whereupon he laid his hand on his sword, and said, 

I must go with him before the lieutenant’s, to answer such questions as 

they should propound to me.’ I told him, it was but civil and reasona- 
ble for him to let me see his order; but he would not. Then said I, I 
am ready. So I went along with him, and Margaret Fell accompanied 
us to Houlker-hall. When we came thither, there was one Rawlinson, 
a justice, and one called Sir George Middleton, and many more that I 
did not know, besides old justice Preston who lived there. They brought 
Thomas Atkinson, a friend, of Cartmel, as a witness against me, for sor-e 
words which he had told to one Knipe, who had informed them; which 
words were, ‘ That I had written against the plotters, and had knocked 
‘them down.’ These words they could not make much of; for I told 
them I had heard of a plot and had written against it. Old Preston 
asked me, ‘ Whether I had an hand in that script?’ I asked him what 


he meant? He said, in the Battledore? 1 answered, Yes. Then he asx 


663 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 37 


‘ed me, Whether I did understand languages?’ I said, ‘Sufficient for 
myself; and that I knew no law that was transgressed by it. I told 
‘them also, That to understand those outward languages, was no matter 
‘of salvation; for the many tongues began but at the confusion of Babel: 
‘and if I did understand any thing of them, I judged and knocked them 
«down again for any matter of salvation that was in them.’ Thereupon 
| he turned away, and said, ‘Gevurge Fox knocks down all the languages. 
Come,’ said he, ‘ we will examine you of higher matters.’ 

Then said George Middleton, ‘ You deny God, and the church, and 
‘the faith.” I replied, ‘ Nay: I own God, and the true church, and the 
‘true faith. But what church dost thou own, said I?’ (for I understood 
he was a Papist.) Then he turned again, and said, “ You are a rebel 
“and a traitor.” I asked him, Whom he spoke to? or whom did he call 
-arebel? He was so full of envy, that for a while he could not speak ; 
but at last he said, ‘ He spoke it to me’ With that I struck my hand on 
the table, and told him, I had suffered more than twenty such as he, or 
than any that were there; ‘for I had been cast into Derby prison for 
- €six months together, and had suffered much because I would not take 
"© up arms against the king before Worcester fight. I had been sent up 
‘prisoner out of my own country by colonel Hacker to O. Cromwell, as 
‘a plotter to bring in K. Charles, in the year 1654; and I had nothing 
‘but love and good-will to the king, and desired the eternal good and 

‘ welfare of him and all his subjects. “ Did you ever hear the like!’ said 
Middleton. ‘Nay, said I, ye may hear it again, if ye will. For ye talk 

of the king, a company of you; but where were ye in Oliver's days? 

and what did ye do then for hin? I have more love to the king for 
his eternal good and welfare than any of you have.’ 
Then they asked me, ‘ Whether I had heard of the plot?’ I said, ‘ Yes, 

{ had heard of it.’ They asked me, ‘ How I had heard of it? and whom [ 

‘ «new in it?’ I told them, I had heard of it through the high-sheriff of 

* Yorkshire, who told Dr. Hodgson “there was a plot in the north ;” 

* hat was the way I heard of it; but I never heard of any such thing in 

‘ he south, nor till I came into the north. And as for knowing any in 

‘the plot, I was as a child in that, for I knew none of them.’ Then they 
said, “ Why would you write against it, if you had not known some 

“that were in it?” I said, “ My reason was, because you are so forward 
“to mash the innocent and guilty together; therefore I wrote against it 
“to clear the truth from such things, and to stop all forward foolish 

“spirits from running into such things.” I sent copies of it into West- 

‘moreland, Cumberland, Bishoprick, Yorkshire, and to you here. J 
_ ‘sent another copy of it to the king and his council, and it 1s like it may 

‘be in print by this time.” One of them said, ‘O! this man hath great 

‘power!’ I said, Yes, I had power to write against plotters. Then said 
"one of them, ‘ You are against the laws of the land.’ I answered ‘ Nay; 

‘for I and my friends direct all people to the Spirit of God in them, to 

mortify the deeds of the flesh. This brings them into well-doing, and 

: ee ihat which the magistrates’ sword is against, which eases the 

‘Magistrates, who are for the punishment of evil-doers. People being 
turned to the Spirit of God, which brings them to mortify the deeds of 
the flesh, trom under the occasion of the magistrates’ sword. This must 
needs be one with magistracy, and one with the law, which was added 


ss because of transgression, and is for the praise of them that do well. In 


r 
2 


; 


372 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. {l 


‘this we establish the law, are an ease to the magistrates, and arz no 
‘against but stand for all good government.’ 

Then George Middleton cried, ‘ Bring the book, and put the oaths 0 
allegiance and supremacy to him.’ He being a Papist, I asked hi 
‘Whether he had taken the oath of supremacy, who was a swearer? As 
‘for us, we could not swear at all, because Christ and his apostle ad 
‘ forbidden it. Some of them would not have had the oath put to me 
but have set me at liberty. The rest would not agree to it; for this wa 
their last snare, and they had no other way to get me into prison, as a. 
other things had been cleared to them. This was like the Papists’ sacra- 
ment of the altar, by which they ensnared the martyrs. So they ten- 
dered me the oath, which I could not take; whereupon they were about t 
make my mittimus to send me to Lancaster gaol; but considering of it, 
they only engaged me to appear at the sessions, and for that time dis- 
missed me. I went back with Margaret Fell to Swarthmore, and soon’ 
after colonel West came to see me, who was at that time a justice of 
peace. He told us, ‘ He acquainted some of the rest of the justices, tha 
‘he would come and see Margaret Fell and me; but it may be,’ said 
he, ‘some of you will take offence at it. I asked him, What he thought 
they would do with me at the sessions? He said, ‘ They would tender 

the oath to me again.’ 

Whilst I was at Swarthmore, William Kirby came into Swarthmore 
meeting, and brought the constables with him. I was sitting with friends 
in the meeting, and he said to me, ‘ How now, Mr. Fox! you have a 
‘ fine company here.’ ‘ Yes,’ said I, ‘ we meet to wait upon the Lord.’ 
So he began to take the names of friends, and those that did not readily 
tell him their names, he committed to the constables’ hands, and sent 
some to prison. The constables were unwilling to take them without a 
warrant, whereupon he threatened to set them by the heels ; but the con- 
stable told him, ‘He could keep them in his presence, but after he was 
‘gone he could not keep them without a warrant.’ 

The sessions coming on, I went to Lancaster, and appeared according 
to my engagement. There was upon the bench justice Fleming, who 
had bid five pounds in Westmoreland to any man that would apprehend 
me; for he was a justice both in Westmoreland and Lancashire. There 
were also justice Spencer, colonel West, and old justice Rawlinson, the 
lawyer, who gave the charge, and was very sharp against truth and 
friends; but the Lord’s power stopped them. ‘The session was large, 
the concourse of people great, and way being made for me, I came up 
to the bar, and stood with my hat on, they looking earnestly upon me 
and I upon them for a pretty space. Proclamation being made ‘ for all 
‘to keep silence upon pain of imprisonment ;’ and all being quiet, I said 
twice, ‘Peace be among you.’ The chairman asked, If I knew where 
] was? I said, ‘ Yes, I do; but it may be, said I, my hat offends you. 
‘ That’s a low thing, that’s not the honour that I give to magistrates, for 

the true honour is from above; which, said I, I have received, and I] 
‘hope it is not the hat which ye look upon to be the honour.’ The chair- 
man said, *‘ They looked for the hat too,’ and asked, ‘ Wherein I shew- 
‘ed my respect to magistrates, if I did not put off my hat?’ I replied, 
‘In coming when they called me* Then they bid one, Take off my 
‘hat. After which it was some time before they spoke to me, and | 
felt the power of the Lord to arise. After some pause, old justice Raw- 
inson, the chairman, asked me, ‘If I knew of the plot?’ I told him, ‘1 


| 


d 


= 


1663] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 373 


heard of it in Yorkshire by a friend, who had it from the high-sheriff.’ 
They asked me, ‘ Whether I had declared it to the magistrates?’ I said, 
I had sent papers abroad against plots and plotters, ana also to you, as 
‘soon as | came into the country, to take all jealousies out of your 
‘minds concerning me and my friends; for it is our principle to declare 
‘against such things.’ They asked me, ‘If I knew not of an act against 
meetings?’ I said, «1 knew there was an act that took hold of such as 
met to the terrifying of the king’s subjects, were enemies to the king, 

* and held dangerous principles; but I hoped they did not look upon us 
*to be such men, for our meetings were not to terrify the king’s subjects, 


_*neither are we enemies to him or any man.’ Then they tendered me 


the oaths of allegiance and supremacy. I told them, ‘I could not take 


‘any oath at all, because Christ and his apostle had forbid it; and they 


‘had sufficient experience of swearers, first one way, then another; but 


«] had never taken any oath in my life’ Rawlinson asked me, ‘ Whe- - 


‘ther I held it was unlawful to swear?’ This question he put on pur 
pose to ensnare me; for by an act that was made, such were liable tc 
banishment or a great fine, that should say, it was ‘ unlawful to swear. 
But I, seeing the snare, avoided it, and told him, ‘ That in the time of 
‘the law amongst the Jews, before Christ came, the law commanded 
‘them to swear; but Christ, who doth fulfil the law in his gospel-time, 


* commands, “ not to swear at all;” and the apostle James forbids swear- 


*ing, even to them that were Jews, and who had the law of God.’ Af- 
ter much discourse they called for the gaoler, and committed me to 
prison. I had the paper about me which I| wrote as a testimony against 
plots, which I desired they would read, or suffer to be read in open 
court; but they would not. So being committed for refusing to swear, 
‘I bid them and_all the people take notice, that I suffered for the doc- 
‘trine of Christ, and for my obedience to his command.’ Afterwards I 
understood the justices did say, that they had private instructions from 
colonel Kirby to prosecute me, notwithstanding his fair carriage and 
seeming kindness to me before, when he declared before many of them, 
* That he had nothing against me.’ Several other friends were commit- 
ted to prison, some for meeting to worship God, and some for not 
swearing; so that the prison was very full. Many of them being poor 
men, without any thing to maintain their families by but their labour, 
which now they were taken from, several of their wives went to the jus- 
tices who committed their husbands, and told them, ‘If they kept their 
husbands in gaol for nothing but the truth of Christ and for good con- 
science-sake, they would bring their children to them to be maintained.’ 
4 mighty power of the Lord rose in friends, and gave them great bold. 
ness, so that they spoke much to the justices. Friends also that were 
prisoners wrote to the justices, ‘laying the weight of their sufferings 
upon them, and shewing them both their injustice and want of compes- 
Sion towards their poor neighbours, whom they knew to be honest, con- 
scientious, peaceable people, that in tenderness of conscience could not 
take any oath; yet they sent them to prison for refusing to take the 
oath of allegiance. Though several of those imprisoned on that account 
were known to be men who had served the king in his wars, had haz- 
_ arded their lives in the field in his cause, had suffered great hardships, 
- with the loss of much blood for him, and always stood faithful to him 
from first to last, yet never received pay for their service; and to be 
_ thus requited for all their faithful services and sufferings by those the" 


‘ 


an 


374 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [lesa 


_ pretended to be the king’s friends, was hard, unkind, and ungratefu! 
‘dealing.’ At length the justices, being continually attended with com- 
plaints of grievances, released some of the friends, but kept divers still in 
prison. 

There were four friends prisoners for tythes, sent to prison at the sui 
of the countess of Derby, who had lain near two years and an half. One 
of these was Oliver Atherton, who being of a weakly constitution was 
tarough long and hard imprisonment in a cold, raw, unwholesome place 

rought so low and weak in his body, that there appeared no hopes of 
his life unless he might be removed. Wherefore a letter was wrote on 
his behalf to the countess, and sent by his son Godfrey Atherton, where- 
in was laid before her ‘ the reasons why he and the rest could not pay 
tythes; ‘ because if they did, they should deny Christ come in the flesh, 
‘who by his coming had put an end to the tythes, and to the priesthoo 
‘to which they had been given, and to the commandment by which they 
‘had been paid under the law. His weak condition of body was also 
‘laid before her, and the apparent likelihood of his death, if she continued 
‘to hold him there, that she might be moved to pity and compassion, and 
‘also warned not to draw the guilt of innocent blood upon her.’ When 
his son went to her with his father’s letter, a servant of hers abused him, 
plucked off his cap and threw it away, and put him out of the gate. 
Nevertheless the letter was delivered into her own hand, but she shut out 
all pity and tenderness, and continued him in prison till death. When his 
son returned to his father in prison, and told him as he lay on his dying- 
bed, that the countess denied his liberty, he only said, ‘She hath been 
‘the cause of shedding much blood, but this will be the heaviest blood 
‘that ever she spilt,’ and soon after he died. Friends having his body 
delivered to them to bury, as they carried it from the prison to Ormskirk, 
the parish wherein he had lived, they stuck up papers upon the crosses 
at Garstang, Preston, and other towns through which they passed, with 
this inscription : 

“ This is Oliver Atherton, of Ormskirk parish, persecuted to death by 
“the countess of Derby for good conscience-sake towards God and 
“ Christ, because he could not give her tythes, &c.” 


Setting forth the reasons of his refusing to pay tythes, the length of 
his imprisonment, the hardships he underwent, her hard-heartedness to- 
wards him, and the manner of his death. After his death, Richard Cub- 
ban, another of her prisoners for tythes, wrote a large letter to her, on 
behalf of himself and his fellow-prisoners at her suit, laying their inno- 
cency before her; ‘and that it was not out of wilfulness, stubbornness, 
‘or covetousness, that they refused to pay their tythes, but purely in good 
‘ conscience towards God and Christ; letting her know, if she should be 
‘ suffered to keep them there till they every one died, as she had done 
‘their fellow-sufferer, Oliver Atherton, they could not yield to pay her. 
‘And therefore desired her to consider their case in a Christian spirit, 
‘and not bring their blood upon herself also.’ Yet she would not shew 
any pity or compassion to them, who had now suffered hard imprison- 
ment about two years and an half under her. Instead thereof she sent to 
Garstang, and threatened to complain to the king and council, and bring 
them into trouble, for suffering the paper concerning Oliver Atherton’s 
death to be stuck upon their cross. The rage she expressed made the 
people take the more notice of it, and some of them said, ‘ the Quakers 


1663' GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 375 


‘had given her a bone to pick.’ But she, that regarded not the life of an 
innocent sufferer for Christ, lived not long after herself; for that day three 
weeks taat Oliver Atherton’s body was carried through Ormskirk to be 
ouried, she died ; and her body was carried that day seven weeks through 
the same town to her burying-place. Thus the Lord pursued the hard- 
hearted persecutor. I was kept till the assize, and judge Turner and 
judge Twisden coming that circuit, I was brought before judge Twisden, 
the 14th of the month called March, the latter end of the year 1663. 
When I was set to the bar, I said, ‘ Peace be amongst you all.’ The 
judge looked upon me, and said, ‘ What! do you come into the court. 
‘with your hat on’ Upon which words, the gaoler taking it off, I said, 
‘ The hat is not the honour that comes from God.’ Then said the judge 
to me, ‘ Will you take the oath of allegiance, George Fox?’ JI said, ‘1 
‘never took any oath in my life, nor any covenant or engagement.’ 

Well,’ said he, ‘ Will you swear or no” I answered, ‘I am a Chris- 
‘tian, and Christ commands me “not to swear;” so does the apostle 
‘ James; and whether I should obey God or man, do thou judge.’ I ask 
‘you again,’ said he, ‘ Whether you will swear orno” I answered again, 


~*{ am neither Turk, Jew, nor Heathen, but a Christian, and should shew 


i] 


pen a 


‘forth christianity. I asked him, If he did not know that Christians in 
‘the primitive times, under the ten persecutions, and some also of the 
‘martyrs in queen Mary’s days, refused swearing, because Christ and 
‘the apostle had forbidden it? I told him also, they had experience 
‘enough, how many had first sworn for the king and then against him. 
‘ But as for me I had never taken an oath in my life. My allegiance did 
‘ not lie in swearing, but in truth and faithfulness; for I honour all men, 
‘much more the king. But Christ, who is the Great Prophet, the King 
‘of kings, the Saviour and Judge of the whole world, saith, I must “ not 
“ swear.” Now, whether must I obey Christ or thee? For it is tender- 
“ness of conscience, and in obedience to the command of Christ, that ] 
‘do not swear: and we have the word of a king for tender consciences. 
‘ Then I asked the judge, If he did own the king? “ Yes,” said he, “1 
“do own the king.” Why then, said I, dost thou not observe his decla- 
‘ration from Breda, and his promises made since he came into England, 
«That no man should be called in question for matters of religion, so 
“Jong as they lived peaceably?” If thou ownest the king, said I, why 
‘dost thou call me in question, and put me upon taking an oath, which 
‘js a matter of religion; seeing thou nor none else can charge me with 
‘unpeaceable living” Upon this he was moved, and looking angrily at 
me, said, ‘ Sirrah, will you swear” I told him ‘I was none of his Sir- 
‘rahs, I was a Christian; and for him, an old man, and a judge, to sit 
‘there and give nick-nares to prisoners, it did not become either his 
‘grey hairs or his office.’ ‘ Well, said he, ‘I am a Christian too.’ 
‘Then do Christian works,’ said J. ‘ Sirrah!’ said he, ‘ Thou thinkest to 
‘frighten me with thy words.’ Then catching himself, and looking aside, 
he said, ‘ Hark! I am using the word (Sirrah) again;’ so checked him- 
self. I said, ‘I spoke to thee in love; for that language did not become 
*the2, a judge. Thou oughtest to instruct a prisoner in the law, if he 
‘ were ignorant and out of the way.’ ‘ And I speak in love to thee too,’ 
said he. ‘But,’ said I, ‘ Love gives no nick-names.’ Then he roused 
himself up, and said, ‘1 will not be afraid of thee, George Fox. Thou 

speakest so loud, thy voice drowns mine and the court’s; I must call 

for three or four criers to drown thy voice: thou hast goed lungs.’ ‘I 


376 GUORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1663 


‘am a prisoner nere,’ said I, ‘ for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake; for his 
‘sake do I suffe: , for him do J stand this day, and if my voice were five 
‘times louder I should lift it up, and sound it out fer Christ’s sake, for 
‘whose cause I stand this day before your judgment-seat, in obedience — 
‘to him who commands “ not to swear ;” before whose judgment-seat 
‘you must all be brought, and must give an account.’ ‘ Well,’ said the — 
judge, ‘George Fox, say, Whether thou wilt take the oath, Yea or 
‘Nay? I replied, ‘I say as I said before, Whether ought I to obey God 
‘or man, judge thou! If I could take any oath at all, I should take this; 
‘for I do not deny some oaths only or on some occasions, but all oaths, 
‘according to Christ’s doctrine, who hath commanded his, “ Not to 
‘swear at all.” Now if thou or any of you, or any of your ministers or 
‘priests here, will prove that ever Christ or his apostle, after they had 
‘ forbid all swearing, commanded Christians to swear, then I will swear.’ — 
I saw several priests there; but not one of them offered to speak. Then 
said the judge, ‘I am a servant to the king, and the king sent me not to 
‘dispute with you, but to put the laws in execution; therefore tender him 
‘the oath of allegiance.’ ‘If thou love the king,’ said I, ‘ why dost thou 
‘break his word, and not keep his declarations and speeches, wherein he 
‘promised liberty to tender consciences? J am a man of a tender con- 
‘ science, and in obedience to Christ’s command I cannot swear.’ * Then 
‘you will not swear,’ said the judge; ‘ Take him away, gaoler.’ I said, 
‘ It is for Christ’s sake that I cannot swear, and for obedience to his com- 
‘mand I suffer; and so the Lord forgive you all.’ So the gaoler took 
me away; but I felt the mighty power of the Lord was over them all. 
The sixteenth of the same month I was brought before judge Twisden 
again, who was somewhat offended at my hat: but it being the last morn- 
ing of the assize, before he was to go out of town, and not many people 
there, he made the less of it. He asked me, ‘ Whether I would traverse, 
‘stand mute, or submit.’ But he spoke so fast, it was hard to know what 
he said. However I told him, ‘I desired I might have liberty to traverse 
‘the indictment, and try it’ Then said he, ‘Take him away, I will have 
‘nothing to do with him, take him away.’ I said, ‘ Well, live in the fear 
‘of God, and do justice.’ ‘Why,’ said he, ‘have not I done you justice” 
I replied, «That which thou hast done hath been against the command 
‘of Christ.’ So I was taken to the gaol again, and kept prisoner till the 


next assizes. 


Some time before this assize, Margaret Fell was sent prisoner to Lan- 


) easter gaol by Fleming, Kirby, and Preston, justices; and at the assize 


the oath was tendered to her also, and she was again committed to prison 
to lie till the next assize. 

Justice Fleming being one of the fiercest and most violent justices in 
persecuting friends, and sending his honest neighbours to prison for reli- 
gion’s sake; and many friends being at this time in Lancaster gaol com- 
initted by him, and some having died in prison, we that were then pris- 
oners had it upon us to write to him, as followeth. 


‘O justice Fleming! 

‘ Mercy. compassion, love, and kindness adorn and grace men and 
magistrates. Oh! dost thou not hear the cry of the widows, and the 
cry of the fatherless, who were made so through persecution! Were 
they not driven like sheep, from constable to constable, as though - 
had heen the greatest transgressors or malefactors in the 'and? Whie 


1665, GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 377 


* crieved and ter dered the hearts of many sober people, to see how their 
‘innocent neighbours and countrymen, who were of a peaceable car- 
‘riage, and honest in their lives and conversations among men, were 
*used and served! One more is dead, whom thou sentest to prison, hav- 
‘ing left five children fatherless and motherless. How cinst thou do 
‘otherwise than take care of those fatherless infants, an1 also of the 
‘other’s wife and family? Is it not thy place? Consider Job. (c. xxix.) 
‘He was a father to the poor, he delivered the poor that cried, and tne 
*fatherless that had none to help. He broke the jaws of the wicked, and 
plucked the spoil out of his teeth. But oh! measure thy life and his, 
and take heed of the day of God’s eternal judgment, which will come, 
‘and the sentence and decree from Christ, when every man must give 
“an account and receive a reward according to his deeds. Then it will 
‘be said, “Oh! where are the months that are past!” Again, justice 
‘ Fleming, consider, when John Stubbs was brought before thee, having 
‘a wife and four small children, and little to live on but what they hon- 
‘estly got by their own diligence; as soon as he appeared, thou cried 
‘out, “ Put the oath to that man.” And when he confessed he was but 
‘a poor man, thou hadst no regard, but cast away pity, not hearing what 
‘he would say. And now he is kept in prison, because he could not 
‘ swear, and break the command of Christ and the apostle, it is to be 
‘hoped thou wilt take care of his family, that his children do not starve ; 
‘and see that they do not want bread. Can this be allegiance to the 
‘king, to do that which Christ and his apostle say is evil, and brings into 
‘condemnation? Would not you have cast Christ and the apostle into 
‘prison, who commanded “ not to swear,” if they had been in your days? 
‘Consider also thy poor neighbour, William Wilson, who was known to 
‘all the parish and neighbours to be an industrious man, careful to main- 
‘tain his wife and children; yet had little but what he got with his hands 
‘in diligence and travels to supply himself. How should his wife main- 
‘tain her children, when thou hast cast her husband into prison, and there- 
‘by made him incapable of working for them? Therefore it may be ex- 
*pected thou wilt have a care of his wife and children, and see they do 
‘not want; for how should they live, having no other way to be sus- 
‘tained but by the little that he got? Surely the noise of this is in the 
‘very markets, the death of thy two neighbours, the cry of the widows 
and fatherless is heard. All those fatherless and widows are made so 
for righteousness-sake. For might not John Stubbs and William Wil- 
‘son have had their liberty still, if they would have sworn, though they 
‘had been such as go after mountebanks and stage-plays, or run a hunt- 
‘ing? Oh! consider! for the Lord’s mind is otherwise. He is tender, 
“and the king hath declared his mind to be, that there should be no cru- 
‘elty inflicted upon his peaceable subjects. Besides, several poor honest 
people were fined, who had need to have something given them; and 
*'t had been more honourable to have given them something, than to fine 
taem and send them to prison, some of whom live upon the charity of 
‘others. What honour or grace can it be to thee to cast thy poor neigh- 
* bours into prison, who are peaceable; seeing thou knowest these people 
cannot do that which thou requirest of them, if it were to save their 
lives, or all that they have? Because in tenderness they cannot take 
_any oath, thou makest that a snare to them. What thinkest thou do 
*the people say concerning this? “ We know,” say they, “the Quakers’ 
* principle that keep to Yea and Nay; but we see others swear and for 
2X 


378 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL 


“swear.” Many of you have sworn first one way and then anothey. So 
‘ we leave it to the Spirit of God in thy conscience, justice Fleming, whe 
*‘ wast so eager for the taking of George Fox, and so offended with them 
‘that had not taken him, and now hast fallen upon thy poor neighbours. 
‘But oh! where’s thy pity for their poor, fatherless children, and moth- 

erless infants? Oh! take heed of Herod’s hard-heartedness, and cast- 
‘ing away all pity! Esau did so, not Jacob. Here is also Thomas Wal 
‘ters, of Bolton, cast into prison, and the oath imposed on him through 
‘thee, and for denying to swear at all, in obedience to Christ’s command, 
‘he is continued in prison, who hath five small children and his wife near 

down-lying. Surely, thou shouldest take care far them also, and see 
‘that his wife and small children do not want, wno are as fatherless and 
‘she as a widow through thee. Dost thou not hear in thy ears the cry 
‘of the fatherless, the cry of the widows, and the blood of the innocent 
‘speak, who through thee have been persecuted to prison, and are now 
‘dead? Oh! heavy sentence at the day of judgment! How wilt thou 
‘ answer, when thou and thy works come to be judged, when thou shalt 

be brought before the judgment-seat of the Almighty, who in thy pros- 

perity hast made widows and fatherless for righteousness-sake, and for 

tenderness of conscience towards God? The Lord knows and sees it! 
‘O man! consider in thy life-time how thou hast stained thyself with the 
‘blood of the innocent! When thou had’st power and might’st have done 
‘good amongst thy peaceable neighbours, thou would’st not: but usedst 
‘thy power not to a good intent, but contrary to the Lord’s mind and to 
‘the king’s. The king’s favour, mercy, and clemency to sober people 
‘and tender consciences hath been manifested by declarations and pro 
‘clamations, which thou hast abused and slighted by persecuting his 
‘ peaceable subjects. At London and in other parts the Quakers’ meet- 
‘ings are peaceable; and if thou look but as far as Yorkshire, where 
‘the plot hath been, friends’ inocency hath cleared itself in the hearts 

of sober justices; and for you here to fall upon your peaceable neigh- 

bours and people, and to be rigorous and violent against them that are 
‘tender, godly, and righteous, it is no honour to you. How many drunk- 
‘ards, swearers, and fighters, and such as are subject to vice, have you 
‘caused to be brought-before you to your courts! It were more honour- 
‘able for you to look after such; for the law was not made for the right- 
‘eous, but for sinners and transgressors. Therefore consider, and be 
‘humbled for these things: for the Lord may do to thee as thou has 
‘done to others; and thou dost not know how soon there may be a ery 
‘in thy own family, as the cry is amongst thy neighbours, of the father- 
‘less and widows that are made so through thee. But the Quakers can 

and do say, “ The Lord forgive thee, and lay not these things to thy 
“ charge, if it be his will.” 


Besides this, which went in the name of many, I sent him also a line 
or two, subscribed by myself only, and directed 


‘To Daniel Fleming. 
‘ Friend, 

‘ Txuoc hast imprisoned the servants of the Lord, without the breach 
of any law; therefore take heed what thou dost (for in the light of the 
Lord God thou art seen) lest the hand of the Lord be turned against 
thee ! *., 3, hoe 


: 


] 


| 


Se. Athy 


Pee od 
aye 


663] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 379 
It was not long_after this, ere Fleming’s wife died, and left him thir- 


\ teen or fourteen motherless children. 


When I was prisoner at Lancaster, there was prisoner also one major 
Wiggan, a Baptist-preacher. He boasted much before-hand what he 
would say at the assize, if the oath should be put to him; and that he 
would ref&se to swear. But when the assize came, and the oath was 
tendered him, he desired time to consider of it; and that being granted 
him till the next assize, he got leave to go to London before the assize 
came again, and staid at London till the plague broke forth, and there 
both he and his wife were cut off. He was a very wicked man, and the 
judgments of God came upon him; for he had published a very wicked 
book against friends, full of lies and blasphemies ; the occasion of which 
was this. Whilst he was in Lancaster castle, he challenged friends toa 
dispute. Whereupon I got leave of the gaoler to go up to them. And 
entering into discourse with him, he affirmed, ‘ That some men never 
‘had the Spirit of God, and that the true light, which enlighteneth every 
‘one that cometh into the world, is natural.’ For proof of his first as- 
sertion, he instanced Balaam, affirming, ‘ Balaam had not the Spirit of 
‘God.’ I aifirmed and proved, ‘That Balaam had the Spirit of God, 

and that wicked men have the Spirit of God, else how could they quench 
it, vex it, grieve it, and resist the Holy Ghost, like the stiff-necked Jews?’ 
To his second assertion, I answered, ‘ That the true light, which enlight- 
eneth every man that cometh into the world, was the !ife in the Word, 
and that was divine and eternal, and not natural. And he might as 
well say, the word was natural as that the life in the word was natural. 
And wicked men were enlightened by this light, else how could they 
‘hate it? It is expressly said, they did hate it; and the reason given why, 
*‘ was, “ because their deeds were evil;” and they would not come to it, 
_* because it reproved them; and that must needs be in them, which re- 


| ‘proved them. Besides, that light could not be the scriptures of the New 


‘Testament; for it was testified-of before any part of the New Testa- 


é; Finch was written; so it must be by the Divine Light, which is the life 
: 


in Christ, the Word, before the scriptures were. And the grace of God, 
‘which brought salvation, had appeared unto all men, and taught the 
‘saints; but they that turned from it into wantonness, and walked de- 
‘spitefully against the Spirit of Grace, were the wicked. Again, the 
‘Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which leads the disci- 
‘ples of Christ into all truth, the same should reprove the world of sin, 
‘of righteousness, of judgment, and of tieir unbelief. (So the wicked 
‘world had it to reprove .1em, and the true disciples and learners of 
‘ Christ, that believed in the light as Christ commands, had it to lead them. 
‘ But the world that did not believe in the light, though they were light- 
‘ed, but hated the light which they should have believed in, and loved 
‘the darkness rather than it. this world had a righteousness and a judg- 

ment, which the Holy Ghost reproved them for, as well as for their un- 
‘belief.’ Having proved, that the good and the bad were enlightened, 
tnat the Grace.of God had appeared unto all, and that all had the Spirit 
of God, else they could not vex and grieve it, I told major Wiggan, the 
least babe there might see him; and presently stood up one Richard Cub- 
ham, and proved him an antichrist and a deceiver by scripture. Then 
the gaoler had me away to my prison again. Afterwards Wiggan wrote 


_ a book of this dispute, and put in abundance of abominable lies; which 


eS We wy, 


380 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1663 


was soon answere | in print, and himself was not long after cut off, as 
aforesaid. 

This Wiggan was poor, and while he was prisoner at Laneaster he 
sent into the « country, and got money gathered for relief of the poor peo- 
ple of God in prison; and many people g gave freely, thinking it had been 
for us, when indeed it was for himeeie But when we heard of it, we 
laid it upon him, and wrote into the country, that friends might let the 
people know the truth of the matter, that it was not our manner to have 
collections made for us, and that those collections were only for Wiggan 
and another, a drunken preacher of his society: who was so drunk, thet 
once he lost his breeches. 

After this it came upon me to write to the judges and other magistrates 
roncerning their ‘giving evil words and nick-names to such as were 
‘ brought before them.’ Which was after this manner. 


‘To all judges or other officers whatsoever in the whole world, who 
profess yourselves to be Christians. 


‘ Friends, 
‘Herein and by reading the scriptures, ye may see both your own 
words and behaviour, and the words and practice of both Jews and 
Heathens, and of the King of kings, the great Lawgiver and Judge of 
the whole World. First, concerning the words and carriage of the 
Jews, when some worthy of death were brought before the rulers 
amongst them. When Achan had taken the Babylonish garment, the 
two hundred shekels of silver, and the wedge of gold of fifty shekels 
weight, and Joshua, who was then judge of Israel, had by the lot dis- 
‘ covered him, he did not call him, Sirrah, nor you Rascal, Knave, Rogue, 
“as some, called Christian magistrates, are too apt to do. But Joshua 
‘said unto Achan, “ My son.” Mark his clean language, savoury ex- 
‘ pression, and gracious words. “My son,’ said he, “give, | pray thee, 
“ oalory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him, and 
“ tell me now what thou hast done, hide it not from me.” Then Achan 
‘ confessed, that he had sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus 

‘and thus he had done. Then Joshua, the judge, said, “ Why hast thou 
“troubled Israel? The Lord shall trouble thee this day ; and they stoned 
“him and his with stones, and burned his goods with fire.” But there 
‘was no unsavoury word given him that we read of, though he was 
‘worthy of death, Josh. vii. 

«So when the man, that gathered sticks upon the sabbath- day, was 
“taken and brought before Moses, the judge of Israel, and put in ward 
‘till the mind of the Lord was known concerning fae we read not of 
‘any reviling language given him; but the Lord said to Moses, and 
« Moses to the people, “The man shall sur ely be put to death,” Numb. 
< gv ESD, 

‘ Likewise in the rebellion of Corah, Dathan and Abiram, when Moses 
‘called them to trial, he did not sirrah them nor misname them; but said 

to Corah and the rest, “ Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi,” Numb. xvi. 
8. And when he gave the sentence against them, he said, “If these 
‘men die the common death of all men,” &c. He did not say, If these 
Rascals or Knaves, as many that profess themselves Christians now do. 

‘When Elihu spoke to Job, who was a judge, and to his friends, and 

said, “ Let me nct, I pray you, accept of any man’s person, neither let 
“me give flattering titles unto man, for I know not to give flattering 


: 
: 


a 


1663] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 381 


titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away,” Job xxxii. 

‘Job did not say, “Sirrah, hold thy tongue;” nor gave him any unsa- 

‘voury expression. The words of David, Solomon, and other kings and 

‘ officers, see in the books of the Kings and Chronicles, the savoury lan- 
guage they gave to them that were brought before them. Nay, though 
Shimei cursed David the king, yet neither did David then or after- 
ward, nor Solomon when he caused him tu be put to death, give him 
any reproachful language, or so much as call him Sirrah, 2 Sam. xvi. 
and 1 Kings il. 

‘Read the prophecies of Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 

*rest of the prophets, who prophesied to different people, and against 

rulers, kings, and magistrates; yet where can it be found, that they had 
‘any bad language given them, as Sirrah or the like, by any ruler either 
‘of the Jews or Heathens? Nay, though Jeremiah was cast into prison, 
‘and into the dungeon, yet there was no such word as Sirrah or Knave 
‘ given him, Jer. xxxvii. 

‘Respecting the words and carriage of the Heathens. When Abra- 
‘ham was before Abimelech, who was a king, he gave Abraham no un- 
‘savoury expressions, Gen. xx. When Isaac came before Abimelech, 
‘he gave him no taunting language, Gen. xxvi. When Joseph was cast 
‘into prison, and that in Egypt, we do not read he had any railing lan- 
‘guage given him, Gen. xxxix. Neither did Pharaoh, when Moses and 
‘ Aaron appeared before him, give them bad language, as Sirrah, Knave, 
* or the like. 

‘When Nebuchadnezzar sentenced the three children to the fiery fur- 

nace, there was no such language given them as Sirrah, Knave, Rascal ; 
‘but they were called by the names they were known by, Dan. iii. 
* When Daniel was brought before king Darius, and sentenced to be cast 
‘into the lion’s den, he had no such ill names given him, as many give 
*now, who call those Heathen rulers, but themselves Christians. 
| ‘If ye look into the New-Testament, in the parable of the wedding- 
* supper, the king that came to view his guests did not say to him that 
‘was found without a wedding-garment, “Sirrah, how camest thou in 
“hither?” but, “Friend, how camest thou in hither?” &c. though he 
‘ was to be bound hand and foot, and “ cast into outer darkness,” Matth. 
‘xxu. Nay, when Judas had betrayed his master, Jesus Christ, the 
‘Lord of Life, and sold him to the priests, Christ did not call him Sirrah, 
‘when he came to apprehend him, but Friend, Matth. xxvi. 50. Stephen, 
‘in his examination, sentence, and death had no such reproachful word 
‘given him, as Sirrah or Knave, Acts vi. & vii. chap. When the apos- 
‘tles Peter and John were brought before the high-priest and rulers of 
‘the Jews, and commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus, Acts iv. 
‘they were not called Sirrahs or Knaves, nor had any such ill names 
‘given them. When Paul and Silas were cast into prison by the mag- 
‘istrates, Acts xvi. they called them men, not Rogues, Sirrahs, nor 
‘Knaves. And when the magistrates had done contrary to law, they 
‘feared. ‘So ye may see how short of this example many are that call 
‘themselves Christian rulers, who are not afraid to cast innocent people 
‘into prison, and give them ill names besides, below both Jews and 
* Heathens. 
‘When the uproar was at Ephesus about Diana’s shrine, Demetrius 
who bore great sway among the craftsmen. did not cal. Paul Sirrah 
but Paul, Acts xix. When Paul was brought prisoner before the high- 


482 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [lees 


priest Ananias and the council of the Jews, and told then, “ He had 
“ lived in all good conscience towards God until that day ;” though they, 
‘ who professed the scriptures but lived out of the life of them, could not 
‘ abide to hear of living in a good conscience, as professors of the scrip- 
‘tures now, that live not in the life, cannot abide to hear of living in a 
‘ good conscience now-a-days; but Ananias caused Paul to be “smitten 
“on the mouth;” yet he did not call him Knave nor Sirrah, Acts xxiii. 

‘The apostate Jews indeed, who, though they professed scripture, were 

out of the life thereof, and had rejected Christ, in accusing Paul before 

the Roman magistrates, did once call him a Pestilent Fellow, Acts 
* xxiv. as the accusing professors, who live out of the life, sometimes call 
‘us now. But neither Felix, Festus, nor king Agrippa, in all their ex- 
‘ aminations, gave Paul any such words as Sirrah, Rascal, Knave, or the 
‘like, but heard him patiently. So Christians may see through all the 
‘scriptures, when persons were brought before rulers, kings, or magis- 
‘trates, whether Jews or Heathens, they did not use to call them evil 
‘names, as Sirrah, Rascal, Knave, and the like. They had no such foul- 
‘mouth’d language in their courts. Nor did they use to say to them, 
“ Sirrah, put off your hat.” Now, ye that profess christianity, and say 
‘ the “scripture is your rule,” may see that more corrupt words proceed 
‘out of your mouths than either out of the Jews or Heathens, if ye will 
‘try vour practice by the scriptures; and doth not the apostle tell you, 
‘that no corrupt communication should proceed out of your mouths? 
‘and that your words should be gracious! I query, where and whence 
‘ye that call yourselves Christians have got all these bad words and 
‘names, seeing neither God nor Christ, the prophets, judges, kings, nor 


‘rulers ever gave any such names, so far as appears by scripture, either — 


‘amongst Heathens, Jews, or Christians ? Gi FR 


by the justices. ‘To which, though we were not brought, I put friends 
upon drawing up an account of their sufferings, and laymg them before 
the justices in their open sessions. For friends had suffered deeply by 
fines and distresses, the bailiffs and officers making great havoe and 
spoil of their goods; but no redress was afforded. 

And because some evil-minded magistrates would tell us sometimes 
of the late plot in the north, we gave forth the following paper to stop 
their mouths, and to clear truth and friends therefrom. 


‘A Testimony from the people of God, whom the world calls Quakers, 
‘to all the magistrates and officers of what sort soever, from the 
‘highest to the lowest. 


‘We are peaceable, and seek the peace, good, and welfare of all, as 
‘in our lives and peaceable carriages is manifested, and we desire the 
eternal good of all, and their souls’ everlasting peace. We are become 
heirs of the blessing before the curse was, and of the power of God be- 
fore the devil was, and before the fall of man. We are heirs of the 
‘gospel of peace, which is the power of God; we are heirs of Christ, 
who have inherited him and his everlasting kingdom, and do possess 
the power of an endless life. Knowing this our portion and inheritance, 
this is to take off all jealousies out of your minds, and out of the minds 
of all concerning us, that all plots and conspiracies, plotters and con- 
spirators against the king, and all aiders or assisters thereunto we al- 


ways did and do utterly deny to be of us, or to be of the fellowship of — 


Before the next assizes there was a quarter-sessions held at Lancaster 


Ne 


a! 
Re 
a 
id 
dé 


ie, 664] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 333 


‘the gospel, of Christ’s kingdom, or his servants. For Christ said, “ His 
“kingdom was not of this world, if it were his servants would fight.” 
_*Therefore he bid Peter, “ put up his sword; for,” said he, “he that 
“taketh the sword shall perish by the sword.” Here is the faith and pa- 
“tience of the saints, to bear and suffer all things, knowing vengeance is 
‘the Lord’s, and he will repay it to them that hurt his people and wrong 
‘the innocent; therefore cannot we avenge but suffer for his name’s 
sake. We know that the Lord will judge the world in righteousness 
‘according to their deeds, and that, when every one shall give an ac- 
‘count to him of the “deeds done in the body,” then will the Lord give 
‘ every man according to his works, whether they be good or evil. Christ 
saith, he came not to “destroy men’s lives;” and when his disciples 

‘ would have had “fire to come down from heaven,” to have consumed 
‘those that did not receive him, he told them, “They knew not what 
“ spirit they were of,” they would-have men’s lives destroyed ; therefore 
‘he rebuked them, and told them, “That he came not to destroy men’s 
“lives, but to save them.” We are of Christ’s mind, who is the great 
* prophet, whom all ought to hear in all things, who commandeth his, 
“If they strike thee on one cheek turn the other, and render to no man 
“ evil for evil.” This doctrine of his we have learned, and not only con- 
‘fess him in words, but follow his doctrine; and therefore we suffer all 
‘manner of reproaches, scandals, slanders, spoiling of goods, buffetings, 
‘whippings, stripes, and imprisonments for these many years, and can 
‘say, “The Lord forgive them that have thus served us, and lay no 
“these things to their charge!” We know the Jews’ outward sword, by 
‘which they cut down the Heathen outwardly, was a type of the inward 
‘sword of the Spirit, which cuts down the inward Heathen, the raging 
‘nature in people. The blood of bulls, lambs, rams, and other offerings, 
‘and that priesthood which offered them, together with other things in 
“the law, were types of Christ, the one offering, and of his blood, who 
‘is the everlasting priest and covenant, our life, and way to God, the 
‘ereat prophet and shepherd, the head of his church, and the great 
‘bishop of our souls, whom we witness come; he doth oversee and keep 
‘his flock. For in Adam, in the fall, we know the striving, quarrelling, 
‘unpeaceable spirits are at enmity one with another, and not in peace; 
‘but in Christ Jesus, the second Adam, that never fell, is peace, rest, and 
‘life. The doctrine of Christ, who never sinned, is to “ love one another,” 
fand those who are in this doctrine hurt no man, in which we are, in 
‘Christ, who is our life. Therefore it is well for you to distinguish be- 
‘*twixt the precious and the vile, between them that fear God and serve 
‘him and them that do not, and to put a difference between the innocent 
‘and the guilty, between him that is holy and pure and the ungodly and 
‘prophane; for they that do not so, bring troubles, burdens, and sor- 
‘rows upon themselves. This we write in love to your souls, that ye 
‘may consider these things; for those that hate enemies, and one an- 
‘other, we cannot say they are of God, nor in Christ’s doctrine, but are 
opposers of it. And such as wrestle with flesh and blood, with carna! 
_‘ weapons, are gone into the flesh out of the Spirit. They are not in our 
‘ fellowship in the Spirit, in which is the bond of peace, neither are they 
_ fof us, nor have we unity with them in their fleshly state, and with their 
‘carnal weapons. For our unity and fellowship stands in the gospel, 
“+ which is the power of God, before the devil was, the liar, the murderer. 
_~the man-slayer, and the envious. Christ's mind and his doctrine being 


b= 
ay 
q 


“aT i 


384 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [16 


to save men’s lives, we who are of Christ’s mind are out of and above 

these things. Our desire is, that in the fear of the Lord ye may liv: 

‘that therein ye may receive God’s wisdom, by which all things were 
created, that by it all may be ordered to his glory. 

‘ This is from them that love all your souls, 

‘and seek your eternal good.’ 


Being prisoner in J.ancaster castle, a deep sense came upon me of a 
day of sore trial and exercise that was come and coming upon all who 
had been high in profession of religion; and I was moved to give forth 
the following paper as a warning to such; 


‘ Now is the day that every one’s faith and love to God and Christ 
‘will be tried; who are redeemed out of the earth, and who are in 
‘the earth, will be manifested; who is the master they serve, and 
‘whether they will run to the mountains to cover them. Now will it 
‘appear who are the stony-ground, who are the thorny-ground, and 
‘who are the high-way-ground, in whom the fowls of the air take 
‘away the seed, the thorns and cares of the world choke, and the heat 
‘of persecution scorches and burns up your green blade; for the day 
‘trieth all things. Therefore let not such as forsake truth for saving the 
‘earth say, that your brother priest only “ serveth not the Lord Jesus 
“ Christ but his own belly, and mindeth earthly things ;” for themselves 

also do the same, do hug and embrace self and not the Lord. Now it 
will be made manifest who is every one’s God, Christ, and Saviour, and 
their love will be manifest, whether it be of the world or the love of 
God; for if it be the love of the world, it is enmity, and the enmity will 
‘manifest itself what it is; and the day will try every spirit and his 
fruits. Therefore, my dear friends, in the everlasting seed of God live, 
‘that is over all the house of Adam and his works in the fall; dwellin 
in the seed, Christ, that never fell, in him you all have virtue, life, an 
‘peace, and through him ye will overcome all that is in the fall. 


§ Gandhd 


I wrote also another short epistle to friends, to warn them to keep 
out of that spirit that wrought in John Perrot and his company against 
the truth. 


‘ Dear friends, 

‘ Dwett in the love of God, and in his righteousness, that will preserve 

‘ you above all unclean and changeable spirits, that dwell not in the truth 
‘but in quarrels. Avoid such, and keep your habitations in the truth. 
‘ Dwell in the truth, and in the word of God, by which ye are reconciled 
‘to him. Keep your meetings in the name of Jesus Christ, who never 
‘f:ll; then you will see over all the gatherings of Adam’s sons and daugh- 
‘ters, you being met in the life over them all, in which is your unity, 
‘peace and fellowship with God, and one with another, in the life, where- 
in ye may enjoy God’s presence among you. So remember me to all 
friends in the everlasting seed of God. All that are got into fellowship 
‘in outward things, their fellowship will corrupt, and wither away. 
Therefore live in the gospel, the power of God, which power of God 
‘the gospel was before the devil was. This fellowship in the gospel, the 
‘ power of God, is a mystery to all the fellowships in the world. So look 
‘over all outward sufferings, and eye the Lord and the Lamb, who is 
‘the First and Last. the Amen; in whom farewell. G., Es 


- 


a GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 38: 


In the sixth month the assizes were held again at Lancaster, and the 
| same judges, Twisden and Turnes, came that circuit again; Lut judge 
| Turner then sate on the crown-bench, so I was brought before him. Be- 
fore I was called to the bar, [ was put among murderers and felons for 
about the space of two hours, the people, the justices, and the judge also 
gazing upon me. After they had tried several others, they called me to 
the bar, and impanelled a jury. Then the judge asked the justices, 
«Whether they had tendered me the oath at the sessions” They said, 
They had.’ Then he bid, ‘ Give them the book, that they might swear 
*they had tendered me the oath at the sessions.’ They said, ‘ They had.’ 
| Then he bid, ‘ Give them the book, that they might swear they had ten- 
‘dered me the oath according to the indictment.’ Some of the justices 
refused to be sworn; but the judge said, he would have it done to take 
away all occasion of exception. When the jury were sworn, and the jus- 
tices had sworn ‘ they had tendered the oath according to the indictment,’ 
the judge asked me, ‘ Whether I had not refused the oath at the last as- 
‘sizes? I said, ‘1 never took an oath in my life, and Christ, the Saviour 
‘and Judge of the World, said, “ Swear not at all.”’ The judge seemed 
not to take notice of my answer; but asked me, ‘ Whether or no I had 
‘not refused to take the oath at the last assize?’ I said, *‘ The words that 
*] then spoke to them were, that if they could prove, either judge, jus- 
“tices, priest, or teacher, that after Christ and the apostle had forbidden 
swearing, they commanded that Christians should swear, I would swear.’ 
The judge said, ‘He was not at that time to dispute whether it was 
“Jawful to swear, but to inquire whether I had refused to take the oath 
‘or no. [| told him, ‘ Those things mentioned in the oath, as plotting 
‘against the king, and owning the pope’s or any other foreign power, | 
utterly deny.’ * Well,’ said he, ‘ you say well in that; but did you deny 
*to take the oath? What say you?’ What wouldst thou have me to 
say ? said I, ‘ for I have told thee before what I did say.’ Then he asked 
me, ‘If I would have these men to swear that I had taken the oath?” I 
asked him, ‘If he would have those men to swear that | had refused 
‘the oath” At which the court burst out into laughter. I was grieved 
to see so much lightness in a court, where such solemn matters are han- 
dled, and thereupon asked him, ‘ If this court was a play-house? Where 
‘is sravity and sobriety,’ said I; ‘ for this behaviour doth not become you.’ 
Then the clerk read the indictment, and I told the judge, ‘I had some- 
‘thing to speak to it; for I had informed myself of the errors that were 
*in it.’ He told me, ‘ He would hear me afterward any reasons that | 
*could allege why he should not give judgment.’ Then! spoke to the 
jury, and told them, ‘ They could not bring me in guilty according to 
‘that indictment; for the indictment was wrong laid, and had many gross 
errors in it.’ The judge said, ‘I must not speak to the jury, but he 
“would speak to them;’ and he told them, ‘I had denied to take the oath 
“at the last assizes, and,’ said he, ‘ I.can tender the oath to any man now, 
*and premunire him for not taking it; and,’ he said, ‘ they must bring me 
*in guilty, seeing I refused to take the oath.’ ‘ Then,’ said I, what do ye 
*do with a form? Ye may throw away your form then.’ And I told 
| ‘the jury, ‘It lay upon their consciences, as they would answer it to the 
*Lord God before his judgment-seat.’ Then the judge spoke again to the 
jury, aad I called to him to ‘do me justice.’ The jury brought me in 
| guilty. Whereupon I told them, ‘ That both the justices and they had 
Y forsworn themselves, and ae they had small cause to laugh as 
4 2 


386 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 


‘they did a little before.’ Oh! the envy, rage, and malice, that appeared 
against me, and the lightness; but the Lord confounded them, and they 
were wonderfully stopped. So they set me aside, and called up Marga- 
ret Fell, who had a great deal of good service amongst them, and then — 
the court broke up near the second hour. . 

In the afternoon we were brought again to have sentence passed upon 
us. Margaret Fell desired sentence might be deferred till the next morn- 
ing. ‘I desired nothing but law and justice at his hands, for the thieves — 
‘had mercy ; only I requested the judge to send some to see my prison, - 
‘which was so bad they would put no creature they had in it; and I told - 
‘him, that colonel Kirby, who was then on the bench, said, “ I should be 
“locked up, and no flesh alive should come to me.”’ The judge shook his 
head, and said, ‘When the sentence was given, he would leave me to 
‘ the favour of the goaler.’ Most of the gentry of the country were gath- — 
ered together, expecting to hear the sentence; and the noise amongst the | 
people was, ‘ That I should be transported.’ But they were all crossed — 
at that time; for the sentence being deferred till next morning, I was had . 
/ to prison again. Upon my complaining of the badness of my prison, . 

some of the justices, with colonel Kirby, went up to see it; but when they 
came, they durst hardly go in, the floor was so bad and dangerous, and ~ 
the place so open to wind and rain. Some that came up said, ‘ Sure it 

was a Jakes-house.’ When colonel Kirby saw it, and heard what 
others said of it, he excused the matter as well as he could, saying, ‘I 
‘should be removed ere it was long to some more convenient place.” 

Next day, towards the eleventh hour, we were called again to hear 
the sentence; and Margaret Fell being called first to the bar, she had 
counsel to plead, who found many errors in her indictment; whereupon, 
after the judge had acknowledged them, she was set by. Then the judge 
asked, ‘ What they could say to mine” I was not willing to let any 
man plead for me, but to speak to it myself; and indeed, though Marga — 
ret had some that pleaded for her, yet she spoke as much herself as she 

: 


would. But before I came to the bar, I was moved in my spirit to pray, 
‘ That God would confound their wickedness and envy, set his truth over 
‘all, and exalt his seed’ The Lord heard and answered, and did con-— 
found them in their proceedings against me. And though they had most 
envy against me, yet the most gross errors were found in my indict- | 
ment. . 
I having put by others from pleading for me, the judge asked me, — 
‘What I had to say, why he should not pass sentence upon me’ J told 
him, ‘I was no lawyer; but I had much to say, if he would but have pa- 
‘tience to hear.’ At that he laughed, and others laughed also, and said, 
‘Come, what have you to say? Hecan say nothing.’ ‘ Yes, said I, 
‘I have much to say; have but the patience to hear me.’ 
I asked him, ‘ Whether the oath was to be tendered to the king’s sub- 
‘jects, or to the subjects of foreign princes” He said, ‘ To the subjects 
of this reaim.’ ‘Then said I, ‘ Look into the indictment, ye may see 
‘that ye have left out the word Subject; so not having named me in the 
indictment as a subject, ye cannot premunire me for not taking an 
oath.’ Then they looked over the statute and the indictment, and saw 
it was as I said; and the judge confessed it was an error. I told him, 
I had something else to stop his judgment,’ and desired him to look 
what day the indictment said the oath was tendered to me at the ses- 
sions there. They looked, and said. ‘It was the eleventh day of Janue 


664) GEURGE FUX’s .OURNAL. 387 


_ ty.’ ‘ What day of the week was the sessions held on? saidI ‘On 
a Tuesday,’ said they: Then said I, ‘ Look your Almanacks, and see 
‘ whether there was any sessions held at Lancaster “on the eleventh day 
‘of January, so called?’ So they looked, and found that the eleventh 
_ day was the day called Monday, and that the sessions was on the day 
called Tuesday, which was the twelfth day of that month. ‘Look now,’ 
said I, ‘ ye have indicted me for refusing the oath in the quarter-sessions 
‘held at Lancaster on the eleventh day of January last, and the justices 
“have sworn that they tendered me the oath in open sessions here that 
| ‘day, and the jury upon their oaths have found me guilty thereupon; 
| ‘and yet ye see there was no session held in Lancaster that day 
Then the judge, to cover the matter, asked, ‘ Whether the sessions did 
“not begin on the eleventh day” But some in the court answered, 
‘No; the session held but one day, and that was the twelfth.” Then 
the judge said, ‘ This was a great mistake and an error.’ Some of the 
justices were in a great rage at this, stamped, and said, ‘ Who hath dene 
‘this? Somebody hath done this on purpose;’ and a great heat was 
amongst them. Then, said I, ‘ Are not the justices here, that have 
_ ‘sworn to this indictment, forsworn men in the face of the country? 
* But this is not all, said I, ‘I have more yet to offer why sentence 
‘should not be given against me.’ I asked, ‘ In what year of the king 
‘the last assize here was holden, which was in the month called March 
‘last? The judge said, ‘It was in the sixteenth year of the king.’ 
‘ But,’ said I, ‘ the indictment says, it was in the fifteenth year. They 
looked, and found itso. This also was acknowledged to be another 
erior. Then they were all in a fret again, and could not tell what to 
say; for the judge had sworn the officers of the court, that the oath 
was tendered to me at the assize mentioned in the indictment. ‘ Now, 
said I, ‘is not the court here forsworn also, who have sworn that the 
‘oath was tendered to me at the assize holden here in the fifteenth year 
of the king, when it was in his sixteenth year, and so they have sworn 
_ ‘ayear false” The judge bid them look whether Margaret Fell’s in- 
_ dictment was soor no. They looked, and found it was not so. I told 
_ the judge,‘I had more yet to offer to stop sentence; and asked him, 
_ ‘Whether all the oath ought to be put into the indictment or no ” ‘ Yes,’ 
said he, ‘it ought to be all put in.” ‘ Then,’ said J, ‘compare the indict- 
_ ‘ment with the oath, and there thou mayest see these words; viz. [or 
‘by any authority derived, or pretended to be derived from him or his 
_ *see] left out of the indictment, which is a principal part of the oath; 
‘and in another place the words [heirs and successors] are left out.’ 
_ The judge acknowledged these also to be great errors. ‘But,’ said I, 
_ ‘I have something further to allege.’ ‘Nay,’ said the judge, ‘I have 
_ ‘enough, you need say no more.’ ‘ If, said I, ‘ thou hast enough, I desire 
; ‘nothing but law and justice at thy hands: for I don’t look for mercy.’ 


_ You must have justice,’ said he, ‘and you shall have law.’ Then | 
_ asked,‘ Am I at liberty, and free from all that ever hath been done 
_ ‘against me in this matter?” ‘ Yes,’ said the judge, ‘ you are free from 
_ ‘all that hath been done against you. But then,’ starting up in a rage. 
__ he said, ‘I can put the oath to any man here, and I will tender you the 
oath again.’ I told him, ‘He had examples enough yesterday of 
swearing and false-swearing, both in the justices and in the jury: fos 
I saw before mine eyes that both justices and jury had forsworn them- 
selves The judge asked me, ‘If I would take the oath” I answerea 


388 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1664 . 


Do me justice for my false imprisonment all this while; for what have 
‘I been imprisoned so long for? I told him, I ought to be set at liberty. 
‘You are at liberty,’ said he, ‘but I will put the oath to you again. 


‘I'hen I turned about, and said, ‘ All people, take notice this is a snare, — 


‘for I ought to be set free from the gaoler and from this court.’ But the 
judge cried, ‘Give him the book,’ and the sheriff and the justices cried, 
‘Give him the book.’ Then the power of darkness rose up in therm, 
like a mountain, and a clerk lifted up a book to me. I stood still, and 
said, ‘If it be a Bible, give it me into my hand.’ ‘ Yes, yes,’ said the 
judge and justices, ‘ give it him into his hand.’ ‘ So I took it. and look- 
‘ed into it, and said, I see it is a Bible, I am glad of it’ He had caused 
the jury to be called, and they stood by; for after they had brought in 
their former verdict, he would not dismiss them though they desired it, 
but told them, ‘ He could not dismiss them vet, he should have business 
‘for them; therefore they must attend, and be ready when they were 
‘called.’ When he said so, I felt his intent, that if | was freed, he would 
come on again. So I looked him in the face, and the witness of God 
started up in him, and made him blush when he looked at me again; for 
he saw that I discovered him. Nevertheless hardening himself, he 
caused the oath to be read to me, the jury standing by. When it was 
read, he asked me, ‘ Whether I would take the oath or no” ‘Then said 
I, ‘Ye have given me a book here to kiss, and to swear on; and this 
‘book which ye have given me to kiss, says, “ Kiss the Son;” and the 
‘Son says in this book, “ Swear not at all;” and so says also the apos- 
‘tle James. I say as the book says, yet ye imprison me. How chance 

ye do not imprison the book for saying so? How comes it that the 
‘book is at liberty among you, which bids me not to swear, and yet ye 
‘imprison me for doing as the book bids me” I was speaking this to 
them, and held up the Bible open in my hand, to shew them the place 
where Christ forbad swearing; they plucked the book out of my hand, 
and the judge said, ‘ Nay, but we will imprison George Fox.’ Yet this 
got abroad over all the country as a by-word, ‘ That they gave mea 
‘book to swear on that commanded me “ not to swear at all;” and that 
‘the Bible was at liberty, and I in prison for domg as the Bible said.’ 
When the judge still urged me to swear, I told him, ‘I never took oath, 
‘covenant, nor engagement in my life; but my yea or nay was more 
‘binding to me than an oath was to many others; for had they not had 
‘experience how little men regarded an oath? and how they had sworn 
‘one way and then another? and how the justices and court had for- 

sworn themselves now? I told him, I was a man of a tender con- 
‘science, and if they had any sense of a tender conscience, they would 
‘consider, that it was in obedience to Christ’s command that I could 
‘not swear. But,’ said I, ‘if any of you can convince me, that, after 
‘Christ and the apostle had commanded not to swear, they altered that 
‘command, and commanded Christians to swear, ye shall see I will 
‘swear.’ There being many priests by, I said, ‘If ye cannot do it, let 
“your priests stand up and do it.’ But not one of the priests made an- 
swer. ‘Oh!’ said the judge, ‘all the world cannot convince you.’ ‘ No,’ 
said I, ‘ how is it like the world should convince me? “ The whole world 
“ies in wickedness.” Bring out your spiritual men, as ye call them, to 

convince me.’ Then both the sheriff and the judge said, ‘ The angels 
“swore in the Revelations.’ I replied, ‘When God bringeth his first-be- 

gotten Son into the world he saith, “J.e*+ all the angels of God wor 


1664] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 38% 


‘ship him ;” and he saith, “ Swear not at all.” ‘ Nay,’ said the judge 
*T will not dispute.’ Then I spoke to the jury, telling them, ‘It was for 
*Christ’s sake that I could not swear, and therefore | warned them no. 
*to act contrary to that of God in their consciences; for before his judg- 
| ‘ment-seat they must all be brought.’ I told them, ‘ As for plots, and 
‘persecution for religion and popery, I deny them in my heart; for I 
‘am a Christian, and shall shew forth Christianity amongst you this day. 
It is for Christ’s doctrine I stand.’ More words I had both with the 
judge and jury before the gaoler took me away. 
In the afternoon I was brought up again, and put among the thieves 
a pretty while, where I stood with my hat on till the gaoler took it off. 
Then the jury having found this new indictment against me ‘for not 
‘taking the oath,’ I was called to the bar, and the judge asked me, 
* What I would say for myself? I bid them read the indictment, for I 
would not answe: to that which I did not hear. The clerk read it, and 
as he read the judge said, ‘ Take heed it be not false again;’ but he read 
it in such a manner, that I could hardly understand what he read. 
When he had done, the judge asked me, ‘ What I said to the indictment ”” 
I told him, ‘ At once hearing so large a writing read, and that at such a 
* distance, that I could not distinctly hear all the parts of it, I could not 
‘ well tell what to say to it; but if he would let me have a copy of it, 
‘and give me time to consider of it, I should answer it... This put them 
to a little stand; but after awhile the judge asked me, ‘ What time I 
‘would have ”’ I said, ‘ Till the next assize.’ ‘ But,’ said he ‘ what plea 
‘will ye now make? Are ye guilty, or not guilty” I said, ‘1 am not 
‘ guilty at all of denying to swear obstinately and wilfully ; and as for 
‘those things mentioned in the oath, as jesuitical plots and foreign pow- 
‘ers, I utterly deny them in my heart. If I could take any oath | should 
‘take that; but I never took any oath in my life.’ The judge answered, 
‘I said well; but,’ said he, ‘the king is sworn, the parliament is sworn, 
‘1 am sworn, and the justices are sworn, and the law is preserved by 
‘oaths.’ I told him, ‘ ‘They had sufficient experience of men’s swearing, 
‘and he had seen how the justices and jury had sworn wrong the other 
‘day; and if he had read in the book of martyrs how many of*them 
‘had refused to swear, both in the time of the ten persecutions and in 
‘bishop Bonner’s days, he might see, that,to deny swearing in obedience 
‘to Christ’s command was no new thing.’ He said, ‘ He wished the 
‘laws were otherwise.’ I said, ‘Our yea is yea, and our nay is nay; 
‘and if we transgress our yea or our nay, let us suffer as they do, or 
‘should do, that swear falsely.’ This, I told him, we had offered to the 
king, and the king said, ‘ It was reasonable.’ 
After some further discourse, they committed me to prison again, there 
to lie till the next assize; and colonel Kirby gave order to the gaoler, 
To keep me close, and suffer no flesh alive to come at me; for I was 
‘not fit,’ he said, ‘to be discoursed with by men.’ I was put into a tower, 
where the smoke of the other prisoners came up so thick, it stood as dew 
upon the walls, and sometimes it was so thick that I could hardly see 
the candle when it burned; and I being locked under three locks, the 
under-gaoler, when the smoke was great, would hardly be persuaded to 
come up to unlock one of the uppermost doors, for fear of the smoke, 
‘so that I was almost smothered. Besides it rained in upon my bed, and 
_ many times, when I went to stop out the rain in the cold winter-season, 
\ my shirt was as wet as n -*k with the rain that came in upon me while 


a 


e - 
390 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1665 


1 was labouring to stop it out. And the place being high and open t> the 
wind, sometimes as fast as I stopped it the wind blew it out again. In 
this manner did I lay all that long cold winter till the next assize, in 
which time I was so starved with cold and rain, that my body was 
greatly swelled, and my limbs much benumbed. 
The assize began the sixteenth of the month called March 1664-5, 
The same judges, Twisden and Turner, coming that cireuit again, judge 
Twisden sat this time on the crown-bench, and before him I was brought. 
I had informed myself of the errors in this indictment also. For though 
at the assize before, judge Turner said to the officers in court ‘ Pray, 
‘see that all the oath be in the indictment, and that the word Subject be 
‘in, and that the day of the month and year of the king be put in right; 
‘for it is a shame that so many errors should be seen and found in the 
‘face of the country ;’ yet many errors, and those great ones, were in 
this indictment as well as in the former. Surely the hand of the Lord 
was in it, to confound their mischievous work against me, and to blind 
them therein; insomuch that although, after the indictment was drawn 
at the former assize, the judge examined it himself, and tried it with the 
clerks, yet the word Subject was left out of this indictment also, the day 
of the month was put in wrong, and several material words of the oat 
were left out; yet they went on confidently against me, thinking all was 
safe and well. When I was set to the bar, and the jury called over to” 
be sworn, the clerk asked me, first, ‘Whether I had any objection to 
‘make to any of the jury” I told him, ‘I knew none of them.’ Then, 
having sworn the jury, they swore three of the officers of the court, to 
prove, ‘ That the oath was tendered to me at the last assizes, according 
‘to the indictment. * *Come, come,’ said the judge, ‘it was not done i 
‘a corner.’ Then he asked me, ‘ What | had to say to it; or whethe 
‘Thad taken the oath at the last assize?” I told him what I had formerly 
said to them, as it now came to my remembrance. Whereupon the judge 
said, ‘I will not dispute with you but in point of law.’ ‘Then,’ said I, 
‘I have something to speak to the jury concerning the indictment.’ He 
told me, ‘I must not speak to the jury; but if I had any thing to say, 
must speak to him.’ I asked him, ‘ Whether the oath was to be ten- 
dered to the king’s subjects only, or to the subjects of foreign princes ” 
He replied, ‘ To the subjects of this realm; for I will speak nothing to 
‘you,’ said he, ‘but in point of law.’ ‘Then,’ said I, ‘look in the indict 
‘ment, and thou mayest see the word Subject is left out of this indict- 
‘ment also. Therefore, seeing the oath is not to be tendered to any but 
‘the subjects of this realm, and ye have not put me in as a subject, the 
‘court is to take no notice of this indictment.’ I had no sooner spoke 
thus, but the judge cried, ‘ Take him away gaoler, take him away.’ So 
I was presently hurried away. The gaoler and people looked when | 
should be called for again; but I was never brought to the court any 
more, though I had many other great errors to assign in the indictment. 
After I was gone, the judge asked the jury, ‘If they were agreed? They 
said ‘Yes; and found for the king against me, as I was told. But 1 
was never called to hear sentence given, nor was any given against me 
that I could hear of. I understand, when they looked narrowly into the 
indictment, they saw it was not good; and the judge having sworn the 
officers of the court, that the oath was tendered me at the assize before, 
such a day. according as was set in the indictment, and that being the 
wrong day, 1 should have proved the officers of the court forsworn men 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. - 39] 


oan if the judge would have suffered me to plead to the indictment: 

was thought to be the reason why he hurried me away so soon. 
‘The judge had passed sentence of premunire upon Margaret Fell before 
I was brought in; and it seems, when ] was hurried away, they recorded 
me as a premunired person, though I was never brought to hear the sen- 
tence, nor knew of it; which was very illegal. For they < gught not only 
to have had me present to hear the sentence - given, but also to y have asked 
me first, ‘What I could say why sentence should not be given against 

_*me? But they knew I had so much to say, they could not give sentence 

_ if they heard me. 

While I was_ prisoner in Lancaster castle, there was great noise and 
& of the Turk’s overspreading Christendom, and great fears entered 
-\ma But one day, as I was walking in my prison-chamber, ‘Tl saw 
_ £the Lord’s power turn against him, and that he was turning back again.’ 

I declared to some what the Lord had let me see, when there were such 

fears of his over-running Christendom; and within a month after the 

news came down, wherein it was mentioned, ‘They had given him a 
‘defeat.’ 

Another time, as I was walking in my chamber; with my eye to the 
Lord, ‘1 saw the angel of the Lord, with a glittering drawn sword 
_ ‘stretched southward, as though the court had been all on a fire.’ Not 
long after the wars broke out with Holland, the sickness ‘broke forth, 
and afterwards the fire of London; so the Lord’s sword was drawn i in- 
deed. 
_ By reason of my long and close imprisonment in so bad a dete I was 
become very weak of body; but the Lord’s power was over all, sup- 

rted me through all, and enabled me to do service for him, and for his 
truth and people, as the place would admit. For while I was in Lancas- 
| ter prison, | answered several books, as the Mass, the Common-prayer, 
the Directory, and the Church-faith; which are the four chief religions 
; that are got up since the apostles’ days. And there being several friends 
_ in prison at Lancaster and otlier prisons for not paying tythes, I was 
4 Boved to publish the following lines concerning tythes : 


‘In the time of the law, those that did not bring their tythes into the 
« store-house robbed God ; then there was not meat in their house; there- 
*fore the Lord panuienicds « To bring them into his house, that there 
“might be meat in the store-house, which was to feed the fatherless, 
« stranger, and widow.” But these priests who are counterfeits, who 
‘take people’ s tythes now by a law, are from the beast; and if they will 
4 ‘not pay them, they prison them, or make them pay treble. These rob 
‘the poor, rob the fatherless, and the stranger and widow are not filled: 
‘so their cry is gone up to heaven against these. Many are made almost 
‘beggars by these oppressing priests, their cattle and corn being taken 
‘away from them, and they cast into prison. Others are sued at Jaw by 
‘the priests, and have treble damage taken from them; yet such priests 
“are cried up to he ministers of the gospel. Though when the unchange- 
‘able priest was come, the priesthood that was changeable was denied, 
as we now deny these. But if any be moved to cry ‘against them, they 
are stocked, beat. or imprisoned. Many are now in prison at Lancas- 
ter and other places by a national law, the like whereof was never done 
‘by the law of God delivered to Moses. We do not read that under 
Moses’s law any suffered imprisonment, or spoiling of goods for not 


392 * GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1665 


‘paying tythes, or was to pay treble damage. Surely, surely, the cry for 


‘vengeance will be heard, which arises from the oppressed souls that lie © 


‘under the altar. There are many prisoners at Kendal, because they 
‘cannot pay tythes, as captain Ward, Thomas Robertson, and the widow 
‘Garland, who hath many small children: these suffer because they can 
‘not pay tythes. Others there are in Kendal prison, who were moved of 
the Lord to speak to the priests, whereof one was moved to go in sack 
‘cloth, and of late with ashes upon her head. Others have been moved 
‘to go in sackcloth, as a lamentation for the miserable estate of this na- 
‘tion, seeing so many crying up of the preaching of the gospel, and yet 
‘so much strife, debate, oaths, and dissension among people. But where 
‘the gospel is received indeed, strife and contention are ended, and op- 
‘pression is taken off. Oh! the land mourns, because of the oppression 
‘of those called ministers! And though the cry of the oppressed hath 
‘not entered into the ears of the magistrates, yet is the ery of the poor 
‘oppressed people of God en‘ered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath, 
‘who now will be avenged of all’ his adversaries. You unjust law-givers, 
‘and unjust judges, to that in all your consciences I speak, to be cleared, 
‘when ye are judged by the just judge of heaven and earth; whose ter- 
‘ror is gone forth against all the ungodly, and all the oppressors of God’s 

‘people whatsoever, whether ye will hear or forbear. 
G. F? 
After the assize, colonel Kirby and other justices were very uneasy 
with my being at Lancaster; for I had galled them sore at my trials 
there, and they laboured much to get me removed from thence to some 
remote place. Colonel Kirby threatened I should be sent far enough; 
sometimes he said, ‘I should be sent beyond sea.’ About six weeks af- 


+ ter the assizes, they got an order from the king and council to remove 


-me from Lancaster; and with it they brought a letter from the earl of 
Anglesey, wherein was written, ‘That if those things were found true 
‘against me, which I was charged withal, I deserved no clemency nor 
‘mercy;’ yet the greatest matter they had against me was, because I 
could not disobey the command of Christ, and swear. 

When they had prepared for my removal, the under-sheriff and the 
head-sheriff’s man, with some bailiffs, came and fetched me out of the 
castle, when I was so weak with lying in that cold, wet, and smoky 
‘prison, that I could hardly go or stand. They had me into the gaoler’s 
house, where was William Kirby and several others, and they called 
for wine to give me. I told them, ‘I would have none of their wine.’ 
Then they cried, ‘Bring out the horses.’ I desired them first to shew 
me their order, or a copy of it, if they intended to remove me; but they 
would shew me none but their swords. I told them, ‘ There was no sen- 

tence passed upon me, nor was I premunired, that I knew of; and 
therefore I was not made the king’s prisoner, but was the sheriff’s; for 
tey and all the country knew, that I was not fully heard at the last as- 
size, nor suftered to shew the errors in the indictment, which were suf- 
ficient to quash it, though they had kept me from one assize to another, 
‘to the end they might try me. But they all knew there was no sentence 
‘of premunire passed upon me; therefore I, not being the king’s prisoner 
‘but the sheriff’s, did desire to see their order.’ Instead of shewing me 
their order, they haled me out, and lifted me upon one of the sheriff’s 
horses. When I was on horseback in the street, the town’s people being 
gathered to gaze upcn me, I told the officers, I had received neither 


— a 


ee Eee 


EEE 


| 1665] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 392 


Christianity, civility, nor humanity from them. They hurried me away 
about fourteen miles to Bentham, though I was so very weak that I was 
hardly able to sit on horseback, and my clothes smelt so of smoke they 
were loathsome to myself. The wicked gaoler, one Hunter, a young 
fellow, would come behind and give the horse a lash with his whip, and 
make him skip and leap; so that I, being weak, had much ado to sit on 
him; then he would come and look me in the face, and say, ‘ How do 
‘you, Mr. Fox? I told him, ‘It was not civil in him todosc The 
Lord cut him off soon after. 
When we were come to Bentham in Yorkshire, there met us many 
_ troopers and a marshal; and many of the gentry of the country were 
- come in, and abundance of people to take a view of me. I being very 
_ weak and weary, desired them to let me lie down on a bed, which the 
soldiers permitted; for those that brought me thither gave their order to 
the marshal, and he set a guard of his soldiers upon me. When they 
had staid awhile, they pressed horses, raised the bailiff of the hundred, 
the constables, and others, and had me to Giggleswick that night; but 
exceeding weak I was. There they raised the constables with their 
clog-shoes, who sat drinking all the night in the room by me, so that I 
could not get much rest. The next day we came to a market-town, 
where several friends came to see me. Robert Widders and divers 
friends came to me upon the road. The next night I asked the soldiers, 
‘Whither they intended to carry me, and whither I was to be sent?’ 
Some of them said, ‘ Beyond sea,’ others said, ‘To Tinmouth-castle.’ 
And a great fear there was amongst them, lest some should rescue me 
‘+ out of their hands; but that fear was needless. Next night we came to 
York, where the marshal put me up into a great chamber, where there 
came most part of two troops to see me. One of those troopers, an 
envious man, hearing I was premunired, asked me, ‘ What estate I had, 
‘and whether it was copy-hold or free-land? I took no notice of his 
question, but was moved to declare the word of life to the soldiers, and 
many of them were very loving. At night lord Frecheville, who com- 
manded those horse, came to me, and was very civil and loving. I gave 
him an account of my imprisonment, and declared many things to him 
relating to truth. They kept me at York two days, then the marshal 
and four or five soldiers were sent to convey me to Scarborough castle. 
Indeed these were very civil men, and carried themselves civiliy and 
lovingly to me. On the way we baited at Malton, and they permitted 
friends to come and visit me. When we were come to Scarborough, 
they had me to an inn, and gave notice to the governor, who sent half 
a dozen soldiers to be my guard that night. Next day they conducted 
me to the castle, put me into a room, and set a sentry on me. I being 
very weak, and subject to fainting, they for awhile let me go out some- 
times into the air with a sentry. They soon removed me out of this 
room and put me into an open room, where the rain came ia: and the 
room smoked exceedingly, which was very offensive to me. One day 
the governor, who was called Sir Jordan Crosland, came to see me, and 
brought with him one called Sir Francis Cobb. I desired the governor 
_ te go into my room, and see what a place I had. I had got a little fire 
nade in it, and the room was so filled with smoke, that when they were 
“i they could hardly find their way out again. He being a Papist, J told 
him that was his purgatory which they had put me into. I was forced 
to lay out about fifty shillings to stor out the rain, and keep the room 
SS 9 ee . 


394 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [6 


from smoking so mich. When I had been at that charge, and made i 
somewhat tolerable, they removed me into a worse, where | had neither 
chimney nor fire-hearth. This being to the sea-side, and lying much 
open, the wind drove in the rain forcibly, so that the water came over 
my bed, and ran about the room, that I was fain to skim it up with a 
platter. And when my clothes were wet, I had no fire to dry them; so 
my body was numbed with cold, and my fingers swelled, that one was 
grown as big as two. Though I was at some > charge on this room also 
yet I could not keep out the wind and rain. Besides they would suffer 
few friends to come at me, and many times not any, not so much as to” 
bring me a little food; but I was forced for the-first quarter, to hire one 
of another society to_bring me necéssaries, Sometimes the soldiers 
would take it from her, and she would scuffle with them for it. After- 
wards | hired a soldier to fetch me water and bread, and something to 
make a fire of, when I was in a room where a fire could be made. Com- 
monly a three-penny loaf served me three weeks, and sometimes longer, 
and most of my drink was water, with wormwood steeped or bruised in 
it. One time, when the weather was very sharp, and I had taken a great 
cold, I got a little elecampane-beer; and I heard one of the soldiers say 
to the other, ‘ They would play me a pretty trick, for they would send 
‘for me up to the deputy-governor, and in the mean time drink my strong 
‘beer out; and so they did. When I returned, one of the soldiers came 
to me in a jeer, and asked me for some strong beer. I told him, They 
had played their pretty trick, and took no farther notice of it. But imas- 
much as they kept me so very strait, not giving liberty to friends to come 
to me, I spoke to the keepers of the castle to this effect: ‘I did not know 
‘ till | was removed from Lancaster castle, and brought prisoner to this 
‘castle of Scarborough, that I was convicted of a premunire; for th 
‘judge did not give sentence upon me at the assizes in open court. But 
‘seeing I am now a prisoner here, if I may not have my liberty, let my 
‘friends and acquaintance have their liberty to come and visit me, as 
‘ Paul’s friends had among the Romans, who were not Christians but 
‘Heathens. For Paul's friends had their liberty; all that would might 
come to him, and he had his liberty to preach to them in his hired 
‘house; but I cannot have liberty to go into the town, nor for my friends 
‘to come to me here. So you, that go under the name of Christians, are 
‘ worse in this respect than those Heathens were.’ 
But though they would not let friends come to me, they would often 
bring others, either to gaze upon me or to contend with me. 
One time came a great company of Papists to discourse with me, who 
affirmed, ‘The pope was infallible, and had stood infallible ever since 
‘ Peter’s time.’ I shewed them the contrary by history: ‘ For one of t 
‘bishops of Rome, Marcellinus by name, denied the faith, and sacrificed 
to idols; therefore he was not infallible. I told them, if they were in 
the Infallible Spirit, they need not have gaols, swords, staves, racks, 
tortures, fires, whips, and gallows, to hold up their religion by, and to 
‘destroy men’s lives about religion ; for if they were in the Infalli 
Spirit, they would preserve men’s lives, and use none but spiritual wea. 
‘pons about religion. I told them also what one that had been of their 
‘society told me. A woman lived in Kent, who had not only heen 
‘ Papist herself, but had brought over several to that religion; but com 
ing to be convinced of God’s truth, and being turned by it to Christ, h 
Saviour, she exhorted the Papists to the same. One of them, a tay] 


1665] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 393 
being at work at her house, while she opened to him the falseness of the 


_ * Popish religion, and endeavoured to draw him from it to the truth, diew 
_ *his knife, and got between her and the door. But she spoke boldly to 


ce 


‘him, and bid him put up his knife, for she knew his principle. I asked 
‘the woman, What she thought he would have done with his knife? She 
‘said, “ He would have stabbed her.” “Stab thee!” said I, “ What 
“ would he have stabbed thee for? thy religion?” “Yes,” said she, “It 
“is the principle of the Papists, if any turn from their religion, to kill 

them if they can.” This story I told those Papists, and that I had it 
‘from a person who had been one of them, but had forsook their princi- 
‘ples, and discovered their practices. They did not deny this to be their 
‘principle, but said, What! would I declare this: abroad? I told them, 
‘ Yes, such things ought to be declared abroad, that it might be known 
‘how contrary their religion was to true Christianity ;) whereupon they 
went away in a great rage. 

Another Papist came to discourse with me, who said, ‘ All the patri- 

archs were in hell from the creation till Christ came, and that when 
€ Christ suffered he went into hell, and the devil said to him, What com- 
‘est thou hither for, to break open our strong holds?) And Christ said, 
‘To fetch them all out. So,’ he said, ‘ Christ was three days and three 
‘nights in hell to bring them out.’ I told him, that was false; for Christ 
“ said to the thief, “ This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.” ‘And 
Enoch and Elijah were translated into heaven. And Abraham was in 
heaven: for the scripture saith, ‘ Lazarus was in his bosom; and Moses 
‘and Elias were with Christ upon the mount before he suffered.’ These 
instances stopped the Papist’s mouth, and put him to a stand. 

Another time came Dr. Witty, who was esteemed a great doctor in 
physick, with lord Falconbridge, the governor of Tinmouth-castle, and 
several knights. I being called to them, Witty undertook to discourse 
with me, and asked me, ‘ What I was in prison for? I told him, ‘ Be- 


- eause I would not disobey the command of Christ, and swear.’ He 


said, ‘I ought to swear my allegiance to the king.’ He being a great 
Presbyterian, | asked him, ‘ Whether he had not sworn against the king 
‘and house of lords, and taken the Scotch covenant? And had he not 
‘since sworn to the king? What then was his swearing good for? But 
‘my allegiance,’ I told him, ‘did not consist in swearing, but in truth ana 
‘faithfulness.’ After some further discourse, I was had away to my 
prison again; and afterwards Dr. Witty boasted in the town amongst his 
patients, that he had conquered me. When I heard of it, I told the gov- 
ernor, ‘It was a small boast in him to say, He had conquered a bond- 
‘man.’ I desired to bid him come to me again, when he came to the 
castle. He came again awhile after, with about sixteen or seventeen 
great persons, and then he ran himself worse on ground than before. 
For he affirmed before them all, ‘ That Christ had not enlightened every 

man that cometh into the world; and ‘that the grace of God, that 
*bronght salvation, had not appeared unto all men,’ and ‘ that Christ had 

not died for all men.’ I asked him, what sort of men those were which 


__Christ had not enlightened? and whom his grace had not appeared to? 
| and whom he had not died for? He said, ‘Christ did not die for adulter- 


ers, and idolaters, and wicked men.’ J asked him, ‘ Whether adulterers 
and wicked men were not sinners?’ He said, ‘ Yes.’ ‘Did not Christ 
die for sinners?’ said J. ‘Did he not come to call sinners to repent- 


»ance” ‘Yes,’ said he. ‘Then,’ said I, ‘thou hast stopped thy own 


296 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1665 


‘mouth.’ So I proved, that the grace of God had appeared unto all 
‘men, though some turned from it into wantonness, and walked despite- 
fully against it; and that Christ had enlightened all men, though some 
hated the light. Several of the people confessed it was true; but he 
went away in a great rage, and came no more to me. 

Another time the governor brought a priest; but his mouth was soon 
stopped. Not long after he brought two or three parliament-men, who 


asked me, ‘ Whether I did own ministers and bishops?’ I told them, ‘ Yes, 


‘such as Christ sent, such as had freely received, and would freely give, 
‘such as were qualified, and were in the same power and spirit the apos- 


_ ‘tles were in. But such bishops and teachers as theirs, that would go ~ 


‘no farther than a great benefice, I did not own; for they were not like — 


‘the apostles. Christ saith to his ministers, “Go ye into all nations, and 

“preach the gospel ;” but ye parliament-men, who keep your priests and 

‘bishops in such great fat benefices, have spoiled them all. For do ye 
think they will go into all nations to preach? or will go any farther 
than a great fat benefice? Judge yourselves whether they will or no.’ 


There came another time the widow of old lord Fairfax, and © 


with her a great company; one of whom was a priest. I was moved 
to declare the truth to them, and the priest asked me, ‘Why we said 
‘Thou and Thee to people? for he counted us but fools and idiots for 
‘speaking so.’ I asked him, ‘Whether those that translated the scrip- 
‘tures, and made the grammar and accidence, were fools and idiots, see- 
‘ing they translated the scriptures so, and made the grammar so, Thou 
‘to one, and You to more than one, and left it soto us? If they were 
‘fools and idiots, why had not he and such as he, who looked upon them- 
‘selves as wise men, and could not bear Thou and Thee to a singular, 
‘altered the grammar, accidence, and bible, and put the plural instead 
‘of the singular? But if they were wise men, that so translated the bible, 
‘and made the grammar and accidence so, I wished him to consider, 
‘whether they were not fools and idiots themselves, that did not speak as 
‘their grammars and bibles taught them ; but were offended with us, and 
‘called us fools and idiots for speaking so?’ Thus the priest’s mouth was 
stopped, many of the company acknowledged the truth, and were pretty 
loving and tender. Some would have given me money, but I would not 
receive it. 

After this came Dr. Cradock, with three priests more, and the gover- 
nor with his lady (so called) and another that was called a lady, with a 
great company. Dr. Cradock asked me, ‘ What I was in prison for?’ I 
told him, ‘ For obeying the command of Christ and the apostle, in not 
‘swearing. But if he, being both a doctor and a justice, could convince me, 
‘that after Christ and the apostle had forbid swearing, they commanded 

Christians to swear, then I would swear. Here was the bible, I told 
him, he might if he could shew me any such command.’ He said, ‘It 
is written, ye shall swear in truth and righteousness.’ ‘ Aye,’ said I 
‘it was written so in Jeremiah’s time; but that was many ages before 
» Christ commanded not to swear at all; but where is it written so since 
Christ forbad all swearing? I could bring as many instances out of the 
Old Testament for-swearing as thou, and it may be more; but of wha 
force are they to prove swearing lawful in the New Testament, since 
Christ and the apostle forbad it? Besides,’ said I, ‘in that text where i 
is written, “ Ye shall swear,” what [Ye] was this? Was it Ye Gentiles, 
ar Ye Jews ” To this he would not answer; but one of the priests that 


a 


665] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 397 


were with him answered, ‘It was to the Jews that this was spuken.’ 
Then Dr. Cradock confessed it was so. ‘ Very well,’ said I, ‘but where 
/*did God ever give a command to the Gentiles to swear? For thou 
»*knowest that we are Gentiles by nature.’ ‘Indeed,’ said he, ‘in the 
_‘ gospel-times every thing was to be established out of the mouths of two 
‘or three witnesses ; but there was to be no swearing then.’ ‘ Why then’ 
said I, ‘dost thou force oaths upon Christians, contrary to thy own 
‘knowledge, in the gospel-times? And why,’ said I, ‘dost thou excom- 
‘municate my friends” for he had excommunicated abundance both in 
Yorkshire and Lancashire. He said, ‘For not coming to church.’ 
‘Why,’ said I, ‘ ve left us above twenty years ago, when we were but 
young lads and lasses, to the Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists, 
*many of whom made spoil of our goods, and persecuted us because we 
‘would not follow them. We being but young, knew little then of your 
‘principles, and the old men that did know them, if ye had intended to 
‘have kept them to you, and have kept your principles alive, that we 
‘might have known them, ye should either not have fled from us as ye 
‘did, or ye should have sent us your epistles, collects, homilies, and even- 
‘ing songs; for Paul wrote epistles to the saints, though he was in prison. 
‘But they and we might have turned Turks or Jews for any collects, 
‘homilies, or epistles we had from you all this while. And now thou 
‘hast excommunicated us, both young and old, and so have others of 
‘you done; that is, “ Ye have put us out of your church, before ye have 
“ got us into it,” and before ye have brought us to know your principles. 
‘Is not this madness in you, to put us out before we were brought in? 
‘Indeed, if ye had brought us into your church, and when we had been 
_ ‘in, if we had done some bad thing, that had been something like a 
ground for excommunication or putting out again. But,’ said I, ‘ What 
‘dost thou call the church” ‘ Why,’ said he, ‘that which you call the 
‘ steeple-house.’ Then I asked him, ‘ Whether Christ shed his blood for 
‘the steeple-house? and purchased and sanctified the steeple-house with 
his blood? And seeing the church is Christ’s bride and wife, and that he 
‘is the head of the church, dost thou think the steeple-house is Christ’s 
“ wife and bride, and that he is the head of that old house, or of his peo- 
‘ple” ‘No,’ said he, ‘Christ is the head of his people, and they are the 
church.’ ‘ But,’ said I, ‘ you have given the title church to an old house, 
which belongs to the people; and you have taught them to believe so.’ 
Il asked him also, ‘ Why he persecuted friends for not paying tythes? And 
whether God ever commanded the Gentiles to pay tythes? And whether 
Christ had not ended tythes when he ended the Levitical priesthood that 
took tythes? And whether Christ, when he sent his disciples to preach, 
had not commanded them to preach freely as he had given them freely? 
And whether all the ministers of Christ are not bound to observe this 
command of Christ” He said, ‘He would not dispute that.’ Neither 
did I find he was willing to stay on that subject; for he presently turned 
to another matter, and said, ‘ You marry, but I know not how.’ I rephi- 
ed, ‘It may be so: but why dost thou not come and see!’ Then he 
threatened that he would use his power against us, as he had done.’ 1 
pid him, ‘Take heed; for he was an old man.’ I asked him also 
Where he read, from Genesis to Revelations, that ever any priest did 
marry any? I wished him to shew me some instance thereof, if he 
would have us come to them to be married; for, said I, thou hast ex- 
ecommunicated one of my friends two years after he was dead about 


398 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 


his me rriage. And why dost thou not excommunicate Isaac, and Jacob, 
and. Boaz, and Ruth? For we do not read they were ever married b 
the priests; but they took one another in the assemblies of the right- 
eous, in the presence of God and his people; and so do we. So that 
we have all the holy men and women, that the scripture speaks of in 
this practice, on our side.’ Much discourse we had; but when he 
fund he could get no advantage on me, he went away with his com- 
any. 
; With such people I was much exercised while I was there; for most 
that came to the castle would desire to speak with me, and great dis 
utes I had with them. But as to friends, | was as a man buried alive; 
or though many came far to see me, few were suffered to come at me; 
and when any friend came into the castle about business, if he looked but 
towards me, they would rage at him. At last the governor came under 
trouble himself; for having sent out a privateer to sea, they took some 
ships that were not enemies’ ships, but their friends; whereupon he was 
bronght into trouble; after which he grew soriene tell more friendly +N 
me. For before I had a marshal set over me, on purpose to get money 
out of me; but I was not to give him a farthing; and when they found 
they could get nothing from me, he was taken off again. The officers 
often threatened me, that I should be hanged over the wall. Nay, the 
deputy-governor told me once, that the king, knowing I had great inter- 
est in the people, had sent me thither ; that if there should be any stirring: 
in the nation, they should hang me over the wall to keep the people down. 
There being awhile after a marriage at a Papist’s house, upon which oc- 
casion a great many of them were met together, they talked much then 
of hanging me. But I told them, ‘ If that was what they desired, and it 
‘ was permitted them, I was ready; for I never feared death nor sufler- 
ings in my life; but Iwas known to be an innocent, peaceable man, free 
‘ from. all stirrings and plottings, and one that sought the good of all. 
‘men.’ Afterwards, the governor growing kinder, I “spoke to him, when. 
he was to go to London ‘to the parliament, and desired him to speak to. 
‘squire Marsh, Sir Francis Cobb, and some others; and let them know 
how long I had lain in prison, and for what: which he did. When he 
came ae again, he told me, ’squire Marsh said, ‘He would go an 
hundred miles barefoot for my liberty, he knew me so well;’ and seve- 
ral others, he said, spoke well of me. From which time the governor 
was very loving to me. 

There were amongst the prisoners two very bad men, who often sat. 
drinking with the officers and soldiers ; and because I would not sit and 
drink with them, it made them the worse against me. One time, when 
these two prisoners were drunk, one of them (whose name was William 
Wilkinson, a Presbyterian, who had been a captain) came and chal- 
lenged me to fight with him. I seeing what condition he was in, got out 
of ree way; and next morning, when he was more sober, shewed him, 

How unmanly a thing it was in him to challenge a man to fight, whose 
principle, he knew it, was not to strike; but if “he was stricken on one 
ear, to turn the other. I told him, if iid had a mind to fight, he should 
nave challenged some of the soldiers, that could have answered him i in 
‘nis own way. But however, seeing he had challenged me, I was now 

come to answer him, with my hands in my pockets: ~and reaching my 

nead fowards him, Here, said I, here is my hair, here are my cheeks | 
here 1s my back.’ With that he skipped away from me, and went inta 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 399 


another room; at which the soldiers fell a laughing; and one of the offi 
ers said, ‘ You are a happy man that can bear such things.’ Thus h 
was conquered without a blow. After awhile he took the oath, gay 
bond, got out of prison; and not long after the Lord cut him off. 
There were great imprisonments in this and the former years, while [ 
_ was prisoner at Lancaster and Scarborough. At London many friends 
were crowded into Newgate, and other prisons, where the sickness was, 
and many died in prison. Many also were banished, and several sent 
on ship-board by the king’s order. Some masters of ships would not 
carry them, but set them on shore again; yet some were sent to Barba- 
does, Jamaica, and Mevis, and the Lord blessed them there. One mas-’ 
“ter of a ship was very wicked and cruel to friends that were put on 
board his ship; for he kept them down under decks, though the sickness 
Was amongst them; so that many died of it. But the Lord visited him 
_ for his wickedness ; for he lost most of his seamen by the plague, and lay 
_ several months crossed with contrary winds, though other ships went out, 
and made their voyages. At last he came before Plymouth, where th 
- governor and magistrates would not suffer him nor any of his men t 
come ashore, though he wanted necessaries for his voyage; but Thomas 
_ Lower, Arthur Cotton, John Light, and other friends went to the ship’s 
_ side, and carried necessaries fer the friends that were prisoners on board. 
The master, being thus crossed and vexed, cursed them that put him 
upon this freight; and said, ‘ He hoped he should not go far before he 
‘was taken.’ And the vessel was but a little while gone out of *sight of 
Plymouth, before she was taken by a Dutch man of war, and carried 
into Holland. When they came into Holland, the States sent the ban- 
ished friends back to England, with a letter of passport, and a certifi- 
cate, ‘ That they had not made an escape, but were sent back by them.’ 
Tn time the Lord’s power wrought over this storm, and many of our per- 
_secutors were confounded and put to shame. 
__ After I had lain prisoner above a year in Scarborough castle, I sent a 
letter to the king, in which I gave him ‘ an account of my imprisonment, 
_‘and the bad usage I had received in prison; and also that ] was inform- 
ed no man could deliver me but he.’ After this, John Whitehead being 
at London, and having acquaintance also with ’squire Marsh, he went to 
visit him, and spoke to him about me; and he undertook, if John White- 
head would get the state of my case drawn up, to deliver it to the mas- 
ter of requests, Sir John Birkenhead, who would endeavour to get a re- 
Tease for me. So John Whitehead and Ellis Hookes drew up a relation 
of my imprisonment and sufferings, and carried it to Marsh; and he went 
“with it to the master of requests, who procured an order from the king 
‘for my release. The substance of the order was, ‘ That the king being 
‘certainly informed that I was a man principled against plotting and 
fighting, and had been ready at all times to discover plots, rather than 
*to make any, &c. therefore his royal! pleasure was, that I should be dis- 
charged from my imprisonment,’ &c. As soon as this order was ob- 
‘tained, John Whitehead came to Scarborough with it, and delivered it to 
the governor; who, upon receipt thereof, gathered the officers together, 
and, without requiring bond or sureties for my peaceable living, being 
‘Satisfied that | was a man of a peaceable life, he discharged me freely, 
ind gave me the following passport: 


_ Permit the bearer hereof, George Fox, late a prisoner here, ard now 


~ 


400 GEORGE FOX S JOURNAL. [le6e 


a 
: - 2 : x j 
‘discharged by his majesty’s order, quietly to pass about his lawful oc- 
‘casions, without any molestation. Given under my hand at Scarbo- 


‘ rough-castle, this first day of September, 1666. . 


‘JORDAN CROSLANDS, 
‘ Governor of Scarborough-castle.’ 


After I was released, I would have made the governor a present for 
the civility and kindness he had of late shewed me; but he would not re- 
ceive any thing; saying, ‘ Whatever good he could do for me and my 
‘friends, he would do it, and never do them any hurt.’ And afterwards, 
if at any time the mayor of the town sent to him for soldiers to break up” 
friends’ meetings, if he sent any down, he would privately give them a 
charge, ‘ Not to meddle.’ He continued loving to his dying-day. The 
officers also and the soldiers were mightily changed, and become very 
respectful to me. When they had occasion to speak of me, they would 
say, ‘ He is as stiff as a tree, and as pure as a bell; for we could never 


'©bow him.’ . 


The very next day after my release, the fire broke out in London; 
and the report of it-came quickly down into the country. Then I saw 
the Lord God was true and just in his word, which he had shewed me - 
before in Lancaster gaol, when I saw the angel of the Lord with a glit- 
tering drawn sword southward, as before expressed. The people of 
London were forewarned of this fire: yet few laid it to heart, or believed 
it; but rather grew more wicked, and higher in pride. A friend wail 
moved to come out of Huntingdonshire a little before the fire, and te 
scatter his money up and down the streets, turn his horse loose, untie 
the knees of his breeches, and let his stockings fall down, and to unbut- 
ton his doublet, and tell the people, ‘So should they run up and down, 
‘scattering their money and goods, half undressed, like mad people, as 
‘he was a sign to them;’ which they did when the city was burning. 
Thus hath the Lord exercised his prophets and servants by his power, 
shewed them signs of his judgments, and sent them to forewarn the peo- 
ple; but instead of repenting, they have beaten and cruelly entreated 
some; and some they have imprisoned, both in the former power’s days, 
and since. But the Lord is just; and happy are they that obey his word. 
Some have been moved to go naked in their streets, in the other power’s 
days, and since, as signs of their nakedness; and have declared amongst 
them, ‘ That God would strip them of their hypocritical professions, and 
‘make them as bare and naked as they were.’ But, instead of con- 
sidering it, they have frequently whipped, or otherwise abused them, 
and sometimes imprisoned them. Others have been moved to go in 
sackcloth, and to denounce the woes and vengeance of God against the 
pride and haughtiness of the people; but few regarded it. And in the 
other power’s days, the wicked, envious, professing priests put up seve- 
ral petitions both to Oliver and Richard, called protectors, and to the 
parliaments, judges, and justices against us, stuffed full of lies, and vilify- 
ing words and slanders; but we got copies of them, and through the 
Lord’s assistance answered them all, and cleared the Lord’s truth and 
ourselves of them. But oh! the body of darkness that rose against the 
truth, in them that made lies their refuge! But the Lord swept them 
away; and in and with his power, truth, light, and life hedged his lambs 
about, and preserved them as on eagles’ wings. Therefore we all had 
and have great encouragement to trust the Lord, who, we saw, by hi 


1666] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 401 


- power and Spirit, overturned and brought to nought all the « nfedera- 
cies and counsels that were hatched in darkness against his tcuth and 
_ people; and by the same truth gave his people dominion, that therein 
they might serve him. 

Indeed, ] could not but take notice how the hand of the Lord turned 
against those my persecutors who had been the cause of my imprison- 
ment, or had been abusive or cruel to me under it. For the officer thet 
fetched me to Houlkerhall wasted his estate, and soon after fled into Ire- 
land. And most of the justices that were upon the bench at the sessions 
when was sent to prison died in awhile after; as old Thomas Preston, 


| Rawlinson, Porter, and Matthew West of Borwick. And justice Flem- 


ing’s wife died, and left him thirteen or fourteen motherless children; 
who had imprisoned two friends to death, and thereby made several 
children fatherless. Colonel Kirby never prospered after. The chief 
constable, Richard Dodgson, died soon after; and Mount, the petty con- 
stable, and the wife of John Ashburnham the other petty constable, who 
railed at me in her house, died soon after. William Knipe, the witness 
they brought against me, died soon after. Hunter, the gaoler of Lan- 
caster, who was very wicked to me while I was his prisoner, was cut 
off in his young days. The under-sheriff, that carried me from Lancas- 
ter prison towards Scarborough, lived not long after. And Joblin, the 
gaoler of Durham, who was prisoner with me in Scarborough castle, 
and had often incensed the governor and soldiers against me, though he 
got out of prison, the Lord cut him off in his wickedness soon after. 
When I came into that country again, most of those that dwelt in Lan- 
cashire were dead, and others ruined in their estates: so that, though 1 
did not seek revenge upon them, for their actings against me contrary 
to the law, yet the Lord had executed his judgments upon many eo ‘hem. 

Being now at liberty, I went about three miles to a large generai 
meeting at a friend’s house, who had been a chief constable; and all was 
quiet and well. On fourth-day after I returned to Scarborough, and had 
a meeting in the town at Peter Hodgson’s. To this meeting came one 
called’a lady, and several other great persons; also a young man, son 
to the bailiff of the town, who had been convinced while I was there in 
prison. That lady (so called) came to me, and said, ‘I spoke against 
‘the ministers.’ 1 told her, ‘Such as the prophets and Christ declared 
‘against formerly, I declared against now.’ . 

From hence I went to Whitby: and, having visited friends there, 
passed to Burlington, where I had another meeting. From thence to 
Oram, where I had another meeting; and thence to Marmaduke Storr’s, 
and had a large meeting at a constable’s house, on whom the Lord had 
wrought a great miracle. 

Next day two friends being to take each other in marriage, there was 
a very great meeting, which J attended. J was moved to open the state 
of our marriages, declaring, ‘ How the people of God took one another 
‘in the assemblies of the elders; and that it was God who joined man 
‘and woman together before the fall. And though men had taken upon 
‘them to join in the fall, yet in the restoration it is God’s joining that is 
‘the right and honourable marriage; but never any priest did marry 

‘any, that we read of in the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelations.’ 

Then I shewed tnem the duty of man and wife, how they should serve 
_ God, being heirs of life and grace together. 

I passed from thence to Grace Barwick’s, where I had a genera 
3A 


102 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 


meeting, which was very large. I came next to Richard Shipton’ 
where | had another meeting; and to a priest’s house, whose w.fe was 
convinced, and himself grown very loving, and glad to see me. This 
was that priest, who, in the year 1651, threatened, ‘If ever he met wi 
me again, he would have my life, or I should have his;’ and said, *‘ Hi 
would lose his head if I were not knocked down in a month; but now 
he was partly convinced, and become very kind. 1 went from his house 
towards the sea, where several friends came to visit me: amongst 
others, Philip Scarff, who had formerly been a priest, but, having re- 
ceived the truth, was now become a preacher of Christ freely, and con- 
tinued so. Passing on, I called to see an ancient man, who was con- 
vinced of truth, and was above an hundred years old. Then I came to 
a friend’s house, where I had a great meeting, and quiet. I had a great 
meeting near Malton; and another large one near Hull: from whence 
I went to Holdendike. As we went into the town, the watchmen ques- 
tioned me and those that were with me; but they not having any war- 
rant to stay us, we passed by them, and they in a rage threatened they 
would search us out. I went. to the house of one called the lady Mon- 
tague, where I lodged that night; and several friends came to visit me. 
Next morning, being up betimes, I walked into the orchard, and saw'a. 
man about sun-rising go into the house in a great cloak. He staid not 
long; but soon came out again, and went away, not seeing me. I felt. 
something strike at my life; and went into the house, where I found the 
maid-servant affrighted and trembling. She told me, ‘ That man had a 
naked rapier under his cloak.’ By which I perceived he came with ar 
tent to have done mischief; but the Lord prevented him. } 
I then visited friends till I came to York, where we had a large meet- 
ing. After which I went to visit justice Robinson, an ancient justice of © 
peace; who had been very loving to me and friends from the beginning. 
There was a priest with him; who told me, ‘ It was said, that we loved 
‘none but ourselves.’ I told him, ‘ We loved all mankind as they were 
‘God’s creation, and as they were children of Adam and Eve by gene- 
‘ration; and we loved the brotherhood in the Holy Ghost.’> This stop- 
ped him. After some other discourse, we partly friendly, and passed 
away. 
About this time I wrote a book, intituled, ‘ Fear God, and honour the 
. king?’ in which I shewed, ‘ That none could rightly fear God, and hon- 
our the king, but they that departed from sin and evil?’ This book did 
- much affect the soldiers and most people. 1 
Having visited friends at York, we passed to a market town, <a 


we had a meeting at George Watkinson’s, who formerly had been a jus- 
tice. A glorious, blessed meeting it was, very large, and the seed of lite 
was set over all. But we had been troubled to get into this town, had 
not Providence made way for us; for the watchmen stood ready to stop 
1s: but there being a man riding just before us, the watchmen question= 
ed him first; and perceiving he was a justice, let him pass; and we 
riding close after him, by that means escaped. 

From this place we passed to Thomas Taylor’s, who had formerly 
heen a captain, where we had a precious meeting. Hard by Thoma 
Taylor’s lived a knight, who was much displeased when he heard I was 
like to be released out of prison; and threatened, ‘if the king set me at 

liberty, he would send me to prison again the next day.’ But though 
I had this meeting sc near him, the Lord’s power stopped him from 


iy 
= GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 403 
_ meddling, and our meeting was quiet. Colonel Kirby also, who lad been 
the chief means of my imprisonment at Lancaster and Scarborough cas 
_tles, when he heard | was set at liberty, got another order for the taking 
me up; and said, ‘ He would ride his horse forty miles to take me, and 
‘would give forty pounds to have me taken.’ Awhile after I came so 
near as to have a meeting within two miles of him: and then he was 
struck with the gout, and kept his bed, so that it was thought he would 
have died. 

From Thomas Taylor’s I visited friends till I came to Synderhill- 
Green, where I had a large and general meeting. The priest of the 
place, hearing of it, sent the constable to the justices for a warrant; and 
they rode their horses so hard, they almost spoiled them: but the notice 
they had being short, and the way long, the meeting was ended before 
they came. I heard not of them till I was going out of the house, after 
meeting was over; and then a friend came and told me, ‘ They were 
- ‘searching another house for me, the house I was then going to. As | 

went along the closes towards it, I met the constables, wardens, and the 
justice’s clerk. I passed through them, they looking at me, and went to 
the house they had been searching. Thus they lost their design; foi 
the Lord’s power bound them, and preserved me over them; and friends 
parted, and all escaped them. The officers went away as they came; 
for the Lord had frustrated their design ; praised be his name for ever! 

After this I went into Derbyshire, where I had a large meeting. 
Some friends were apprehensive of the constable’s coming; for they 
had great persecution in th‘se parts: but our meeting was quiet. A 
justice of peace in that county had taken away much of friends’ goods : 
whereupon Ellen Fretwell had made her appeal to the sessions, and the 

rest of the justices granted her her goods again, and spoke to that per- 
secuting justice, that he should not do so any more. She was moved 
to speak to that justice, and to warn him; whereupon he bid her, 
‘Come and sit-down on the bench.’ ‘ Aye,’ said she, ‘if I may persuade 
‘you to do justice to the country, I will sit down with you.’ ‘No,’ 
said he, ‘ then you shall not. Get out of the court.’ As she was going, 
shé was moved of the Lord to turn again, and say, ‘She should be there 
‘when he should not.’ After the sessions, he went home and drove 
away her brother’s oxen, for going to meetings. Then Susan Frith, a 
friend of Chesterfield, was moved of the Lord to tell him, ‘If he con- 
‘tinued in his persecuting of the innocent, the Lord would execute his 
‘plagues upon him.’ Soon after which he fell distracted, and died. This 
relation I had from Ellen Fretwell herself. 

I travelled out of Derbyshire into Nottinghamshire, and had a large 
meeting at Skegby; from thence went to Mansfield, where also I had a 
‘meeting ; and thence to another town, where was a fair, at which I met 
with many friends. Then passing through the forest in a mighty thun- 
dering ad rainy day, I came to Nottingham. So great was the tem- 
pest, that many trees were torn up by the roots, and some people killed : 

_ but the Lord preserved us. On first-day following I had a large meet- 
ing in Nottingham, very quiet; friends were come to sit under their 
teacher the grace of God, which brought them salvation, and were es- 
tablished upon the rock and foundation Christ Jesus. Arter meeting 
_[ went to visit the friend who had been sheriff about the year 1649, 
whose prisoner I then was. 

_ From Nottingham I passed into Leicestershire, and came to Syleby 


| 
| 
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6 


104 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1666 
where we had a large blessed meeting. After which I wert to Leices- 
ter to visit the prisoners there, and then to John Penford’s, where we : 
had a general meeting, large and precious. From thence I passed, visit- 
ing friends and my relations, till I came to Warwick; where having 
visited the prisoners, I passed to Badgley, and had a precious meeting 

I travelled through Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, - 
and Oxfordshire, visiting friends in each county. In Oxfordshire the 
dev had laid a snare for me, but the Lord broke it; his power came 
over all, his blessed truth spread, and friends were increased therein. Thus 
after I had passed through many counties, visiting friends, and had many 
large and precious meetings amongst them, I came to London. But 
I was so weak with lying almost three years in cruel and hard impris- | 
onments, ‘my joints and my body were so stiff and benumbed, that | 
could hardly get upon my horse, nor bend my joints, nor well bear to 
be near the fire, or to eat warm meat, I had been kept so long from it. 
Being come to London, I walked a little among the ruins, and took 
good notice of them. I saw the city lying, according as the word of — : 
the Lord came to me concerning it several years before. 

After I had been a time in London, and visited meetings through the 
city, I went into the country again, and had large meetings as 1 went, at 
Kingston, Reading, and in Wiltshire, till 1 came to Bristol; where also” : 
I had many large “meetings. Thomas Lower came out of Cornwall to 
meet me, and friends from several parts of the nation, it being then the 
fair-time. After I was clear of Bristol, 1 went to Nath. Crips’s, and 
through the country to London again, having large meetings in the way, . 
and all quiet, blessed be the Lord. Thus, though I was very weak, I 
travelled up and down in the service of the Lord, who enabled me to go | 
through in it. 

About this time, some who had run out from truth and clashed 
against friends, were reached unto by the power of the Lord, which 
came wonderfully over, and made them ‘condemn and tear their papers 
‘of controversy to pieces.’ Several meetings we had with them, the 
Lord’s everlasting power was over all, and set judgment on the head 
of that which had run out. In these meetings, which lasted whole days, 
several who had gone out with John Perrot and others came in again, 
and condemned that spirit which led them to ‘keep on their hats when 
‘friends prayed, and when themselves prayed.’ Some of them said, 
‘ Friends were more righteous than they;’ and that, ‘If friends had not 

stood they had been gone and had fallen into perdition.” Thus the 
Lord’s power was wonderfully manifested, and came over all. 

Then I was moved of the Lord to recommend the setting up of 
five monthly meetings of men and women in the city of London, besides 
the women’s meetings and the quarterly meetings, to take care of God's 
glory, and to admonish and exhort such as walked disorderly or care- 
‘essly, and not according to truth. For whereas friends had only quar- 
rly meetings, now truth was spread and friends grown more numer- 
ous, ] was ‘moved to recommend the setting up of monthly meetings 
throughout the nation. And the Lord opened to me what I must do, 
and how the men’s and women’s monthly and quarterly meetings shoule 
be ordered and established in this and other nations; and that I should 
write to those where I came not, to do the same. After things were 
well settled at London, and the Lord’s truth, power, seed, and life reign- 
ed and shined over all in the city, I went into Essex. After tne month 


. 666] GEORGE }OX’S JOURNAL. d 405 


ly meetings were settled in that county, I went into Suffolk and Norfolk, 
Thomas Dry being with me. When we had visited friends in those 
parts, and the monthly meetings were settled, we went into Hunting- 
donshire, where we had very large and blessed meetings; and though 
we met with some opposition, the Lord’s power came over all, and the 
monthly meetings were established there also. When we came into 
Bedfordshire, we had great opposition; but the Lord’s power came over 
it all. Afterwards we went into Nottinghamshire, where we had many 
precious meetings, and the monthly meetings were settled there. Then, 
passing into Lincolnshire, we had a meeting of some men friends of all 
the meetings in the county, at his house who had been formerly sheriff 
of Lincoln; and all was quiet. After this meeting we passed over 
Trent into Nottinghamshire, he that had been the sheriff of Lincoln be- 
ing with me, where we had some of all the meetings in that county to- 
gether. Our meeting was glorious and peaceable, and many precious 
meetings we had in that county. 

At that time William Smith was very weak and sick, and the con- 
stables and others had seized all his goods, to the very bed he lay upon, 
for truth’s sake. These officers threatened to break up our meeting ; 
but the Lord’s power chained them, so that they had not power to med- 
dle with us, blessed be his name. After the meeting I went to visit 
William Smith, and there were constables and others watching his corn 
and his beasts, that none of them might be removed. 

From thence we passed into Leicestershire and Warwickshire, where 
we had many blessed meetings. The order of the gospel was set up, 
and the men’s monthly meetings established in all those counties. Then 
we went into Derbyshire, where we had several large and blessed meet- 
ings. In many places we were threatened by the officers, but through 
the power of the Lord we escaped their hands. Leaving things well 
settled in Derbyshire, we travelled over the Peak-hills, which were very 
cold, for it was then frost and snow, and came into Staffordshire. At 
Thomas Hamersley’s we had a general men’s meeting; where things 
were well settled in the gospel order, and the monthly meetings establish- 
ed. I was so exceeding weak, I was hardly able to get on or off my 
horse’s back; but my spirit being earnestly engaged in the work the 
Lord had concerned me in and sent me forth about, I travelled on there- 
in, notwithstanding the weakness of my body, having confidence in the 
Lord, that he would carry me through, as he did by his power. We 
came into Cheshire, where we had several blessed meetings, and a gene- 
ral men’s meeting; wherein all the monthly meetings for that county 
were settled, according to the gospel order, in and by the power of 
God. After the meeting I passed away. But when the justices heard 
of it, they were very much troubled that they had not come and broke 
it up, and taken me; but the Lord prevented them. After I had cleared 
myself there in the Lord’s service, I passed into Lancashire, to William 
Barnes’s, near Warrington, where met some of most of the meetings 
in that county; and there all the monthly meetings were established in 
the gospel order. From thence I sent papers into Westmoreland by 
Leonard Fell and Robert Widders, and also into Bishoprick, Cleveland, 
Northumberland, Cumberland, and Scotland, to exhort friends to settle 
the monthly meetings in the Lord’s power in those places; which they 
did. So the Lord’s power came over all, and the heirs of it came te 
inherit it. For the authority of our meetings is the power of God, the 


206 ; GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1664 


gospel, which brings life and immortality to light; that all might see 
over the devil that darkened them, that all the heirs of the gospel night 


walk according to the gospel, and glorify God with their bodies, souls, 
and spirits, which are the Lord’s: for the order of the eg gospel 


.s not of man nor by man. To this meeting in Lancashire, Margaret 
Fell, being a prisoner, got liberty to come, and went with me from 
thence to Jane Milner’s in Cheshire, where we parted. 1 passed into 
Shropshire, and from thence into Wales, and had a large general men’s 


meeting at Charles Lloyd’s, where some opposers came in; but the 


Lord’s power brought them down. 
Having gone through Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire, we passed 


into Merionethshire, where we had several blessed meetings; and then — 


to the sea-side, where we had a precious meeting. We left Wales, the 
monthly meetings being settled there in the power of God, and returned 
into Shropshire, where the friends of the county gathering together, the 
monthly meetings were established there. Coming into Worcestershire, 
after many meetings amongst friends in that county, we had a general 
men’s meeting at Henry Gibs’s, at Pashur; where also the monthly 
meetings were settled in the gospel order. 

The sessions being held that day in the town, some friends were con- 


cerned lest they should send officers to break up our meeting; but the ~ 


power of the Lord restrained them, so that it was quiet; through which 
power we had dominion. I had several meetings amongst friends in that 
county, till 1 came to Worcester; and it being the fair-time, we had a 
precious meeting. There was then in Worcester one major Wild, a 
persecuting man ; and after I was gone some of his soldiers inquired 
after me; but having lefi the friends there settled in good order, we passed 
to Droitwich, and from thence to Shrewsbury, where also we had a very 
precious meeting. ‘The mayor, hearing I was in town, got the rest of 
ine officers together to consult what to do against me; for they said, 
‘The great Quaker of England is come to town.’ But when they were 
come together, the Lord confounded their councils, so that some were 
for imprisoning me, others opposed it; and being divided amongst them- 
selves, I escaped their hands. 

We went into Radnorshire, where we had many precious meetings, 
and the monthly meetings were settled in the Lord’s power. As we came 
out of that county, staying a little at a market-town, a justice’s clerk and 
other rude fellows combined together to do us a mischief upon the road. 
Accordingly they followed us out of town, and soon overtook us; but 
there being many market people on the way, they were somewhat hin- 
dered from doing what they intended. Yet observing two of our com 
pany ride at some distance behind, they set upon them two, and one of 
them drew his sword, and cut Richard Moor, the surgeon of Shrews- 
bury. Meanwhile another of these rude fellows-came galloping after 
me and the other friend with me; and we being to pass over a bridge, 
somewhat of the narrowest for him to pass by us, he, in hiseagerness to 
get before us, 10de into the brook, and plunged his horse into a deep hole 
in the water. I saw the design, stopped, and desired friends to be pa- 
tient, and give them no occasion. In this time came Richard Moor up 
to us, with the other friend, who knew the men and their names. Then 
we rode on, and a little furtlier met another man on foot, much in liquor, 


with a naked sword in his hand, and not far beyond him two men and — 


wo women, one of which men had his thumb cut off by the drunken 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 407 


nan; for being in drink he attempted rudeness to one of the women, and 
his man w.thsianding him, and rescuing her, he whipped out his sword 
and cut off his thumb. This mischievous man had a horse, that, being 
loose, followed him a pretty way behind. I rode after the horse, caught 
him, and brought him to the man who had his thumb cut off; and bid 
take the horse to the next justice of peace, by which means they 
might find out and pursue the man that had wounded him, 
_ Upon this cccasion I wrote a letter to the justices, and the judge of assize 
which was then at hand. I employed some friends to carry it to the jus- 
Bpces first. The justice, to whom the clerk belonged, rebuked him and 
_ the others also, for abusing us upon the highway; so that they were glad 
to come and intreat friends not to appear against them at the assize; 
_ which, upon their submission and acknowledgment, was granted. This 
_ was of good service in the country; for it stopped many rude people, 
_who had been forward to abuse friends. 
_ We passed into Herefordshire, where we had several blessed meet- 
_ ings. We had a general men’s meeting also, where all the monthly 
_ meetings were settled. There was about this time a proclamation against 
_ meetings ; and as we came through Herefordshire, we were told of a 
' great meeting there of the Presbyterians, who had engaged themselves 
to stand, and give up all, rather than forsake their meetings. When they 
heard of this proclamation, the people came, but the priest was gone, 
_ and left them at a loss. Then they met in Leominster privately, and pro- 
vided bread, cheese, and drink, in readiness, that if the officers should 
come, they might put up their bibles and fall to eating. The bailiff found 
them out, came in among them, and said, ‘ Their bread and cheese should 
_*not cover them, he would have their speakers.’ They cried, ‘ What 
‘then would become of their wives and children” But he took their 
_ speakers and kept them awhile. This the bailiff told Peter Young, and 
said, ‘ They were the veriest hypocrites that ever made a profession of 
_ * religion.’ 
_ The like contrivance they had in other places. For there was one 
~ Pocock at London, that married Abigail Darcy, who was called a lady; 
and she being convinced of truth, I went to his house to see her. This 
Pocock had been one of the triers of the priests; and, being an high 
} Presbyterian, and envious against us, he used to call our friends house- 
creepers. He being present, she said to me, ‘I have something to speak 
‘to thee against my husband.’ ‘Nay,’ said I, ‘thou must not speak 
‘against thy husband.’ ‘ Yes,’ said she, ‘ but I must in this case. The 
_ last first-day,’ said she, ‘ he, his priests and people, the Presbyterians, 
_ met; they had candles, tobacco-pipes, bread, cheese, and cold meat on 
‘the table: and they agreed beforehand, if the officers should come in 
_ fupon them, they would leave their preaching and praying, and fall to 
_ * their cold meat.’ ‘Oh,’ said I to him, ‘is not this a shame to you who 
imprisoned us, and spoiled our goods, because we would not join you 
‘in your religion, and called us house-creepers, that ye do not stand to 
your own religion yourselves? Did ye ever find our meetings stuffed 
with bread and cheese and tobacco-pipes? Or did ye ever read in the 
scriptures of any such practice among the saints” ‘ Why,’ said the old 
nian, ‘ we must be as wise as serpents.’ I answered, ‘ This is the ser- 
t’s wisdom indeed. But who would have thought that you Presby- 
jans and Independents, who persecuted, imprisoned others, spoiled 
r goods, and whipped such as would not follow your religion, should 


408 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL £1669 


now flinch yourselves, and not dare to stand to your own religion, bu 
‘cover it with tobacco-pipes, flagons cf drink, cold meat, and bread and 
‘cheese !’ But this, and such-like dece,tful practices, I understood after- 
wards, were too common amongst them in times of persecution. 

After we had travelled through Herefordshire, and meetings were well 
settled there, we passed into Monmouthshire, where I had several blessed : 
meetings; and at Walter Jenkins’s, who had been a justice of peace, we 
-ad a large meeting, where some were convinced: this meeting was 
wuiet. But to a meeting before this came the bailiff of the hundred, al 
-nost drunk, pretending he was to take up the speakers. There was a 
mighty power of God in the meeting; so that, although he raged, it lim- 
ted him, that he could not break up the meeting. When it was over, ] 
staid awhile, and he staid also. After some time I spoke to him, and SO 
passed quietly away. At night some rude people came, and shot off a 
musket against the house ; but did not hurt any body. Thus the Lord’s 
power came over all, and chained down the unruly spirits, so that we 
escaped them. We came to Ross that night, and had a meeting at James” 
Merrick’s. . 

After this we came into Gloucestershire, and had a general men’s 
meeting at Nathaniel Crips’s, where all the monthly meetings were set- 
tled in the Lord’s everlasting power; and the heirs of salvation were ex- 
horted to take their possessions in the gospel, the power of God, which 
was and is the authority of their meetings. Many blessed meetings we 
had in that county, before we came to Bristol. And after several pow- 
erful seasons, the men’s and women’s meetings were settled there also. — 

As I was in bed at Bristol, the word of the Lord came to me, that I 
must go back to London. Next morning Alexander Parker and several 
others came to me. | asked them, What they felt? They asked me, What 
was upon me? I told them, I felt I must return to London. ‘They said, 
The same was upon them. So we gave up to return to London; for 
which way the Lord moved and led us, thither we went in his power. 
Leaving Bristol, we passed into Wiltshire, and established the men’s: 
monthly meetings in the Lord’s power there; and visited friends till we 
came to London. 

After we had visited friends in the city, I was moved to exhort them 
to bring all their marriages to the men’s and women’s meetings, that 
they might lay them before the faithful; that care might be taken to pre- 
vent such disorders as had been committed by some. For many had 
gone together in marriage contrary to their relations’ minds; and som 
young, raw people, that came among us, had mixed with the world. 
Widows had married without making provision for their children by 
their former husbands, before their second marriage. Yet I had given 
forth a paper concerning marriages about the year 1653, when truth 
was but little spread, advising friends, who might be concerned in ee 


case, ‘ That they might lay it before the faithful in time, before any thin, 
‘was concluded ; and afterwards publish it in the end of a meeting, or ina 
market, as they were moved thereto. And when all things were found 
clear, being free from all others, and their relations satisfied, they might 
appoint a meeting on purpose, for the taking of each other; in the pres- 
ence of at least twelve faithful witnesses.’ Yet these directions not be- 
ing observed, and truth being now more spread over the nation, it was 
ordered by the same pc wer and Spirit of God, ‘ That_marriages shoule 
be 1aia before the men’s monthly and quarterly meetings, or as me 


| 667] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 40 


| meetings were then established ; that friends might see, that tne rela 
| *tons of those who proceeded to marriage were satisfied; that the par- 
| ‘ties were clear from all others; and that widows had made provision 
| ‘for their first husband’s children, before they married again; and what 
‘else was needful to be inquired into; that all things might be kept clear 

and pure, and be done in righteousness to the glory of God.’ After- 
| wards it was ordered in the wisdom of God, ‘ That if either of the par- 
_ ties intending to marry came out of another nation, county, or monthly 
‘meeting, they should bring a certificate from the monthly meeting to 
‘ which ‘they belonged ; for “the satisfaction of the monthly meeting be- 
_ *fore which they came to lay their intentions of marriage.’ 

Afier these things, with many other services for God, were set in 
order, and settled in the city, I passed out of London, in the leadings of 
the Lord’s power, into Hertfordshire. After ] had visited friends there, 
and the men’s monthly meetings were settled, I had a great meeting at 
Baldock of many sorts of people. Then returning towards London by 
Waltham, I advised the setting up of a school there for teaching boys; 
and also a woman’s school to be opened at Shacklewell for instructing 
girls and young maidens, in whatsoever things were civil and useful in 
the “eat’on. 

Thus, after several precious meetings in the country, I came to Lon 
don again, where I staid awhile in the work and service of the Lord 
and then went into Buckinghamshire, where I had many precious meet 
ings. At John Brown’s of Weston near Aylesbury some of the men 
friends of each meeting being gathered together, the men’s monthly 
meetings for that county were established, in the order of the gospel, the 
power of God; which confirmed it in all that felt it, who came thereby 
to see and feel that the power of God was the authority of their meet- 
ings. I then went to Nathaniel Ball’s, at North Newton near Banbury. 
‘Oxfordshire, who was a friend in the ministry. And there being a gen- 
eral meeting, where some of all the meetings were present, the monthly 
meetings for that county were settled in the power of God; and friends 
were very glad of them; for they came into their services in the church, 

_ to take care for God’s glory. After this, we came into Gloucestershire, 
visiting friends till we came into Monmouthshire, to Richard Hambery’s; 
where | meeting with some of all the meetings of that county, the monthly 
meetings were settled there in the Lord’s power, that all in it might take 
care of God’s glory, and admonish and exhort such as did not walk as 
_ became the gospel. And indeed these meetings made a great reforma- 
_ tion amongst people, insomuch that the justices took notice of their use- 
_dulness. 

Richard Hambery and his wife accompanied us a day’s journey visit- 
; ing friends, till we came to a widow’s, where we lay that night. From 
_ thence we passed over the hills, visiting friends, and declaring the truth 
; to people, till we came to another widow's, where we had a meeting. 

The woman could not s;eak English; yet she praised the Lord for send- 

> ing us to visit them. 

We travelled till we came to Swansey, where on the first-dey we 
had a large and precious meeting, the Lord’s presence being eminently 
amongst us. On a week day afterwards we had a general meeting be- 
yond Swansey, of men friends from Swansey, Tenby, Haverfordwest, 
‘ee other places; and the monthly meetings were settled in the gospel 

3B 


£10 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1667 


SS 


order, and received by friends in the power of the Lord; whose truth 
was over all. <j 

From hence we endeavoured to get over the water into Cornwall: and — 
in order thereunto went back through Swansey to Mumbles, thinking to— 
have got passage there; but the master deceived us; for though he had 
promised to carry us, when we came he would not. We went to an- 
other place, where was a passage-boat, into which we got our horses; 
hut some rude men in the boat, though called gentlemen, threatened to | 
pistol the master if he took us in; who, being afraid of them, turned our 
horses out again; which put us out of hopes of getting over that way 
Wherefore turning back into the country, we staid up all night; and 
about the second hour in the morning took horse, and travelled till we 
came near Cardiff, where we staid one night. The next day we came 
to Newport, and it being market-day there, several friends came to us, 
with whom we sat awhile; and after a fine refreshing season together, 
we parted from them, and went forward. | 

Beyond this market-town we overtook a man who lingered on the — 
way, as if he staid for somebody ; but when we came up to him, he rode 
along with us, and asked us many questions. At length meeting with 
two, who seemed to be pages to some great persons, he took acquaint- 
ance with them; and I heard him tell them he would stop us, and take 
us up. We rode on; and when he came to us, and would have stopped 
us, I told him, ‘ None ought to stop us on the king’s highway, for it was 
‘as free for us as for them;’ and I was moved to exhort him to fear the 
Lord. Then he galloped away before us; and I perceived his intent 
was to stop us at Shipton in Wales, a garrison-town, through which we 
were to pass. When we were come to Shipton, John-ap-John being 
with me, we walked down the hill into the town, leading our horses. It - 
being market-day there, several friends met us, and would have had us 
to an inn. But we were not to go into any inn, so we walked directl 
through the town over the bridge, and then were out of the limits of that 
town. Thus the Lord’s everlasting arm and power preserved us, and 
carried us over in his work and service. 

The next first-day we had a large meeting in the Forest of Dean; and 
all was quiet. Next day we passed over the water to Oldstone; where 
after we had visited friends, we came again to William Yeomans’s, at 
Jubb’s Court in Somersetshire. From thence we went to a meeting at 
Posset, whither several friends of Bristol came to us. After which we 
went further into the country, and had several large meetings. The 
Lord’s living presence was with us, supporting and refreshing us in our 
labour and travel in his service. 

We came to a place near Minehead, where we had a general meeting 
of the men friends in Somersetshire. There came also a cheat, whom 
some friendly people would have had me to have taken along with me. 
I saw he was a cheat; therefore bid them bring him to me, and see 
whether he would look me in the face. Some were ready to think I 
was too hard towards him, because I would not let him go along with 
me; but when they brought him to me, he was not able to look me in 
the face, but looked hither and thither; for he was indeed a cheat, and 
had cheated a priest; by pretending himself to be a minister, he had got 
a priest’s suit, and went away vvith it. ; 

After the meeting we passed to Minehead, where we tarried that 
night. In the night I had an exercise upon me, from a sense I had of a 


—— 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 4jl 


_ Next morning I was moved to write a few lines to friends, as a warning 

_ thereof, as follows: 

t ‘ Dear Friends, 

_ ‘Live in the power of the Lord God, in his Seed that is set over all. 
‘and is over all trials that you may have from the dark spirit, which 

_ would be owned in its actings, and thrust itself amongst you; whicn 1s 

_ *not come as yet: but in the power of the Lord God, and his Seed 

keep over it, and bring it to condemnation. For I felt a kind of dark 

*spirit thrusting itself up towards you, and heaving up last night; but 

you may keep it down with the power of God; that the witness may 

‘arise to condemn its actings, so far as it hath spread its dark works, be- 

‘fore it have any admittance. So no more, but my love in the Seed of 
* God, which changeth not. G. F? 


‘ Minehead in Somersetshire, the 
‘22d of the 4th month, 1668.’ 


The next day several friends of Minehead accompanied us as far as 
Barnstable and Appledon in Devonshire, where we had a meeting. Barn- 
stable had been a bloody persecuting town. There were two men friends 
of that town, who had been a great while at sea; and coming home tc 
visit their relations, one of them having a wife and children, the mayor 
of the town sent for them, under pretence of discourse with them; and 
put the oaths of allegiance and supremacy to them. Because they could 
not swear, he seni them to Exeter gaol, where judge Archer premunired 
them, and kept them till one of them died in prison. When I heard of 
this, | was moved to write a letter to judge Archer, and another to that 
mayor of Barnstable, laying their wicked and unchristian actions upon 
their heads; and letting them know, that the ‘ blood of that man would 
‘be required at their hands.’ 

After a precious meeting at Appledon among some faithful friends 
there, we passed to Stratton, and staid at an inn all night. Next day we 
‘rode to Humphrey Lower’s, where we had a very precious meeting; the 
‘next day to Truro; so visiting friends till we came to the Land’s End. 
Then coming by the south part of that county, we visited friends till 
“We came to Tregangeeves, where at Loveday Hambley’s we had a gen- 
eral meeting for all the county; in which the monthly meetings were 
‘settled in the Lord’s power, and in the blessed order of the gospel; that 
all who were faithful might admonish and exhort such as walked not ac- 
-Cording to the gospel; that the house of God might be kept clean, right 
“eousness might run down, and all unrighteousness be swept away. Sevy- 
eral, who had run out, were brought to condemn what they had done 
“amiss; and through repentance came in again. 

Being clear of that county, we came into Devonshire, and had a 
meeting amongst friends at Plymouth. Whence passing to Richard 
Town's, we came to the widow Philips’s, where we had some men friends 
from all the meetings together; and there the men’s monthly meetings 
were settled in the heavenly order of the gospel, the power of God; 
which answered the witness of God in all. There was a great noise of 
troop of horse coming to disturb our meeting; but the Lord’s power 
evented it, and preserved us im peace and safety. 

_ After things were well settled, and the meeting done, we came to 
ting’s Bridge, and visited friends. Then, leaving friends in those parts 


ie spirit working and striving to get up to disturb the cnurch of Chnist. 


412 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 


well settled in the power of God, we passed to 'Topsham and Membury, 
visiting friends, and having many meetings in the way, till we came to 
[lchester in Somersetshire. Here we had a general men’s meeting, and 
therein settled the men’s monthly meetings for that county in the Lord’s 
everlasting power, the order of the gospel. After the meetings were set- 
tled, and friends refreshed, comforted in the Lord’s power, and estab- 
lished upon Christ, their rock and foundation, we passed to Puddimore; 
where, at William Beaton’s, we had a blessed meeting, and all was quiet: 
though the constables had threatened before. | 

When we had visited most of the meetings in Somersetshire, we pass- 
ed into Dorsetshire to George Harris’s, where we had a large men’s 
meeting. There all the men’s monthly meetings for that county were 
settled in the glorious order of the gospel; that all in the power of God 
might ‘ seek that which was lost, bring again that which was driven 
‘away; cherish the good, and reprove the evil’ | 

Then we came to Southampton, where we had a large meeting on the 
first-day. From thence we went to Capt. Reeves’s, where the general 
men’s meeting for Hampshire was appointed; to which some from all 
parts of the ‘county came, and a blessed meeting we had. The men’s 
monthly meetings for that county were settled in the order of the gos: 
pel, which had brought life and immortality to light in them. 

But there came a rude company of Ranters, who had opposed and 
disturbed our meetings much. One of the women had lain with a man, 
who had declared it at the Market-cross, and gloried in his wickedness 
A company of these lewd people lived together, at a house hard by the 
place of our meeting. I went to the aoe and told them of their wick- 
edness. The man of the house asked, ‘ Why! did I make so strange of 
‘that? Another of them said, ‘It was to stumble me.’ I told them, 
“Their wickedness should not stumble me; for I was above it” I was 
moved of the Lord to tell them, ‘ The plagues and judgments of God 
“would overtake them, and come upon them.’ Afterwards they went 
up and down the country, till at last they were cast into Winchester 
gaol; where the man that had lain with the woman stabbed the gaoler, 
but not mortally. After they were let out of gaol, this fellow that stabbed 
the gaoler hanged himself. The woman also had like to have cut a child’s 
throat, as we were informed. These people had formerly lived about 
London; and, when the city was fired, they prophesied, ‘ That all the 
‘rest of andes should be burnt within fourteeti days,’ and hasted out of 
town. Though they were Ranters, great opposers of friends, and dis- 
turbers of our “meetings, yet in the country, where they came, some would 
be apt to say they were Quakers. Wherefore I was moved of the Lord 
to write a paper, to be dispersed amongst the magistrates and peope 
of Hampshire, to clear friends and truth of them and their wicked a 
tions. 

After the men’s monthly meetings in those parts were settled, and th 
Lord’s blessed power was over all, we went to a town, where we had | 
meeting with friends. From thence we came to Farnham, where we 
met many friends, it being the market-day. We had precious meeting, 
up and down that country. Friends in those parts had formerly beel 
plundered, and their goods much spoiled, on account of tythes, and fo 
going to meetings; but the Lord’s power at this time preserved bot 
them and us from falling into the persecutors’ hands. 

We had a general men’s meeting at a friend’s house in Surry: w: 


GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 413 


_ had been plundered so extremely, that he had scarce a cow, horse, or 
_ swine left. The constables threatened to come and break up our meet- 
‘ing; but the Lord restrained them. At this meeting the men’s monthly 
| meetings were settled in the authority of the heavenly power. After we 

had visited friends in that county, and had many large and precious 
_ meetings, we passed to a friend’s house in Sussex, where the general 
| meeting for the men friends of that county was appointed to be ‘wld; 
| and thither came several from London to visit us. We had a b.ssed 
_ meeting: and the men’s monthly meetings for that county were then 
_ settled in the Lord’s eternal power, the gospel of salvation; that all in it 
_ might keep to the order of the gospel. There were at that time great 
 threatenings of disturbance; but the meeting was quiet. We had several 
| large meetings in that county; though friends were in great sufferings 
there, and many in prison. ] was sent for to visit a friend that was sick, 
and went to see friends that were prisoners. There was danger of my 
being apprehended; but I went in the faith of God’s power, and thereby 
the Lord preserved me in safety. 

We passed into Kent; where, after we had been at several meetings, 
we had a general one for the men friends of that county. There also 
the men’s monthly meetings for that county were settled in the power 
_ of God, and established in the order of the gospel, for all the heirs of it 
_ to enter into their services and care in the church for the glory of God. 
Friends rejoiced in the order of the gospel, and were glad of the settle- 
ment thereof. E 

After this I visited the meetings in Kent; and when I had cleared my- 
self of the Lord’s service in that county, I came to London. Thus 
were the men’s monthly meetings settled through the nation; for I had 
’ been in Berkshire before, where most of the ancient friends of that coun- 
_ ty were in prison; and when I had informed them of the service of these 
_monthly meetings, they were settled amongst them also. The quarterly 
_ meetings were generally settled before. I wrote also into Ireland, Scot- 
_ land, Holland, Barbadoes, and several parts of America, advising friends 
_ to settle their men’s monthly meetings in those countries. For they had 
_ their general quarterly meetings before ; but now that truth was increased 
- amongst them, they should settle monthly meetings in the power and 
_ Spirit of God which first convinced them. Since these meetings have 
__ been settled, many mouths have been opened in thanksgivings and praise, 

-and many have blessed the Lord, that he sent me forth in this service; 
_ yea, with tears have many praised him. For all coming to have a con- 
cern and care for God’s honour and glory, that his name be not blas- 
_ phemed, which they profess; and to see that all who profess the truth, 
4 walk in the truth, in righteousness and holiness, which becomes the house 
_ of God, and that all order their conversation aright, that they may see 
_ the salvation of God; all having this care upon them for God’s glory, and 
_ being exercised in his holy power and Spirit, in the order of the heavenly 
_ aife and gospel of Jesus, they may all see and know, possess and partake 
_ of the government of Christ, of the increase of which there is to be no 
end. Thus the Lord’s everlasting renown and praise is set up in every 
hane’ ; : : S Ss 
one’s heart that is faithful; so that we can say the gospel order estab- 
shed amongst us is not of man, nor by man, but of and by Jesus Christ, 
in and through the Holy Ghost. This order of the gospel, which is from 
Christ the heavenly man, is above all the orders of men in the fall, whether 
lews Gentiles, or apostatized Christians, and will remain when they are 


414 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1668 


gone. For the power of God, which is the everlasting gospel, was be- 
fore the devil was, and will be and remain for ever. And as the ever- 
lasting gospel was preached in the apostles’ days to all nations, that all 
might come into the order thereof, through the divine power, which 
brings life and immortality to light, that they who were heirs of it, might 
inherit the power and authority of it; so now, since all nations have drunk 
the whore’s cup, and all the world hath worshipped the beast, but they, 
whose names are written in the book of life from the foundation of the 
world, who have worshipped God in spirit and truth, as Christ command-— 
ed, the everlasting gospel is to be and is preached again, as John the di- | 
vine foresaw it should, to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. This 
everlasting gospel torments the whore, and makes her and the beast to ~ 
rage, even the beast that hath power over the tongues, which are called 
the original, to order them, by which they make divines, as they call 
them. But all that receive the gospel, the power of God, which brings 
life and immortality to light, come to see over the beast, devil, whore, 
and false prophet, that darkened them and all their worships and orders, — 
and come to be heirs of the gospel, the power of God, which was before 
the beast, whore, false prophet, and devil were, and will be when they 
are all gone and cast into the lake of fire. And they that are heirs of 
this power and of this gospel inherit the power which is the authority of — 
this order, and of our meetings. These come to possess the joyful order 
of the joyful gospel, the comfortable order of the comfortable gospel, the 
glorious order of the glorious gospel, and the everlasting order of the 
everlasting gospel, the power of God, which will last for ever, and will 
outlast all the orders of the devil, and that which is of men or by men. 
These shall see the government of Christ, who hath all power in heaven” 
and earth given to him; and of the increase of his glorious, righteous, 
holy, just government there is no end; but his government and his order 
will remain: for he who is the author of it is the first and the last, the 
beginning and ending, the foundation of God, which over all stands sure, 
Christ Jesus, the Amen. : 
Being returned to London, I staid some time, visiting friends’ meetings 
in and about the city. While I was in London, I went one day to visit 
’squire Marsh, who had shewed much kindness both to me and friends. I 
happened to go when he was at dinner. He no sooner heard of my name, 
but he sent for me up, and would have had me sit down with him to din- 
ner; but I had not freedom to do so. Several great persons were at 
dinner with him; and he said to one of them who was a great Papist, 
‘ Here is a Quaker, which you have not seen before.’ The Papist asked 
me, ‘ Whether I did own the christening of children” I told him, ‘There 
‘was no scripture for any such practice.’ ‘What!’ said he, ‘not for 
‘christening children? I said, ‘Nay.’ I told him, ‘The one baptism 
‘by the one spirit into one body we owned; but to throw a little water 
on a child’s face, and say, that was baptizing and christening it, there 
was no scripture for that.’ He asked me, ‘Whether I did own the 
‘Catholic faith? I said, « Yes;’ but added, ‘ That neither the pope nor 
the papists were in the Catholic faith; for the true faith works by love, 
and purifies the heart; and if they were in that faith that gives victory, 
‘by which they might have access to God, they would not tell the peo- 
‘ple of a purgatory after they were dead. So I undertook to prove, 
That neither pope nor papists, that held a purgatory hereafter, were in 
“the true faith.” For the true, precious, divine faith, which Christ is 


1668] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 415 


¥, 

‘the author of, gives victory over the devil and sin, that separated man 
“and woman from God. And if they (the Papists) were in the true faith, 
‘they would never use racks, prisons, and fines to persecute and force 
* others to their religion, that were not of their faith. This was not the 
“practice of the apostles and primitive Christians, who witnessed end 
“enjoyed the true faith of Christ; but it was the practice of the faithless 
* Jews and heathens so to do. But,’ said I, ‘ seeing thou art a great lead- 

‘ing man among the Papists, and hast been taught and bred up under 
‘the pope, and seeing thou sayest, “ There is no salvation but in your 
* church ;” I desire to know of thee, “ What it is that doth bring salva 
“tion in your church?” He answered, “ A good life.’ ‘And nothing 

“telse” said I. *‘ Yes,’ said he, ‘ good works!’ ‘Is this it that brings sal- 
‘vation in your church, a good life and good works? Is this your doc- 

*trine and principle? said |. ‘ Yes,’ said he. ‘ Then, said I, neither tnou 
“nor the pope, nor any of the Papists know what it is that brings salva 
“tion.” He asked me, ‘What brought salvation in our church?’ I told 
him, ‘ That which brought salvation to the church in the apostles’ days. 
“the same brought salvation to us, and not another ; namely, “ The grace 
“of God, which,” the scripture says, “ brings salvation, and hath ap- 
“ peared to all men,” which taught the saints then, and teaches us now. 

This grace, which brings salvation, teaches, “'To deny ungodliness and 
“ worldly lusts, and to live godly, righteously, and soberly.” So it is not 
‘the good works, nor the good life that brings salvation, but the grace.’ 
* What!’ said the Papist, ‘ doth this grace, that brings salvation, appear 
unto all men” ‘ Yes,’ said J. ‘Then,’ said he, ‘I deny that.’ I replied, 
‘ All that deny that are sect-makers, and are not in the universal faith, 

‘grace, and truth, which the apostles were in.’ Then he spoke to me 
‘about the mother-church. I told him, The several sects in Christendom 
‘had accused us, and said, “ We forsook our mother-church.” The Pa- 
*pists charged us with forsaking their church, saying, “ Rome was the 
“only mother-church.” The Episcopalians taxed us with forsaking the 
‘old Protestant religion, alleging, “ Theirs was the reformed mother- 
church.” The Presbyterians and Independents blamed us for leaving 
‘them, each of them pretending “ Theirs was the right-reformed church.” 
* But I said, if we could own any outward place to be the mother-church, 
we should own Jerusalem, where the gospel was first preached by Christ 
‘himself and the apostles, where Christ suffered, where the great con- 
‘version to Christianity by Peter was, where were the types, figures, and 
© shadows, which Christ ended, and where Christ commanded his “ dis- 
ciples to wait until they were endued with power from on high.” If 

‘any outward place deserved to be called the mother, that was the place 
‘where the first great conversion to Christianity was. But the apostle 
‘saith, Gal. iv. 25, 26, “Jerusalem, which now is, is in bondage with her 
“children; but Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother 
“of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not; 
“break forth and ery, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath 

“many more children than she that hath an husband,” ver. 27. The 

‘apostle doth not say, outward Jerusalem was the mother, though the 

| * first and great conversion to Christianity was there; and there is less 

reason for the title [mother] to be given to Rome, or to any other out- 
ward place or city, by the children of Jerusalem, that is above and free 
| " neither are they Jerusalem’s children that is above and free, who give 
the title of mother either to outward Jerusalem, to Rome or to any 


ae 


416 GEORGE FOXS JOURNAL. [1668 


‘other place or sect of people. And though this title [mother] hath been 
‘ given to places and sects by the degenerate Christians, yet we say still, — 
‘as the apostle said of old, “ Jerusalem that is above, is the mother of 
“ys all.” We can own no other, neither outward Jerusalem, nor Rome, 
nor any sect of people for our mother, but Jerusalem which is above; 
which is free, the mother of all that are born again, become true be- 
lievers in the light, and are grafted into Christ, the heavenly vine. For 
all who are born again of the immortal seed, by the word of God which 
lives and abides for ever, feed upon the milk of the word, the breast of 
life, grow by it in life; and cannot acknowledge any other to be their 
‘mother, but Jerusalem which is above.’ ‘Oh! said ’squire Marsh to 
the Papist, ‘ You do not know this man. If he would but come to church ~ 
‘now and then, he would be a brave man.’ : 
After some other discourse, I] went aside with justice Marsh to an- 
other room, to speak with him concerning friends; for he was a justice 
of peace for Middlesex, and being a courtier, the other justices put much 
of the management of affairs upon him. He told me, ‘ He was in a strait 
‘how to act between us and some other Dissenters. For,’ said he, ‘ you 
‘cannot swear, and the Independents, Baptists, and Fifth-monarchy-peo- 
‘ple say also, They cannot swear; therefore,’ said he, ‘ how shall I dis- 
‘tinguish betwixt you and them, seeing they and you all say, It is for 
-conscience-sake that you cannot swear?’ | answered, ‘1 will shew thee 
‘how to distinguish. They, or most of them, thou speakest of, can and 
‘do swear in some cases, but we cannot swear in any case. If a man 
‘ should steal their cows and horses, and thou shouldest ask them whether — 
‘they would swear they were theirs? many of them would readily do 
‘it; but if thou try our friends, they cannot swear for their own goods. — 
‘ Therefore, when thou. puttest the oath of allegiance to any of them, 
‘ask them, “ Whether they can swear in any other case, as for their 
“ cow or horse?” Which, if they be really of us, they cannot do, though 
‘they can bear witness to the truth.’ I gave him a relation of a trial in” 
Berkshire, which was thus: ‘ A thief stole two beasts from a friend of 
‘ours. The thief was taken and cast into prison, and the friend appeared” 
against him at the assizes. But somebody having informed the judge, — 
that the prosecutor was a Quaker and could not swear, the judge, be- — 
‘ fore he heard the friend, said, “ Is he a Quaker? And will he not swear? 
“ Then tender him the oaths of allegiance and supremacy.” So he cast — 
‘the friend into prison, and premunired him, and set the thief at liberty.” 
Justice Marsh said, ‘ That judge was a wicked man.’ ‘ Bat,’ said I, ‘If 


a 


ee 


ihe 


? 


r 


‘we could swear in any case, we would take the oath of allegiance to — 
‘the king, who is to preserve the laws that are to support every man in — 
‘his estate. Whereas others, that can swear in some cases, to preserve 

‘a part of their estates if they be robbed, will not take this oath to the king, ~ 
‘ who is to preserve them in their whole estates and bodies also. So that 

‘thou mayest easily distinguish and put a difference betwixt us and those — 
‘people.’ Justice Marsh was afterwards very serviceable to friends in 

tais and other cases; for he kept several, both friends and others, from 

being premunired: and when friends were brought before him, in time — 
of persecution, he set many of them at liberty. When he could not avoi 
sending to prison, he sent some for a few hours, or a night. At length h 
went to the king, and told him, ‘ He had sent some of us to prison con- 
‘trary to his conscience, and he could not do so any more. Therefore 
he removed his familv from Limehouse, where he lived, and took lodg: 


1669) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ANT 


ings near James’s Park. He told the king, ‘If he would be pleaseo to 

give liberty of conscience, that would quiet and settle all; for then none 
‘could have any pretence to be uneasy.’ And indeed he was a very ser 
viceable man to truth and friends in his day. 

We had great service at London this year; the Lord’s truth came 
over all. Many who had gone out came in again this year, confessing 
and condemning their outgoings. 

After I had staid some time in London, I visited friends in Surry, Sus- 
sex, and other places that way, and then travelled northward, having 
Leonard Fell with me. We visited friends till we came to Warwick, 
where many were in prison. We had a meeting in the town. I passed 
from thence to Birmingham and Badgely. At Badgely I had a large 
meeting. After which I passed to Nottingham, where on the first-day 
we had a precious meeting, but not without danger of being apprehend- 
ed; the constables having threatened friends. 

I passed from thence, visiting friends, till ] came to Balby, and so tu 
York quarterly-meeting. A blessed meeting we had. Friends had in 
Yorkshire seven monthly meetings before, and they were so sensible of 
the service of them, that they desired to have seven more added; fo 
truth was much spread in that county. Accordingly in that quarterls 
meeting they were settled: so now they have fourteen monthly meetings. 

It being the assize-time at York, I met with justice Hotham, a well- 
wisher to friends, who had been tender and very kind to me from the 
first. 

After I had finished my service in York, I passed into the country. 
As I went, a great burden fell upon me; but I did not presently know 

the reason of it. I came to a meeting on first-day at Richard Shipton’s 
which was very large. There being a meeting the same day at anothe) 
place, and the priest of that place, being misinformed that I was to be 
there, got a warrant, and made great disturbance at that meeting; of 
which Isaac Lindley gave me an account by the following letter : 
re aE 

‘Wuewn thou went’st from York, the first-day after thou wast at Rich- 

‘ard Shipton’s, that day I had appointed a meeting ten miles from York, 
‘where there had not been a meeting before. But the priest and the 
“constable got a warrant on the seventh-day, and put thy name only in 
‘the warrant; for they had heard thou wast to be there. They came 
* with weapons and staves, and cried, “ Where is Mr. Fox?” over and 
‘over; many friends being there, they concluded thou wast among them. 
‘ But those raveners, being disappointed, plucked me down, abused me, 
‘beat some friends, and then took me before a magistrate; but he set 
‘me at liberty. 


le 


‘Isaac Lindley.’ 


I then visited friends at Whitby and Scarborough. When I was at 
Scarborough, the governor, hearing I was come, sent to invite me to his 
house, saying, ‘ Surely, I would not be so unkind, as not to come and see 

him and his wife.’ After the meeting I went to visit him, and he re- 
ceived me very courteously and lovingly. 

Having visited most of the meetings in Yorkshire, the Woulds, and 
Holderness, I came to Henry Jackson’s, where I had a great meeting. 
From thence to Thomas Taylor’s, and to John Moor’s at Eldreth, where 
we had a very large meeting: the Lord’s power and presence was emi- 

y 3 C 


ve 


-*tried their wooden god, but these durst not try their god of bread ani 


418 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [166$ 


nently amongst us. Not far from this place lay colonel Kirby, lame of 
the gout, who had threatened, ‘If ever I came near, he would send me 

to prison again; and had bid forty pounds to any man that could take 
‘me,’ as | was credibly informed. 

After this I came into Staffordshire and Cheshire, where we had many 
large and precious meetings. I had a very large one at William Barnes's 
about two miles from Warrington; and though colonel Kirby was nov 
got abroad again, as violent in breaking up meetings as before, and was 
then at Warrington, the Lord did not suffer him to come to this meet 
ing: so we were preserved out of his hands. 

Now was I moved of the Lord to go over into Ireland, to visit the 
seed of God in that nation. There went with me Robert Lodge, Jame: 
Lancaster, Thomas Briggs, and John Stubbs. We waited near Liver 
pool for shipping and wind. After we had waited some days, we sen’ 
James Lancaster, who took passage, and brought word the ship wa: 
ready, and would take us in at Black-rock. We went thither on foot 
It being pretty fair, and the weather very hot, ] was much spent with 
walking. When we arrived the ship was not there, so we were oblige 
to go to the town and take shipping. When we were got on board, | 
said to the rest of the company, ‘ Come, ye will triumph in the Lord ; fo’ 
‘we shall have fair wind and weather.’ There were many passenger: 
in the ship sick, but not one of our company. ‘The master and many of 
the passengers were very loving; and being at sea on a first-day, I wa: 
moved to declare truth among them: whereupon the master said to the 

assengers, ‘Come, here are things that you never heard in your lives. 
hen we came before Dublin, we took boat, and went ashore; and the 
earth and air smelt, methought, with the corruption of the nation, so tha 
it yielded another smell to me than England did; which I imputed to th 
popish massacres that had been committed, and the blood that had beet 
spilt in it, from which a foulness ascended. We passed through among 
the officers of the customs four times, yet they did not search us; foi 
they perceived what we were. Some of them were so envious, they dic 
not care to look at us. We did not presently find friends; but went t 
an inn, and sent to inquire for some, who were exceeding glad of ow 
coming, and received us with great joy. We staid there the ee 
meeting, which was a large one, and the power and life of God appearec 
greatly in it. Afterwards we passed to a province-meeting, which lastec 
two days, there being both a men’s meeting about the poor, and anothel 
more general, in which a mighty power of the Lord appeared. Truth 
was livingly declared, and friends were much refreshed therein. 

Passing from thence about twenty-four miles, we came to another 
place, where we had a very good refreshing meeting; after which so 
Papists were angry, and raged very much. When I heard of it, I oa 
for one of them, a schoolmaster; but he would not come. Whereupo 
I sent a challenge to him, with all the friars, monks, priests, and jesuits 
to come forth, and ‘try their God and their Christ, which they made o 
‘bread and wine;’ but no answer could I get from them. Wherefore 
told them, ‘ They were worse than the priests of Baal; for Baal’s pries 


‘wine; and Baal’s priests and people did not eat their god, as these di 
‘and then make another.’ 

We went on to New-garden, where was a great meeting. Fror 
thence we travelled to Bandon-bridge and the Land’s-end, having mam 


1669" GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 419 


meetings as we went; in which the mighty power of the Lord was man- 
ifested, friends were well refreshed, and many people were aflected with 
the truth. At Bandon, the mayor’s wife, being convinced, desired her 
husband to come to the meeting; but he bid her for her life she should 
not make known that I was at a meeting there. 

He that was then mayor of Cork, being very envious against ruth 
and friends, had many friends in prison; and knowing I was in the coun- 
try, he sent four warrants to take me; therefore friends were desirous 
tha. I might not ride through Cork. But being at Bandon, there appear- 
ed to me in a vision, ‘A very ugly-visaged man, of a black and dark 
‘look. My spirit struck at him in the power of God, and it seemed to 
‘me that I rode over him with my horse, and my horse set his foot on 
‘the side of his face.’ When I came down in the morning, I told a 
friend, the command of the Lord was to me to ride through Cork; but 
bid him tell no man. So we took horse, many friends being with me. 
When we came near the town, friends would have shewed me a way on 
the backside of it; but I told them, my way was through the streets. 
Taking Paul Morrice to guide me through the town, I rode on: and as 
we rode through the market-place, and by the mayor’s door, he, seeing 
me, said, ‘There goes George Fox;’ but he had not power to stop me. 
‘When we had passed through the sentinels, and were come over the 
bridge, we went to a friend’s house, and alighted. There the friends told 
me, what a rage was in the town, and how many warrants were grant- 
ed to take me. While ] was sitting there with friends, I felt the evil 
spirit at work in the town, stirring up mischief against me; and I felt the 
power of the Lord strike at that evil spirit. By-and-by some other 
friends coming in, told me, ‘ It was over the town, and amongst the ma- 
‘gistrates, that I was in the town.’ I said, ‘ Let the devil do his worst.’ 
After awhile that friends were refreshed one in another, and we travel- 
lers had refreshed ourselves, I called for my horse, and having a friend 
to guide me, we went on our way. But great was the rage that the 
mayor and others of Cork were in, that they had missed me, and great 
pains they afterwards took to have taken me, having their scouts abroad 
upon the roads, as I understood, to observe which way I went. After- 
wards, scarce a public meeting I came to, but spies came to watch if I 
‘Was there. And the envious magistrates and priests sent informations 
one to another concerning me, describing me by my hair. hat, clothes, 
and horse; so that when | was near an hundred miles from Cork they 
had an account concerning me, and description of me, before I came 
amongst them. One very envious magistrate, who was both a priest 
and a justice, got a warrant from the judge of assize to apprehend me; 
the warrant was to go over all his circuit, which reached near an hun- 
dred miles. Yet the Lord disappointed all their councils, defeated ali 
their designs against me, and by his good hand of Providence preserved 
me out of all their snares, and gave us many sweet and blessed oppor- 
tunities to visit friends, and spread truth through that nation. For 
Meetings were very large, friends coming to them far and near; and 
other people flocking in. The powerful presence of the Lord was pre- 
ciously felt with and amongst us; whereby many of the world were 
Teache 1, convinced, gathered to the truth, and the Lord’s flock was in- 
creased ; and friends were greatly refreshed and comforted in feeling the 

love of God. Oh! the brokenness that was amongst them in the flow- 
ings of life! So that, in the power and Spirit of the Lord, many to- 


| 
_ £20 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ne 


y gether broke out into singing, even with audible voices, making inelod; 
( in their hearts. 
At which time I was moved to declare to friends there in the ministry 

as followeth: 


‘ Sounp, sound abroad, you faithful servants of the Lord, witnesses ii 
‘his name, faithful servants, prophets of the Highest, and angels of th 
‘Lord! Sound ye all abroad in the world, to the awakening and rais 

ing of the dead, that they may be awakened and raised up out of th 
‘ grave, to hear the voice that is living. For the dead have long hear 
‘the dead, the blind have long wandered among the blind, and the deai 
‘amongst the deaf. Therefore sound, ye servants, prophets, and angel 
‘of the Lord, ye trumpets of the Lord, that you may awaken the dead 
‘awaken them that are asleep in their graves of sin, death, and hell, se: 
and earth, and who lie in the tombs. Sound abroad, ye trumpets, am 
‘raise up the dead, that they may hear the voice of the Son of God, th 
‘voice of the Second Adam that never fell, the voice of the Light, th 
‘voice of the Life, the voice of the Power, the voice of the Truth, th 
‘voice of the Righteous, and the voice of the Just. Sound ye the trum 
‘pets, the melodious sound abroad, that all the deaf ears may be openet 
‘to hear the pleasant sound of the trumpet to judgment and life, to con 
‘demnation and light. Sound your trumpets all abroad, you angels ot 
‘the Lord, sons and daughters, prophets of the Highest, that all tha 
‘are dead and asleep in the graves, who have been long dreaming ant 
‘slumbering, may be awakened and hecr the voice of the Lamb, whe 
‘have long heard the voice of the beast, that now they may hear th 
‘voice of the Bridegroom, the voice of the Bride, the voice of the 

Great Prophet, the voice of the Great King, the voice of the Grea 
‘Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Sound it all abroad, ye trumpets 
‘among the dead in Adam; for Christ is come, the second Adam, tha’ 
they might have life, yea have it abundantly... Awaken the dead 
‘awaken the slumberers, awaken the dreamers, awaken them that are 
‘asleep, awaken them out of their graves, out of their tombs, out of 
‘their sepulchres, out of the seas! Sound abroad, ye trumpets, tha 
‘awaken the dead, that they may all hear the sound of it in the graves 
and they that hear may live and come to the Life, that is, the Son of 
‘God. He is risen from the dead, the grave could not hold nor contain 
‘him, neither could all the watchers of the earth, with all their guards, 
keep him therein. Sound, ye trumpets of the Lord, to all the seekers 
‘of the living among the dead, that he is risen from the dead; to all the 
‘seekers of the living among the dead, and in the graves that the watch: 
ers keep; he is not in the grave, he is risen; and there is that under the 
grave of the watchers of the outward grave, which must be awakened 
and come to hear his voice, who is risen from the dead, that they 
might come to live. Therefore sound abroad, you trumpets of th 
Lord, that the grave might give up her dead, and hell and thé see 
might give up their dead ; and all might come forth to judgment, to th 
judgment of the Lord before his throne, and have their sentence an 
reward according to their works. 

‘Away with all the chaff and the husks, and contentions and strife 
that the swine feed upon in the mire, and in the fall; and the keepers 
of them of Adam and Eve’s house in the fall; that lies in the mire 
out of light and life. . | Ge 


669) GEORGE FOX’S JOUR NAL. 421 


To James Hutchinson’s in Ireland came many great persons, desiring 
to discourse with me about Election and Reprobation. I told them, 
Though they judged our principle foolish, it was too high for them, 
they could not with their wisdom comprehend it; therefore I would 
discourse with them according to their capacities-. You say,’ said I, 
that God hath ordained the greatest part of men for hell, and that they 
were ordained so before the world began; for which your proof is in 
| Jude. You say, Esau was reprobated, and the Egyptians, and the 
stock of Ham. But Christ saith to his disciples, “Go, teach all nations ;” 
and, “ Go into all nations, and preach the gospel of life and salvation.” 
| If they were to go to all nations, were they not to go to Ham’s stock, 
and Esau’s stock? Did not Christ die for all? Then for the stock of 
Ham, of Esau, and the Egyptians. Doth not the scripture say, “ God 
' would have all men_to be saved?” Mark, “ All men;” then the stock of 
* Esau, and of Ham also., Doth not God say, “ Egypt my people?” and 
‘that he would have an altar in Egypt? Isa. xix. Were there not many 

Christians formerly in Egypt? And doth not history say, that the 
‘bishop of Alexandria would formerly have been pope? And had not 
'*God a church in Babylon? I confess, “'The word came to Jacob, and 
“the statutes to Israel: the like was not to other nations.” For the law 
‘of God was given to Israel; but the gospel was to be preached to all 
“nations, and is to be preached. The gospel of peace and glad-tidings 
*to all nations. “He that believes is saved, but he that doth not believe 
“is condemned already ;” so the condemnation comes through unbelief. ‘ 
'* And whereas Jude speaks of some that were of old ordained (or writ- 
‘ten of before) to condemnation, he doth not say, before the world be- 


‘der sin, and so under condemnation, that God might have mercy upon 

‘all through Jesus Christ. The election and choice stands in Christ: 

© and he that believes is saved, and he that believes not is condemned 

“already.” Jacob typifies the second birth, which God loved; and 
“both Jews and Gentiles must be born again, before they can enter the 
‘kingdom of God. When you are born again, ye will know election 
“and reprobation ; for the election stands in Christ, the seed, before the 
‘world began; but the reprobation lies in the evil seed since the world 

; began.’ After this manner, but somewhat more largely, I discoursed 
with those great persons about this matter, and they confessed they had 
never heard so much before. 

_ After I had travelled over Ireland, and visited friends in their meet- 
Ings, as well for business as worship, and answered several papers and 
writings from monks friars, and Protestant priests (for they all were in 
a rage against us, and endeavoured to stop the work of the Lord, and 
some Jesuits swore in seme of our hearing, that we came to spread our 
principles in that nation, but we should not do it) I returned to Dublin 


- 


422 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. rue 


in order to take passage for England. When I had staid the first-aa 
meeting there, which was very large and precious, there being a sh 
ready, and the wind serving, we took our leave of friends; parting 
much tenderness and brokenness, in the sense of the heavenly life a. 
power, manifested amongst us. Having put our horses and necessari 
on board in the morning, we went ourselves in the afternoon, manyj 
friends accompanying us to the ship; and divers friends and friend, 
veople followed us in boats, when we were near a league at sea, thel 
ove drawing them, though not without danger. A good, weighty, an 
true people there is in that nation, sensible of the power of the Lor 
Goa, tender of his truth, and very good order they have in their meet 
ings; for they stand up for righteousness and holiness, which dams uy 
the way of wickedness. A precious visitation they had, and there is al 
excellent spirit in them, worthy to be visited. Many things more I couk 
write of that nation, and of my travels in it, which would be large to men 
tion particularly; but thus much I thought good to signify, that th 
righteous may rejoice in the prosperity of truth. 

“James Lancaster, Robert Lodge, and Thomas Briggs came bac 
with me; John Stubbs, having further service there, staid behind. Wi 
were two nights at sea; in one of which a mighty storm arose that pu 
the vessel in great danger; but I saw the power of God went over th 
winds and storms, he had them in his hand, and his power bound them 
And the same power of the Lord God, which carried us over, brough 
us back again; and in his life gave us dominion over all the evil spirit 
that opposed us there. 

We landed at Liverpool, and went to Richard Johnson’s, Williar 
Barnes’s, and to William Gandy’s, visiting friends, and having man 
precious meetings in Lancashire and Cheshire. We came into Glouce: 
tershire, and met with a report at Nailsworth, which was spread in tha 
country, ‘ That George Fox was turned Presbyterian, that a pulpit wa 
‘ prepared for him and set in a yard, and that there would be a thousan 
‘ people there the next day to hear him,’ I thought it strange that sue 
a report should be raised of me; yet as we went further from on 
friend’s house to another, we met with the same. We passed by th 
yard where the pulpit was, and saw it, and went to the place wher 
friends’ meeting was to be next day, where we staid that night. Nex 
day, being the first-day, we had a very large meeting, and the Lord’ 
power and presence was amongst us. 

The occasion of this strange report, as I was informed, was thi 
There was one John Fox, a Presbyterian priest, who used to go abou 
preaching; and some, changing his name from John to George, gave ou 
that George Fox was turned from a Quaker to be a Presbyterian, an 
would preach at such a place such a day. This begat such curiosity i 
the people, that they went thither to hear this Quaker turned Presbyte 
rian, who would not have gone to have heard John Fox himself. Bi 
{his means it was reported they had got together above a thousand peo 
ple. But when they came there, and perceived they had a trick pu 
upon them, that he was but a counterfeit George Fox, and understoo 
that the real George Fox was hard by, several hundreds came to ou 
meeting, and were sober and attentive. ‘I directed them to the gra 

of God in themselves, which would teach them, and bring them salva 
tion.’ When the meeting was over, some of the people said, ‘ Thet 
liked George Fox the Quaker’s preaching better than George Fox t 


«9 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. | 423 


Presoyterian’s.’ Thus, by my providential coming into those parts at 
that time, this false report was discovered, and shame came over the 
_ contrivers of it. 

Not long after this John Fox was complained of in the house of com- 
mons, for ‘having a tumultuous meeting, in which treasonable words 
‘were spoken;’ which, according to the best information I could get, 
was thus. John Fox had formerly been priest of Mansfield in Wiltshire , 
and, being put out of that place, was afterwards permitted by a Com 
mon-prayer priest to preach sometimes in his steeple-house. At length 
this Presbyterian priest, presuming too far upon the parish priest’s for- 
mer grant, began to be more bold than welcome, and attempted to | 
preach there whether the parish priest would or no. This caused a 
great bustle and contest in the steeple-house between the two priests, 
and their hearers on either side; in which contest the Common-prayer- 
book was cut to pieces, and some treasonable words spoken by some of 
the followers of John Fox. This was quickly put in the news, and 
some malicious Presbyterians caused it to be so worded as if it had pro- 
ceeded from George Fox the Quaker, though I was above two hundred 
miles from the place when this bustle happened. When I heard of it, 
I soon procured -ertificates from some of the members of the house of 
commons, who knew this man, and gave it under their hands, that it 
was J. Fox, who had formerly been parson of Mansfield in Wiltshire, 
that was complained of to the house of commons, to be the chief ring- 
leader in that unlawful assembly. 

And indeed this John Fox discovered himself to be an ill man; for 
some who had been his followers came to be convinced of truth, and 
thereupon left him; upon which he came to séme of their houses to talk 
with them; and they telling him, ‘He was in the steps of the false 
‘prophets, preaching for-hire and filthy lucre, like those whom Christ 
‘cried wo against, and the apostles declared against, such as served not 
‘the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies, and telling him, Christ said, 

Freely ye have received, freely give, and therefore he should not take 
‘money of people for preaching, especially now times were so hard; 
he replied, ‘God bless preaching, that brings in money, let times go how 
‘they will. Fill my belly with good victuals; then call me false prophet, 
‘or what you will, and kick me about the house when ye have done, if 
‘ye will” This relation I had from a man and his wife, who had been 
formerly his hearers, and whom John Fox, with others, caused deeply 
t» suffer. For he, and some other Presbyterian priests, resorting to a 
widow woman’s who had the impropriation, and took the tythes of the 


_ parish, she told them, ‘ There was a Quaker in that parish that would 


“not pay her tythes;’ and asked, what she should do with him. They 
advised her, ‘To send workmen to cut down and carry away his corn?’ 
which she did, and thereby impoverished the man. But to proceed. 

After this meeting in Gloucestershire, we travelled till we came to 
Bristol; where I met with Margaret Fell, who was come to visit her 
daughter Yeomans. I had seen from the Lord a considerable time be- 
fore, that I should take Margaret Fell to be my wife; and when I first 
_ mentioned it to her, she felt the answer of Life from God thereunto. But - 
though the Lord had opened this thing to me, yet I had not received a 
command from him for the accomplishing of it then. Wherefore I let 
_ the thing rest, and went on in the work and service of the Lord, accord- 
ing as he led me; travelling in this nation, and through Ireland. But 


\ 


124 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. | 


iow being at Bristol, and finding Margaret Fell there, it opened in mq 
from the Lord that the thing should be accomplished. After we had dis- 
coursed the matter together, I told her, ‘If she also was satisfied with | 
‘the accomplishing of it now, she should first send for her children ?| 
which she did. When the rest of her daughters were come, I asked both, 
them and her sons-in-law, ‘If they had any thing against it, or for it?) 
and they all severally expressed their satisfaction therewith. Then I 
asked Margaret, ‘If she had fulfilled her husband’s will to her children ” 
She replied, ‘The children knew she had.’ Whereupon IJ asked them, 

Whether, if their mother married, they should not lose by it” I asked 
Margaret, ‘Whether she had done any thing in lieu of it, which might 
‘answer it to the children?’ The children said, ‘She had answered it 
‘to them, and desired me to speak no more of it.’ I told them, ‘1 was 
‘plain, and would have all things done plainly: for I sought not any out- 
‘ward advantage to myself.’ So our intention of marriage was laid be- 
fore friends both privately and publickly, to their full satisfaction, many 
of whom gave testimony that it was of God. Afterwards, a meeting 
being appointed on purpose for the accomplishing thereof, in the publick 
meeting-house at Broad Mead in Bristol, we took each other in mar- 
riage; the Lord joining us together in the honourable marriage, in the 
everlasting covenant and immortal Seed of life. In the sense whereof, 
living and weighty testimonies were borne thereunto by friends in the 
movings of the heavenly power, which united us together. Then was a 
certificate, relating both the proceedings and the marriage, openly read, 
and signed by the relations, and by most of the ancient friends of that 
city; besides many others from divers parts of the nation. 

We staid about a week in Bristol, and then went together to Old- 
stone: where, taking leave of each other in the Lord, we parted, betak- 
ing ourselves each to our several service; Margaret returning home- 
wards to the north, and I passing on in the work of the Lord as before. 
I travelled through Wiltshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, 
and so to London, visiting friends: in all which counties | had many 
large and precious meetings. 

Being in London, it came upon me to write to friends throughout the 
nation, about ‘putting out poor children to trades.’ Wherefore I sent 
the following epistle to the quarterly meetings of friends in all the coun- 
ties. 

‘ My dear Friends, 

‘Ler every quarterly meeting make inquiry through all the monthly 
and other meetings, to know all friends that are widows, or others, that 
have children fit to put out to apprenticeships; so that once a quarter 
you may set forth an apprentice from your quarterly meeting; so you 
may set forth four in a year, in each county, or more, if there be occa- 
sion. This apprentice, when out of his time, may help his father or 
mother, and support the family that is decayed; and, in so doing, all 
inay come to live comfortably. This being done in your quarterly 
meetings, ye will have knowledge through the county, in the monthly 
and particular meetings, of masters fit for them; and of such trades as 
their parents or you desire, or the children are most inclinable to. Thus 
being placed out to friends, they may be trained up in truth; and by 
this means in the wisdom of God, you may preserve friends’ children 
in the truth, and enable them to be a strength and help to their families 
and nursers ani preservers of their relations in their ancient days. 


669] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 425 


Thus also, things being ordered in the wisdom of God, you will take 
off a continual maintenance, and free yourselves from much cuniber. 
For in the country, ye know, ye may set forth an apprentice for a hit- 
tle to several trades, as bricklayers, masons, carpenters, wheelwrights, 
ploughwrights, taylors, tanners, curriers, blacksmiths, shoemakers, nail- 
ers, butchers, weavers of linen and woollen, stuffs and serges, &c. And 
you may do well to have a stock in your quarterly meetings for that 
purpose. All that is given by any friends at their decease, except it 
be given to some particular use, person, or meeting, may be brought 
to the publick stock for that purpose. This will be a way for the pre- 
serving of many that are poor among you; and it will be a way of 
making up poor families. In several counties it is practised already. 
Some quarterly meetings set forth two apprentices; and sometimes the 
children of others that are laid on the parish. You may bind them for 
fewer or more years, according to their capacities. In all things the 
wisdom of God will teach you; by which ye may help the children of 
poor friends, that they may come to support their families, and pre-~ 
serve them in the fear of God. So no more, but my love in the ever- 
lasting Seed, by which ye will have wisdom to order all things to the 
glory of God. G. F? 
‘ London, the first of the 
‘11th month, 1669.’ 


I staid not long in London; but having visited friends, and finding 
things there quiet and well, the Lord’s power being over all, I passed 
into Essex and Hertfordshire, where I had many precious meetings. In- 
tending to go as far as Leicestershire, I wrote a letter to my wife, to 
acquaint her therewith; that, if she found it convenient, she might meet 
me there. From Hertfordshire I turned into Cambridgeshire; thence 
into Huntingdonshire, and so into Leicestershire; where, instead of 
meeting my wife, I heard she was haled out of her house to Lancaste1 
prison, by an order got from the king and council, to fetch her back to 
prison upon the old premunire; though she had been discharged from 
that imprisonment by an order from the king and council the year be- 
fore. Wherefore, having visited friends as far as Leicestershire, I re- 
turned by Derbyshire and Warwickshire to London; having had many 
large and blessed meetings in the several counties | passed through, and 
been sweetly refreshed amongst friends in my travels. 

As soon as I was got to London, I hastened Mary Lower and Sarah 
Fell (two of my wife’s daughters) to the king, to acquaint him how their 
mother was dealt with, and see if they could get a full discharge for 
her, that she might enjoy her estate and liberty without molestation. 
This was somewhat diificult, but by diligent attendance they at length 
obtained it; the king giving command to Sir John Otway to signify his 
pleasure therein by letter to the sheriff, and others concerned in the 
country. Which letter Sarah Fell, going down with her brother ana 
sister Rous, carried with her to Lancaster; and by them I wrote to mv 
wife, as followeth: 


*‘ My dear heart in the truth and life, that changeth not, 


‘Ir was upon me that Mary Lower and Sarah should go to the king 
concerning thy imprisonment; and to Kirby, that the power of the 
Lord might appear over them all in thy deliverance. Tey went; and 
then thought to have come down; but it was upon me to stay them a 

3D 


426 sh0RGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1676 


little longer, that tney might follow th2 business till it was effected 
‘which it now is, and is here sent. The late declaration of mine hath 
‘been very serviceable, people being generally satisfied with it. So no 
‘more but my love in the holy Seed. G. FY’ 


The declaration here mentioned was a printed sheet, written upon oc- 


casion of a new persecution stirred up. For by that time I was got to 
London, a fresh storm was risen, occasioned, it was thought, by that tu- 
multuous meeting in a steeple-house in Wiltshire or Gloucestershire, men- 
tioned a little before, from which, as it was said, some members of par- 
liament took advantage to get an act passed against seditious conventi- 
cles; which soon after came forth, and was turned against us, who of 
all people were free from sedition and tumult. Whereupon I wrote a 


declaration, shewing from the preamble and terms of the act that we 


were not such a people, nor our meetings such as were described in that 
act. Besides that declaration, I wrote also another short paper, on the 
occasion of that act against meetings; opening our case to the mayis- 
trates, as followeth: 


‘O Frrenps, consider this act, which limits our meetings to five. Is 


_ *this, ‘to do as ye would be done by” Would ye be so served your- © 


‘selves? We own Christ Jesus as well as you, his coming, death, and 
‘resurrection; and if we be contrary minded to you in some things, is 
‘not this the apostle’s exhortation, to “ wait till God hath revealed it?” 
‘Doth not he say, ‘ What is not of faith, is sin? Seeing we have not 
‘ faith in things which ye would have us to do, would it not be sin in us 
‘if we should act contrary to our faith? Why should any man have 
‘power over any other man’s faith, seeing Christ is the author of it? 
‘ When the apostles preached in the name of Jesus, and great multitudes - 
‘heard them, and the rulers forbad them to speak any more in that name, — 
‘did not they bid them judge whether it were better to obey God or 
‘man? Would not this act have taken hold of the twelve apostles and 
‘seventy disciples: for they met often together? If there had been a law : 
‘made then, that not above five should have met with Christ, would not — 
‘that have been an hindering him from meeting with his disciples? Do 
‘ye think that he, who is the wisdom~of God, or his disciples, would 
‘have obeyed it? If such a law had been made in the apostles’ days, 
‘that not above five might have met together, who had been different 
‘minded from either the Jews or the Gentiles, do ye think the churches — 
‘of Christ at Corinth, Philippi, Ephesus, Thessalonica, or the rest of the 
‘ gathered churches, would have obeyed it? O therefore consider! for 
‘we are Christians, and partake of the nature and life of Christ. Strive 
‘not to limit the Holy One; for God’s power cannot be limited, and is 
‘not to be quenched. “ Do unto all men as ye would have them do unto 
“you; for that is the law and the prophets.” 
‘This is from those who wish you all well, and desire your ever- 
: 


le Bins 


‘lasting good and prosperity, called Quakers ; who seek the peace 
‘and good of all people, though they afflict us, and te us to 
‘ suffer. le 


As I had endeavoured to soften the magistrates, and to take off the 
sharpness of their edge in the execution of the act, so it was upon me to 
‘write a few lines to friends, to strengthen and encourage them to stand 
‘fast in their testimony, and bear, with Christian patience and content 

the suffering that was coming upon them.’ 


1670, GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 427 


‘ My dear triends, Keep in the faith of God above all outward things, 
and in his power, that hath given you dominion over all. The same 
* power of God is still with you to deliver you as formerly: for God and 
‘his power is the same; his seed is over all, and before all; and will be, 
‘when that which makes to suffer is gone. Be of good faith in that which 
‘changeth not; for whatsoever any doth against the truth it will come 
‘upon themselves, and fall as a mill-stone on their heads. If the Lord 
‘suffer you to be tried, let all be given up; look at the Lord and his 
‘ power, which is over the whole world, and will remain when the world 
‘is gone. In the Lord’s power and truth rejoice, friends, over that which 
‘ makes to suffer, in the Seed, which was before it was; for the life, truth, 
‘and power of God is over all. All keep in that; and if ye suffer in that 
‘it is to the Lord. 

‘Friends, the Lord hath blessed you in outward things; and now he 
‘may try you, whether your minds be in outward things, or with the 
‘Lord that gave you them? ‘Therefore keep in the Seed, by which all 
‘outward things were made, and which is over them all. What! shall 
‘not I pray, and speak to God, with my face towards heavenly Jerusa- 
‘lem, according to my wonted time? Let not any one’s Delilah shave 
‘his head, lest such lose their strength; neither rest in its lap, lest the 
‘ Philistines be upon you. For your rest is in Christ Jesus; therefore rest 

not in any thing else. G. F? 


*‘ London, the 12th of the 
2d Month, 1670.’ 


On the next first-day after the act came in force, I went to the meet- 
ing-house at Gracechurch-street, where | expected the storm was most 
likely to begin. When I came there, I found the street full of people, 
and a guard set to keep friends out of their meeting-house. I went to the 
other passage, out of Lombard-street, where also I found a guard; but 
the court was full of people, and a friend was speaking amongst them: 
but spoke not long. When he had done, I stood up, and was moved to 
say, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick 
‘ against that which pricks thee. Then I shewed, it is Saul’s nature that 
‘persecutes still; and that they, who persecute Christ in his members 
‘now, where he is made manifest, kick against that which pricks them. 
‘ That it was the birth of the flesh that persecuted the birth born of the 
‘ Spirit ; and that it was the nature of dogs to tear and devour the sheep; 
‘but that we suffered as sheep that bite not again; for we were a peace- 
‘able people, and loved them that persecuted us.’ After I had spoken 
, awhile to this effect, the constable came with an informer and soldiers; 
_ and as they plucked me down, J said, ‘ Blessed are the peace-makers.’ 
The commander of the soldiers put me among the soldiers, and bid them 
secure me, saying to me, ‘ You are the man I looked for.’ They took 
also John Burneyate, with another friend, and had us away first to the 
Exchange, and afterwards towards Moorfields. As we went along the 
streets the people were very moderate. Some of them laughed at the 
constable, and told him, ‘ We would not run away.’ The intormer went 
with us unknown; till falling into discourse with one of the company, he 
said, ‘It would never be a good world till all people came tu the gooa 
‘old religion that was two hundred years ago.’ Whereupon I asked him, 
* Art thou a Papist?) What! a Papist informer? for two hundred years 
‘ago there was no other religion but that of the Papists.’ He saw he ha: 


428 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1676 


ensnared himself, and was vexed at it; for as he went along the streets 
1 spoke often to him, and manifested what he was. When we were come 
to the mayor’s house, and were in the court-yard, several asked me 
‘ How and for what I was taken” 1 desired them to ask the informer; 
and also know what his name was: but he refused to tell his name. 
Whereupon one of the mayor’s officers looking out at a window, told 
him, ‘ He should tell his name before he went away: for the lord-mayor 
‘would know by what authority he intruded himself with soldiers into 
‘the execution of those laws which belonged to the civil magistrate to 
‘execute, and not to the military.’ After this, he was eager to be gone; 
and went to the porter to be let out. One of the officers called to him, 
saying, ‘ Have you brought people here to inform against, and now will 
you go away before my lord-mayor comes” Some called to the porter 
not to let him out; whereupon he forcibly pulled open the door and 
slipped out. No sooner was he come into the street but the people gave 
a shout, that made the street ring again, crying out, ‘ A Papist mformer! 
‘A Papist informer!’ We desired the constable and soldiers to go and 
rescue him out of the people’s hands, lest they should do him a mischief. 
They went, and brought him into the mayor’s entry, where we staid 
awhile: but when he went out again, the people received him with such 
another shout. Whereupon the soldiers were obliged to rescue him once 
more ; and then they had him into an house in an alley, where they per- 
suaded him to change his periwig, so he got away unknown. 
When the mayor came, we were brought into the room where he 
was, and some of his officers would have taken off our hats; which he 
perceiving, bid them, ‘let us alone, and not meddle with our hats; for,’ 


‘ said he, ‘ they are not yet brought before me in judicature.’ So we stood . 


by, while he examined some Presbyterian and Baptist teachers; with 
whom he was somewhat sharp, and convicted them. After he had done 
with them, I was brought to the table where he sat; and then the offi- 
cers took off my hat. The mayor said mildly to me, ‘ Mr. Fox, you are 
‘an eminent man amongst those of your profession; pray, will you be 
‘instrumental to dissuade them from meeting in such great numbers? for, 
‘seeing Christ hath promised, that where two or three are met in his 
‘name, he will be in the midst of them; and the king and parliament are 
‘graciously pleased to allow of four to meet together to worship God ; 
‘why will not you be content to partake both of Christ’s promise to two 
‘or three and the king’s indulgence to four” I answered to this purpose : 
‘ Christ’s promise was not to discourage many from meeting together in 
‘his name; but to encourage the few, that the fewest might not forbear 
‘to meet, because of their fewness. But if Christ hath promised to mani- 
fes. his presence in the midst of so small an assembly, where but two 
‘or three were gathered in his name, how much more would his presence 
abound, where two or three hundred are gathered in his name? I 
wished him to consider whether this act would not have taken hold of 
Carist, with his twelve apostles and seventy disciples (if it had been in 
their time) who used to meet often together, and that in great numbers? 
However, I told him this act did not concern us; for it was made 
against seditious meetings, of such as met, under colour and pretence 
of religion, to contrive insurrections, as the act says, late experience 
had shewn; but we had been sufficiently tried and proved, and always 
found peaceable; therefore he should do well to put a difference between 
the innrcent and the guilty.” He said, ‘The act was made against 


1670] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 429 


‘meetings, and a worship not according to the liturgy.’ i told him, 
‘ [According to] was not the very same thing; and asked him, whether 
‘the liturgy was according to the scriptures? And whetlier we might 
‘not read scriptures, and speak scriptures”’ He said, Yes. I told him, 
‘This act took hold only of such as met to plot and contrive insurrec- 
‘tions, as late experience had shewn; but they had never experienced 
‘that by us. Because thieves are sometiines on the road, must not honest 
‘men travel! And because plotters and contrivers have met to do mis. 
‘chief, must not an honest, peaceable people meet to do good? If we had 
‘Leen a people that met to plot and contrive insurrections, &c. we might 
‘have drawn ourselves into fours; for four might do more mischief in 
* plotting than if there were four hundred, because four might speak out 
‘ their minds more freely to one another than four hundred could. There- 
‘fore we being innocent, and not the people this act concerns, we keep 
‘our meetings as we used to do; and I said, I believed that he knew in his 
* conscience we were innocent.’ After some more discourse he took our 
names, and the places where we lodged, and at length, as the informer 
was gone, set us at liberty. 

Being at liberty, the friends with me asked, ‘Whither I would go” | 
told them, ‘To Gracechurch-street meeting again, if it was not over.’ 
When we came there, the people were generally gone; only some few 
stood at the gate. We went into Gerrard Roberts’s. From thence | 
sent to know how the other meetings in the city were? And understood, 
that at some of the meeting-places friends were kept out; at others they 
were taken, but set at liberty again a few days after. A glorious time 
it was; for the Lord’s power came over all, and his everlasting truth got 
renown. For as fast as some, that were speaking, were taken down, 
others were moved of the Lord to stand up and speak, to the admira- 
tion of the people; and the more, because many Baptists and other secta- 
ries left their publick meetings, and came to see how the Quakers would 
stand. As for the informer aforesaid, he was so frighted, that there durst 
hardly any informer appear publickly again in London for some time 
after. But the mayor, whose name was Samuel Starling, though he car- 
ried himself smoothly towards us, proved afterwards a very great per- 
secutor of our friends, many of whom he cast into prison, as may be 
seen in the trials of W. Penn, W. Mead, and others at the Old Bailey 
this year. 

After some time the heat of persecution in the city began to abate, 

= meetings were quieter there. I being then clear of the city, went 


to visit friends in the country; and attended several meetings in Mid- 
dlesex, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, which were quiet, though in 
some places there was much threatening. At Reading most of the friends 
_ were in prison; and I went to visit them. When I had been awhile with 
them, the friends that were prisoners gathered together, and several 
other persons came in; so | had a fine opportunity amongst them, and 
‘declared the word of life, encouraging them in the truth; and they 
‘were refreshed in feeling the presence and power of the Lord amongst 
‘them.’ When the meeting was ended, the gaoler understanding I was 
there, friends were concerned how to get me safe out again; for they 
feared he should stop me. After IJ had staid awhile, and eat with them, 
I went down stairs, and the gaoler being at the door, I put my hand in 
my pocket, which he had such an eye to, hoping to get something of me, 
that he asked me no question. So I gave him something, and bad him 


ee 


430 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [167: 


be kind.and civil to my friends in prison, whom I cane to visit;’ an | 

he let me pass out without interruption. But soon after Isaac Pen‘ngto.a 
coming to visit them, he stopped him, and caused him to be made a pris 
oner. 

Next morning I rode to a meeting at Baghurst in Hampshire, Thomas 
Briggs being with me. When we came into the parish, some sober peo- 
ple told us, ‘ The priest of the town was an envious man, and did threaten 
‘us.’ We went to the meeting, which was large, and after some time 
Thomas Briggs stood up and spoke. It seems the priest had got a war- 
rant, and sent the constables and other officers with it. They came to 
the house, staid awhile, and then went away, but did not come into the 
meeting ; so we in the meeting did not know of their being there. After 
Thomas Briggs had done speaking, | was moved of the Lord to stand 
up, and declare the word of life to the people; and a precious meeting 
we had. When the meeting was ended and risen, I heard a great clut- 
ter in the yard; and when we came out, the man of the house told us, 
‘The officers had been in the house before, and did not come into the 
‘meeting, but went away without doing any thing. And that now the 
‘priest in a great rage had sent them again, and his own servant with 
‘them.’ But the meeting being ended before they came, they could do 
nothing. Thus the good providence of the Lord preserved us from the 
wicked design of the envious priest. 

From thence we went to a friend’s on the edge of Berkshire, where 
several friends came to visit us. Afterwards we passed into Surry, and 
had many precious meetings, till we came to Stephen Smith’s near Guild- 
ford, where great persecution had been; and much goods had been ta- 
ken away from friends for their meetings, and under great threatenings 
they were at that time; yet we had several blessed meetings there- 
abouts; and the Lord’s power was over all, in and by which we were 
preserved. 

We went into Sussex, by Richard Baxe’s, where we had a large, pre- 
cious, quiet meeting, though the constables had given out threatenings 
before. I had many more meetings in that county; and though there 
were some threatenings, meetings were peaceable; and friends refreshed, 


and established upon the foundation of God that stands sure. When I . 


had thoroughly visited Sussex, I went into Kent, and had many glorious 
and precious meetings in several parts of that county. I went to a meet- 
ing near Deal, which was very large; and returning from thence to Can- 
terbury, visited friends there ; then passed into the Isle of Sheppy, where 
I staid two or three days: and thither came Alexander Parker, George 
Whitehead, and John Rouse. 

The next day, finding my service for the Lord finished there, we passec| 
towards Rochester. As I was walking down a hill, a great weight and 
oppression fell upon my spirit. I got on my horse again; but the weight 
remained so, that I was hardly able to ride. At length we came to Ro- 
chester, but I was much spent, being so extremely loaden and burdened 
with the world’s spirits, that my life was oppressed under them. I got 
with difficulty to Gravesend, and lay at an inn there; but could hardly 
either eat or sleep. The next day John Rouse and Alexander Parker 
went for London. John Stubbs and I went over the Ferry into Essex. 
We came to Horn-church, where was a meeting on the first-day. After 
the meeting ] rode with great uneasiness to Stratford, to a friend’s whose 
name was Williams; he had formerly been a captain. -Here I lay ex- 


a a EEE OEE OOO 


( 


670] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 431 


eceding weak, and at last lost both hearing and siglit. Several friends 
came to me from London. I told them, ‘I should be as a sign to 
“such as would not see, and such as would not hear the truth.’ In this 
condition I continued a pretty while. Several came about me; and 
though I could not see their persons, I felt and discerned their spirits, 
who of them was honest-hearted, and who was not. Divers friends, who 
practised physick, would have given me medicines, but I was not to 
meddle with any; for I was sensible I had a travail to go through; and 
therefore desired none but solid, weighty friends might be about me. 
Under great sufferings, sorrows, and oppressions I lay for several weeks ; 
whereby I was brought so low and weak in body, that few thought I 
could live. Some of those with me went away, saying, ‘ They would 
‘not see me die;’ and it was reported both in London and in the coun- 


try that I was deceased; but | felt the Lord’s power inwardly support-: 


ing me. When those about me had given me up to die, I spoke to them 
to get a coach to carry me to Gerrard Roberts’s, about twelve miles off; 
for I found it was my place to go thither. I had now recovered a little 
glimmering sight, so that I could discern the people and fields as I went, 
and that was all. When I came to Gerrard’s, he was very weak. I was 
moved to speak to him, and encourage him. After I had staid about 
three weeks there, it was with me ‘to go to Enfield. Friends were afraid 
of my removing; but I told them I might safely go. When I had taken 
my leave of Gerrard, and was come to Enfield, I went first to visit Amor 
Stoddart, who lay very weak, and almost speechless. I was moved to 
tell him, ‘He had been faithful as a man, and faithful to God; and that 
‘the immortal Seed of life was his crown.’ Many more words I was 
moved to speak to him; though I was then so weak, I was hardly able 
to stand; and within a few days after Amor died. I went to the widow 
Dry’s at Enfield, where I lay all that winter; warring in spirit with the 
evil spirit? of the world, that warred against truth and friends. For 
there were great persecutions at this time. Some meeting-houses were 
pulled down, and many were broken up by soldiers. Sometimes a troop 
of horse or a company of foot came; and some broke their swords, car- 
bines, muskets, and pikes with beating friends. Many they wounded, so 
that their blood lay in the streets. Amongst others, that were active in 
this cruel persecution at London, my old adversary colonel Kirby was 
one; who, with a company of foot, went to break up several meetings ; 
and would often inquire for me at the meetings he broke up. One time, 
as he went over the water to Horslydown, there happening some scuffle 
between some of his soldiers and some ofthe watermen, he bid his men 
‘Fire at them ;’ which they did, and killed some. 

I was under great sufferings at this time, beyond what I have words 
to declare. For J was brought into the deep, and saw all the religions 
of the world, and people that lived in them, and the priests that held 
them up; who were as a company of men-eaters, eating up the people 
like bread, and gnawing the flesh from off their bones. But.as for true 
religion and worship, and ministers of God, alack! I saw there was none 
amongst those of the world that pretended to it. ‘For they that pre- 
tended to be the church, were but a company of men-eaters, men of 
cruel visages, and of long teeth; who, though they had cried against the 
men-eaters in America, ] saw they were in the same nature. And as 
the great professing Jews did ‘eat up God’s people like bread,’ and the 
false prophets and priests then preached peace to people, so long as they 


iu 


432 / GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [6% 


put into their mouths and fed them;’ but if they fed them not, they pre- 
pared war against them; ‘they ate their flesh off their bones, and chop- 
‘ped them for the caldron;’ so these that profess themselves christians 
now, both priests and professors, and are not in the same power and 
Spirit that Christ and the holy prophets and apostles were in, are in the 
same nature that the old professing Jews were in, and are men-eaters as 
well as they. These stirred up persecution, and set the wicked inform- 
ers on work; so that a friend could hardly speak a few words in a pri- 
vate family, before they sat down to eat, but some were ready to in- 
form against them. A particular instance of which I have heard, as 
followeth : 

At Droitwich, J. Cartwright came to a friend’s house; and being 
moved of the Lord to speak a few words before he sat down to supper, 
there came an informer, and stood hearkening under the window. When 
he had heard the friend speak, hoping to get some gain to himself, he 
went and informed; and got a warrant to distrain the friend’s goods, 
under pretence that there was a meeting at his house: whereas there 
was none in the house at that time but the friend, the man of the house, 
his wife, and their maid-servant. But this evil-minded man, as he came 
back with his warrant in the night, fell off his horse, and broke his neck. 
So there was a wretched end of a wicked informer, who hoped to have 
enriched himself by spoiling friends; but the Lord prevented him, and 
cut him off in his wickedness. 

Though it was a cruel, bloody, persecuting time, yet the Lord’s powe 
went over all, his everlasting Seed prevailed; and friends were made to 
stand firm and faithful in the Lord’s power. Some sober people of other 
professions would say, ‘If friends did not stand, the nation would run 
‘into debauchery.’ 

Though by reason of my weakness.I could not travel amongst friends 
as I used to do; yet in the motion of life I sent the following fines, as an 
encouraging testimony to them: 


‘ My dear friends, 

The Seed is above all. In it walk; in which ye all have life. Be 
‘not amazed at the weather; for always the just suffered by the unjust, 
‘but the just had the dominion. All along ye may see, by faith the 
‘mountains were subdued; and the rage of the wicked, with his fiery 
‘darts, were quenched. Though the waves and storms be high, yet your 
‘faith will keep you, so as to swim above them; for they are but for a 
‘time, and the truth is elton gts, Therefore keep on the mountain 
‘of holiness, ye who are led to it by the light, where nothing shall hurt. 
‘Do not think that any thing will outlast the truth, which standeth sure ; 
‘and is over that which is out of the truth. For the good will overcome 
‘ the evil, the light darkness, the life death, virtue vice, and righteousness 
‘unrighteousness. The false prophet cannot overcome the true; but the 
‘true prophet, Christ, will overcome all the false. So be faithful, and 
‘live in that which doth not think the time long. el oh 


After some time it pleased the Lord to allay the heat of this violent 
persecution; and I felt in spirit an overcoming of the spirits of those men- 
eaters that had stirred it up, and carried it on to that height of cruelty, 
though I was outwardly very weak. I plainly felt, and those friends 
that were with me, and that came to visit me, took notice, that, as the 
nersecution ceased, I came from under the travails and sufferings which 


os 


1670] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 433 


had laid with such weight upon me: so that towards the spring I begar. 
to recover, and to walk up and down, beyund the expectation of many 
who did not think I could ever have gone abroad again. 

Whilst I was under this spiritual suffering, the state of the New Jeru 
salem, which comes down out of heaven, was opened to me; which some 
carnal-minded people had looked upon to be like an outward city, drop- 
ped out of the elements. I saw the beauty and glory of it, the length, 
the breadth, and the height thereof, all in complete proportion. I saw 
that all. who are within the light of Christ, in his faith, which he is the 
author of, in the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which Christ, the holy Prophets 
and Apostles were in, and within the grace, truth, and power of God, 
which are the walls of the city, such are within the city, are members 
of this city, and have right to eat of the tree of life, which yields her 
fruit every month, and whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. 
But they that are out of the grace, truth, light, Spirit and power of God, 
such as resist the Holy Ghost, quench, vex, and grieve the Spirit of God. 
who hate the Light, turn from the grace of God into wantonness, and do 
despite to the Spirit of Grace, such as have erred from the faith, made 
shipwreck of it and of a good conscience, who abuse the power of God, 
and despise prophesying, revelation, and inspiration, these are the dogs 
and unbelievers that are without the city. ‘These make up the great city 
Babylon, confusion, and her cage, the power of darkness; and the evil 
spirit of error surrounds and covers them over. In this great city Baby- 
lon are the false prophets, in the false power and false spirit; the beast 
in the dragon’s power, and the whore that is gone a whoring from the 
Spirit of God, and from Christ her husband. But the Lord’s power is 
over all this power of darkness, cage, whore, beast, dragon, false pro- 
_phets and their worshippers, who are for the lake which burns with fire. 
Many things more did I see concerning the heavenly city, the New Jeru- 
salem, which are hard to be uttered, and would be hard to be received. 
But, in short, this holy city is within the light; and all that are within 
the light are within the city; the gates whereof stand open all the day 
(for there is no night there) that all may come in. Christ’s blood being 
shed for every man, he tasted death for every man; and enlighteneth 
every man that cometh into the world; and his grace, that brings salva- 
tior., uaving appeared to all men, there is no place or language where 
his voice may not be heard. The christians in the primitive times were 
called by Christ ‘A city set upon an hill; they were also called ‘ The 
‘light of the world,’ and, ‘ The salt of the earth; but when christians 
lost the light, salt, and power of God, they came to be trodden under 
foot, like unsavoury salt. Even as the Jews, who while they kept the 
law of God were preserved above all nations, but when they turned 
their backs on God and his law they were trodden under foot of other 
nations; so Adam and Eve, while they obeyed God, were kept in his 
image and in the paradise of God, in dominion over all the works of his 
hands; but when they disobeyed God, they lost the image of God, the 
righteousness and the holiness in which they were made; they lost their 
dominion, were driven out of paradise. fell under the dark power of Sa- 
tan, and came under the chains of darkness. But the promise of God 
was, ‘That the Seed of the woman, Christ Jesus, should bruise the ser 
‘pent’s head,’ should break his power and authority, which had led into 
captivity, and had held man therein. So Christ, who is the first and last, 
sets man free, and is the resurrection “a the just and unjust, the Judge 

3 


%34 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1670 


of quick and dead; and they that are in him are invested with everlast 
ing rest and peace, out of all the labours, travails, and miseries of Adam 
in the fall. So he is sufficient and of ability to restore man up into the 
state that he was in before he fell; and not into that state only, but up 
into that state also that never fell, even to himself. 

I had also in this time a great exercise and travail of spirit upon me, 
concerning the powers and rulers of these nations, from the sense I had 
of the many tender visitations and faithful warnings given them, and of 
their great abuse thereof, who had refused to hear, and rejected the coun- 
sel of the Lord. And though I knew friends would be clear of their 
ttood, yet I could not but mourn over them, and give forth these few — 
lines concerning them: 


‘We have given them a visitation, have faithfully warned them, have 
‘declared to them our innocency and uprightness, and that we never 
‘did any hurt to the king, nor to any of his people. We have nothing 
‘in our hearts but love and good-will to him and his people, and desire ~ 
‘their eternal welfare. But if they will not hear, the day of judgment, — 
‘sorrow, torment, misery, and sudden destruction will come from the 
‘Lord upon them, that have been the cause of the sufferings of many 
‘thousands of simple, innocent, harmless people, that have done them no 
‘hurt, nor have had any ill-will towards him or them; but have desired . 
‘ their eternal good, for the eternal truth’s sake. Destenenian will come — 
‘upon them that turn the sword backward. Therefore do not blind your 
‘eyes, the Lord will bring swift destruction and misery upon you. Sure- — 
‘ly he will do it, and relieve his innocent people, who have groaned for 
‘deliverance from under your oppression, and have also groaned for 
‘ your deliverance out of wickedness. Blessed be the Lord God, that 
‘he hath a people in this nation that seek the good of all men upon the 
‘face of the earth; for we have the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ, that 
‘desires not the deat of a sinner, but the salvation and good or all. 


‘ Blessed be the name of the Lord our God for ever! G. FY 


While I continued at Enfield, a sense came upon me of an hurt, that 


sometimes happened by persons coming under the profession of truth 


out of one country into another, to take an husband or wife amongst 
friends, where they were strangers, and it was not known whether they 
were clear and orderly or no. And it opened in me to recommend the j 
following method to friends, for preventing such inconveniencies. 


‘Avy friends that marry, whether men or women, if they come out 
‘of another nation, island, plantation, or county, let them bring a certifi- 
‘cate from the men’s meeting of that county, nation, island, or plantation 
‘from which they come, to the men’s meeting where they propose their 
‘intention of marriage. For the men’s meeting being made up of the faith- 
‘ful, this will stop all bad and raw spirits from roving up and down. 
‘ When any come with a certificate or letter of recommendation from one 

men’s meeting to another, one is refreshed by another, and can set 
‘their hands and hearts to the thing. This will prevent a great deal of 
‘trouble. And then, when ye have to say to them in the power of God, 
‘in admonishing and instructing them, ye are left to the power and 
‘Spirit of God to do it, and to let them know the duty of marriage, and 
‘what it is; that there may be unity and concord in the Spirit, and 
‘ power, light, and wisdom of God, throughout all the men’s meetings in 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. : 435 


the whole world, in one, in the life. Let copies of this be sent to every 
county, nation, and island, where friends are, that all things may be 
kept holy, pure, and righteous, in unity and peace, and God over all 
“may be glorified among you, his lot, his people, and inheritance, his 
| - adopted sons and daughters, and heirs of his life. So no more, but my 
| love in that which changeth not. Gur? 


* The 14th of the 1st month 1670-1. 


When I had recovered, so that I could walk a little up and down, I 
| went from Enfield to Gerrard Roberts’s again, and from thence to the 
‘women’s school at Shacklewell, and so to the meeting at Gracechurch- 
street, London; where, though I was yet but weak, the Lord’s power 
upheld and enabled me to declare his eternal word of life. 


About this time [ was moved to pray to the Lord, as followeth: 


“O Lorp God Almighty! prosper Truth, and preserve justice ana 
‘equity in the land! Bring down all injustice, iniquity, oppression, 
“falsehood, cruelty, and unmercifulness in the land, that mercy and 
“righteousness may flourish ! 
~ “O Lord God! set up and establish verity, and preserve it in the 
“land! Bring down in the land all debauchery, vice, whoredoms, for 
‘nication, and this raping spirit, which causeth and leadeth people ta 
“have no esteem of thee, O God! nor their own souls or bodies, nor of 
“ christianity, modesty, or humanity ! f 
“QO Lord! put it in the magistrates’ hearts to bring down all this un 
“ godliness, violence, cruelty, prophaneness, cursing and swearing! and 
“to put down all those whore-houses and play-houses, which corrupt 
“ youth and people, and lead them from thy kingdom, where no unclean 
“thing can enter, neither shall come! Such works lead people to hell. 
_ ‘Lord, in mercy bring down all these things in the nation, to stop thy 
“ wrath, O God! from coming on the land! Gre, BE 


- * This prayer was wrote the 17th 
“ of the 2d month, 1671.” 


_ I mentioned before, that, upon notice received of my wife’s being had 
_ to prison again, I sent two of her daughters to the king, and they pro- 
_ eured his order to the sheriff of Lancashire for her discharge. But 
_ though I expected she would have been set at liberty, yet this violent 
storm of persecution coming suddenly on, the persecutors there found 
_ means to hold her still in prison. But now the persecution a little ceas- 
ing, I was moved to speak to Martha Fisher, and another woman friend, 
_ to go to the king about her liberty. They went in the faith, and in the 
Ins power; and he gave them favour with the king, so that he zrant- 
\ eda discharge under the broad seal, to clear both her and her estate 
‘after she had been ten years a prisoner, and premunired; the like 
whereof was scarce to be heard in England. I sent down the discharge 
_ forthwith by a friend; by whom also I wrote to her, to inform her how 
: _ to get it delivered to the justices, and also to acquaint her, that it was 
upon me from the Lord to go beyond sea, to visit the plantations in 
_ America, and therefore desired her to hasten to London, as soon as she 
could conveniently after she had obtained her liberty, because the ship 
was then fitting for the voyage. In the meantime I got to Kingston, 


136 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. (167 


ena siaid at John Rous’s till my wife came uv and then began to pre 
pare for the voyage. But the yearly meeting being near at hand, I tars 
vied till that was over. Many friends came up to it from all parts oj 
tle nation, and a very large and precious meeting it was; for the Lord} 
power was over all, and his glorious, everlastingly-renowned seed of 
life was exalted above all. 
After this meeting was over, and I had finished my services for the 
Lord in England, the ship, and the friends that intended to go with me 
being ready, I went to Gravesend the 12th of the 6th month. ‘The 
friends that were bound for the voyage with me went down to the ship 
the night before. Their names were, Thomas Briggs, William Edmund- 
son, John Rous, John Stubbs, Solomon Eccles, James Lancaster, Johi 
Cartwright, Robert Widders, George Pattison, John Hull, Elizabeth 
Hooton, and Elizabeth Miers. The vessel we “were to go in was a 
yacht, called the Industry, the master’s name Thomas Forster, and the 
number of passengers about fifty. I lay that night on board; but most 
of the friends lay at Gravesend. Early next morning, the passengers, 
and those friends that intended to accompany us to the Downs, being 
come on board, we took our leave in great tenderness of those tha 
came with us to Gravesend only, and set sail about six in the morning 
for the downs. Having a fair wind, we outsailed all the ships that 
were outward-bound, and got thither by the evening. Some of us wen 
ashore that night, and lodged at Deal; where we understood an office 
had orders from the governor to take our names in writing, which he 
did the next morning, though we told him they had been taken at Graves: 
end. In the afternoon, the wind serving, I took leave of my wife and 
the other friends, and went on board. Before we could set sail, ther 
being two of the king’s frigates riding in the Downs, the captain of on 
of tnem sent his press-master on board us, who took three of our se 
men. This had certainly delayed, if not wholly prevented our voyage 
had not the captain of the other frigate, being informed of the leakines: 
of our vessel, and the length of our voyage, in compassion and muc 
civility, spared us two of his men. Before this was over, an officer o 
the custom-house came on board to peruse packets and get fees, so tha 
we were kept from sailing till about sun-set ; during which stop, a ver 
considerable number of merchantmen, outward-bound, were got sever 
leagues before us. Being clear we set sail in the evening, and by ne: 
morning overtook part of that fleet about the height of Dover. We 
soon reached the rest, and im a little time left them all behind us; for 
our yacht was counted a very swift sailer. But she was very leaky, so 
that the seamen and some of the passengers did for the most part pum 
day and night. One day they observed that in two hours’ time shi 
sucked in sixteen inches of water in the well. 
When we had been about three weeks at sea, one afternoon we spiec 
a vessel about four leagues astern of us. Our master said, It was a 
Sallee man of war who seemed to give us chase. Our master said 
‘Come, let us go to supper, and when it grows dark, we shall lose him. 
This he spoke to pacify the passengers, some of whom began to be ve 
apprehensive of the danger. But friends were well satisfied, having faitl 
in God, and no fear upon their spirits. When the sun was down, I sa 
the ship out of my cabin making towards us. When it grew dark, w 
altered our course to miss her; but she altered also, and gained upo 
us. At night the master and others came into my cabin, and asked me 


671) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 437 


_ What they should-do” I told them, ‘I was no mariner;’ aud asked 
them, ‘ What they thought was best todo? They said ‘There were 
_ but two ways, either to out-run him, or tack about and nold the same 
“course we were going before.’ I told them, ‘If he were a thief, they 
* might be sure he would tack about too; and as for out-running him, it 
‘ was to no purpose to talk of that, for they saw he sailed faster than 
‘we.’ They asked me again, ‘ What they should do” ‘ For,’ they said, 
‘if the mariners had taken Paul’s counsel, they had not come to the 
damage they did.’ I answered, ‘It was a trial of faith, therefore the 
Lord was to be waited on for counsel.’ So retiring in spirit, the Lord 
shewed me, ‘ That his life and power was placed between us and the 
‘ship that pursued us.’ I told this to the master and the rest, and that 
best way was to tack about and steer our right course. I wished 
em also to put out all their candles, but that they steered by, and to 
eak to all the passengers to be still and quiet. About the 11th hour 
in the night the watch called, and said, ‘They were just upon us.’ 
That disquieted some of the passengers; whereupon I sat up in my 
cabin, and looking through the port-hole, the moon being not quite down, 
Isaw them very near us. [| was getting up to go out of the cabin; 
but remembering the word of the Lord, ‘ That his life and power was 
‘placed between us and them,’ I lay down again. The master and some 
of the seamen came again, and asked me, ‘If they might not steer such 
‘a point” I told them, ‘ They might do as they would.’ By this time 
the moon was gone quite down, a fresh gale arose, and the Lord hid us 
' from them; and we sailed briskly on, and saw them no more. The next 
day, being the first day of the week, we had a publick meeting in the 
ship, as we usually had on that day throughout the voyage, and the 
Lord’s presence was greatly among us. | desired the people, ‘To mind 
‘the mercies of the Lord, who had delivered them: for they might have 
‘been all in the Turks’ hands by that time, had not the Lord’s hand saved 
‘them.’ About a week after, the master and some of the seamen endeav- 
oured to persuade the passengers, it was not a Turkish pirate that chased 
us, but a merchant-man going to the Canaries. When I heard of it, I 
asked them, ‘ Why then did they speak so to me? Why did they trouble 
‘the passengers? And why did they tack about from him, and alter 
‘their course” I told them, ‘ They should take heed of slighting the 
*mercies of God.’ 

Afterwards, while we were at Barbadoes, came in a merchant from 
‘Sallee, and told the people, ‘ That one of the Sallee men of war saw a 
‘monstrous yacht at sea, the greatest that ever he saw, had her in chace, 
‘and was just upon her; but there was a Spirit in her that he could not 
‘take.’ This confirmed us in the belief, that it was a Sallee-man we saw 
| make after us; and that it was the Lord that delivered us out of his 
hands. 

I was not sea-sick during the voyage, as many of the friends and 
| 


other passengers were; but the many hurts and bruises | had formerly 

received, and the infirmities ] had contracted in England by extreme 

cold and hardships, that I had undergone in many long and sore impris- 
_onments, returned upon me at sea; so that I was very ill in my stomach, 
_and full of violent pains in my bones and limbs. This was after I had been 
at sea about a month; for about three weeks after I came first to sea, I 
_ Sweat abundantly, chiefly my head; and my body broke out in pimples, 
and my legs and feet swelled extremely, so that my stockings and slip- 
Pe 


og 


438 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [16: 


pers could not be drawn on without difficulty and great pain. On as 
den the sweating ceased, so that when I came iato the hot climate 
where others sweat most freely, I could nct sweat at all; but my fles! 
was hot, dry, and burning, and that which before broke out in pimpl 
struck in again to my stomach and heart; so that I was very ill, and 
weak beyond expression. Thus I continued during the rest of the voy- 
age, which was about a month; for we were seven weeks and some od 
days a* sea. 

The third of the eighth month, early in the morning, we discovered 
tue island of Barbadoes; but it was between nine and ten at night ere 
we came to anchor in Carlisle-bay. We got on shore as soon as w 
could, and I with some others walked to a friend’s house, a merchant, 
whose name was Richard Forstall, above a quarter of a mile from the 
bridge. But being very ill and weak, I was so tired, that I was in a 
manner spent by that time I got thither. There I abode very ill several 
days, and though they several times gave me things to make me sweat, 
they could not effect it. What they gave me did rather parch and dry 
up my body, and made me probably worse than otherwise I might have 
been. Thus I continued about three weeks after I landed, having much 
pain in my bones, joints, and whole body, so that I could hardly get any 
rest; yet I was pretty cheery, and my spirit kept above it all. Neither 
did my illness take me off from the service of truth; but both while I 
was at sea, and after I came to Barbadoes, before I was able to travel 
about, I gave forth several papers (having a friend to write for me) 
some of which I sent by the first conveyance for England to be printed. 

After I had rested three or four days at Richard Forstall’s, where 
many friends came to visit me, John Rous, having borrowed a coach of 
colonel Chamberlain, came to fetch me to his father Thomas Route 
But it was late ere we could get thither, and little or no rest could I take 
that night. A few days after, colonel Chamberlain, who had so kindly 
lent his coach, came to give me a visit, and carried himself very cour-| 
teously towards me. . 

Soon after I came into the island, I was. informed of a remarkable 
passage, wherein the justice of God did eminently appear: It was thus. 
There was a young man of Barbadoes, whose name was John Drakes: 
a person of some note in the world’s account, but a common swearer 
and a bad man, who, when he was in London, had a mind to marry a 
friend’s daughter, left by her mother very young, with a consider- 
able portion, to the care and government of several friends, whereof I 
was one. He made application to me, that he might have my consent 
to marry this young maid. I told him, ‘I was one of her overseers ap- 
‘ pointed by her mother, who was a widow, to take care of her; that if 
‘her mother had intended her for a match to any man of another pro- 

fession, she would have disposed her accordingly; but she committed 
‘her to us, that she might be trained up in the fear of the Lord; and 

therefore I should betray the trust reposed in me, if I should con- 
‘sent that he, who was out of the fear of God, should marry her; which 
‘TI would not do.’ When he saw that he could not obtain his desire, he 
returned to Barbadoes with great offence of mind against me, but with | 
out a just cause. Afterwards, when he heard I was coming to Barba- 
does, he swore desperately, and threatened, ‘ if he could possibly procure 
‘it, he would have me burned to death when I came there.’ Which a 
friend herring, asked him, ‘ What I had done to him, that he was sc 


671) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 439 


violent against me? He would not answer, but said again, * I'll have 
) him burned” Whereupon the friend replied, ‘ Do not march on too 
‘furiously, lest thou come too soon to thy journey’s 2nd.’ About ter. 
_ days after, he was struck with a violent burning fever, »f which he died , 
by which his body was so scorched, that the people said, ‘It was as 
*black as a coal;’ and three days before J landed, his body was laid in 
the dust. This was taken notice of as a sad example. 

While I continued so weak that I could not go abroad to meetings, 
the other friends that came over with me bestirred themselves in the 
Lord’s work. ‘The next day but one after we came on shore, they had 
a great meeting at the Bridge, and after that several meetings in differ- 
ent parts of the island; which alarmed the people of all sorts, so that 
many came to our meetings, and some of the chiefest rank. For they 
had got my name, understanding I was come upon the island, and ex- 
pected to have seen me, not knowing I was unable to go abroad. And 
indeed my weakness continued the longer on me, by reason that my 
spirit was much pressed down at the first with the filth and dirt, the un- 
righteousness of the people, which lay as an heavy weight and load upon 
me. But after I had been above a month upon the island, my spirit be- 
came somewhat easier, | began to recover my health and strength, and 
get abroad among friends. In the meantime, having an opportunity to 
send to England, I wrote to friends there, to let them know how it was 
with me. 

‘ Dear friends, 

‘I wave been very weak these seven weeks past, and not able to write 
‘myself. My desire is to you, and for you all, that ye may live in the 
‘fear of God, and in love one unto another, and be subject one to an- 
‘ other in the fear of God. I have been weaker in my body than ever J] 
‘was in my life that | remember, yea, my pains have been such as I] 
‘cannot express; yet my heart and spirit are strong. I have hardly 
‘sweated these seven weeks past, though I am ina very hot climate, 
‘where hardly any but are well nigh continually sweating; but as fon 
‘me, my old bruises, colds, numbness, and pains struck inwardly, even 
to my very heart. So that little rest | have taken, and the chiefest 

things that were comfortable to my stomach were a little water and 
powdered ginger; but now I begin to drink a little beer as well as 
water, and sometimes a little wine and water mixed. Great pains and 
travails I have felt, and in measure am under; but it is well, my life is 
over all. This island was to me as all on a fire ere I came to it, but 
now it is somewhat quenched and abated. J] came in weakness amongst 
those that are strong, and have so continued; but now I am got a lit- 
tle cheery, and over it. Many friends, and some considerable persons 
of the world, have been with me. I tired out my body much when 
amongst you in England ; it is the Lord’s power that helps me; there- 
fore I desire you all to prize the power of the Lord and his truth. I was 
but weak in body when I left you, after I had been in my great travail 
amongst you; but after that it struck all back again into my body, 
which was not well settled after such sore travails in England. Then 
I was so tired at sea, that I could not rest, and have had little or no 
stomach a lony time. Since I came into this island, my life hath been 
very much burdened; but I hope, if the Lord gives me strength to 
manage his work, I shall work thoroughly, and bring things that have 
been out of course into better order. So, dear friends, live all in the 


140 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. i671 


peaceable truth, and in the love of it, serving the Lord in newness of 
‘life; for glorious things and precious truths have been manifested 
among you plentifully, to you the riches of the kingdom have been 
‘reached. I have been almost a month in this island, but have not been 
‘able to go abroad or ride out; only very lately ] rode out twice, a 
‘quarter of a mile at a time, which wearied me much. My love in the 
* truth is to you all. G. F. 
Because I was not well able to travel, the friends of the island con: 
cluded t> have their men’s and women’s meeting for the service of the 
church at Thomas Rous’s, where I lay; by which means | was _resent 
at each of their meetings, and had very good service for the Lord in 
both. For they had need of information ‘a many things, divers disor- 
ders being crept in for want of care and watchfulness. ‘I exhorted 
‘them, more espeCially at the mez’s meeting, to be careful with respect 
‘to marriages, to prevent friends marrying in near kindreds, and also to” 
‘prevent over-hasty proceedings towards second marriages after the 
‘death of a former husband or wife; advising that a decent regard he 
’ had in such cases to the memory of the deceased husband or wife. As 
to friends’ children marrying too young, at thirteen or fourteen years 
of age, I shewed the unfitness thereof, and the inconveniencies and hurts 
that attend such childish marriages. I admonished them to purge the 
floor thoroughly, and to sweep their houses very clean, that nothing might 
remain that would defile; and that all should take care, that nothing be 
spoken out of their meetings to the blemishing or defaming one of an- 
other. Concerning registering of marriages, births, and burials, I ad- 
‘vised them to keep exact records of each in distinct books for that only 
‘use; and also to record in a book for that purpose, the condemnations 
‘of such as went out from truth into disorderly practices, and the re- 
pentance and restoration of such as returned again. I recommended 
‘to their care the providing of convenient burying-places for friends, 
‘which in some parts were yet wanting. Some directions also I gave 
‘them concerning wills, and the ordering of legacies left by friends for 
‘publick uses, and other things relating to the affairs of the church Re. 
‘specting their negroes, I desired them.to endeavour to train them Up in 
‘the fear of God, as well those that were bought with their money, as 
‘them that were born in their families, that all might come to the know- 
‘ledge of the Lord; that so, with Joshua, every master of a family might 
_ * say, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I desired 
‘also, that they would-eause their overseers to deal mildly and gently 
‘with their negroes, and not-use cruelty towards them, as the manner of 
_ *some hath been and is; and that after certain years of servitude they 
‘should make-them free.’} Many sweet and precious things were opened 
in these meetings, by the Spirit and in the power of the Lord, to the edi- 
fying, confirming, and building up of friends in the faith and holy order 
of the gospel. 
After these meetings, the vessel bound for England not being gone, I 
was moved to write another epistle to friends there; the copy whereof 
follows 


‘Dear friends and brethren, to whom is my love in that which never 
changeth, but remains in glory, which is over ul, the top and corner- 
stone. In this all have peace and life, as ye dwell in the blessed seed, 
wherein all is blessed, over that which brought the curse; where alJ 


\671] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 44] 


shortness, narrowness of spirit, brittleness, and peevishness is. There- 
‘fore keep the holy order of the gospel. Keep in this blessed seed, where 
‘all may be kept in temperance, in patience, in love, in meekness, in 
* righteousness and holiness, and in peace; in which the Lord may be 
‘seen amongst you, and no way dishonoured, but glorified by you all. 
‘Tn all your meetings, in cities, towns, and countries, men’s meetings, 
“women’s meetings, and others, let righteousness flow among you, the 
‘holy truth be uppermost, the pure Spirit your guide and leader, and the 
‘holy wisdom from above your orderer, that is pure, gentle, and easy to 
‘be intreated. Keep in the religion that preserves from the spots of the 
‘world, which is pure and undefiled in God’s sight. Keep in the pure 
‘and holy worship, in which the pure and holy God is worshipped, viz. 
‘in the Spirit, and in the truth, which the devil is out of, who is the au- 
‘thor of all unholiness, and of that which dishonours God. Be tender 
‘of God’s glory, of his honour, and of his blessed and holy name, in 
‘which ye are gathered. All who profess the truth, see that ye walk in 

it, in righteousness, holiness, and godliness; for “ holiness becomes the 
“house of God, the household of faith.’ That which becomes God’s 
‘house, God loves. He loves righteousness. That is the ornament which 
‘becomes his house and all his family. Therefore see that righteousness 
‘run down in all your assemblies, that it flow, to drive away all unright- 
‘eousness. This preserves your peace with God; for in righteousness 
‘ ye all have peace with the righteous God of peace, and one with an- 
‘other. Every one that bears the name of the Anointed, that high title 
-of being a Christian, named after the Heavenly Man, see that ye be in 
‘the divine nature made conformable unto his image, even the image of 
‘the Heavenly Divine Man, who was before that image which Adam 
‘and Eve got from Satan in the fall; so that in none of you that fallen 
‘image may appear, but his image, and you made conformable unto him. 
‘ Here translation is shewed forth in life and conversation, not in words 
‘only; yea, and conversion and repentance, which is a change of the 
‘nature, of the mind, and of the heart, of the spirit and affections, which 
‘have been below, and come to be set above; and so receive the things 
‘that are from above, and have the conversation in heaven, not that 
‘ conversation which is according to the power of the prince of the air, 
‘that now rules in the disobedient. So be faithful; this is the word of 
‘the Lord God unto you all. See, that godliness, holiness, righteousness, 
‘truth, and virtue, the fruits of the good Spirit, flow over the bad and 
‘its fruits, that ye may answer that which is of God in all; for your 

Heavenly Father is glorified, in that you bring forth much fruit. There- 

fore ye, who are plants of his planting, his trees of righteousness, see 

that every tree be full of fruit. Keep in true humility, and in the true 
‘love of God, which doth edify his body, that the true nourishment from 

the head, the refreshings, springs, and rivers of water, and bread of 

life may be plenteously known and felt amongst you, that so praises 

may ascend to God. Be faithful to the Lord God, and just and true in 

all your dealings and doings with and towards men. Be not negligent 

in your men’s meetings to admonish, exhort, and reprove, in the spirit 

of love and of meekness, and to seek that which is lost, and to bring 

back again that which hath been driven away. Let all minds, spirits, 

souls, and hearts, be bended down under the yoke of Christ Jesus, the 

power of God. Much I could write, but am weak, and have been mostly 
since I left you. Burdens and travails I have been under, and gone 

3F 


442 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [ 


‘through many ways; but it is well. The Lord Almighty knows my 
‘ work, which he hath sent me forth to do by his everlasting arm a 
‘ power, which is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be his holy 
‘name, which I am in, and in which my love is to you all. (3,87 


After I was able.to go abroad, and had been a little amongst friends, 
I went to visit the governor ; Lewis Morrice, Thomas Rouse, and some 
other friends being with me. He received us very civilly, and treated 
us very kindly; making us dine with him, and keeping us most part of 
the day before he let us go away. 

The same week I went to Bridge Town. There was to be a general 
meeting of friends that week ; and the visit I had made to the governor, 
and the kind reception I had with him, being generally known to the off- 
cers, civil and military, many came to this meeting from most parts of 
the island, and those not of the meanest rank; divers of them being 
judges or justices, colonels or captains; so that a very great meeting 
we had of friends and others. The Lord’s blessed power was plentifully 
with us, and though I was somewhat straitened for time, three other 
friends having spoken before me, the Lord opened things through me to 
the general and great satisfaction of those present. Colonel Lewis Mons 
rice came to this meeting, and with him a judge in the country, whose 
name was Ralph Fretwell; who was well satisfied, and received the 
truth. 

Paul Gwin, a jangling Baptist, came into the meeting, and asked a 
‘ How I spelt Cain? and whether I had the same spirit as the apostles 
‘had? I told him, Yes. And he bade the judge take notice of it. I told” 
him, ‘He that had not a measure of the same Holy Ghost as the apos- 
‘tles had, was possessed with an unclean spirit. And then he went 
his way. 

I went home with Lewis Morrice that night, being about nine or ten 
miles ; going part of the way by boat, the rest on horseback. The place 
where his plantation was I thought to be the finest air of the island. 
Next day Thomas Briggs and William Edmundson came to see me, they 
intending to leave the island the day following, and to go upon the Lord’s 
service to Antigua and Nevis. Lewis Morrice went with them. At 
Antigua they had several good meetings, to which there was a great re- 
sort of people; and many were convinced. But when they went to Ne- 
vis, the governor, an old persecutor, sent soldiers on board the vessel, to 
stop them, and would not suffer them to land. Wherefore, after friends 
of the place had been on board the vessel with them, and they had been 
sweetly refreshed together, in feeling the Lord’s power and presence 
amongst them, they returned to Antigua; where having staid awhile 
ah they came again to Barbadoes; Thomas Briggs being very weak 
and ill. 

Of the other friends that came over with me, James Lancaster, John 
Cartwright, and George Pattison, were gone some time before to Ja- 
maica, and others to other places; so that few remained in Barbadoes 
with me. We had many great and precious meetings, both for worship, 
and for the affairs of the church; to the former of which many of other 
societies came. At one of these meetings, colonel Lyne, a sober per- 
son, was so well satisfied with what I declared, that he said, ‘Now I 
‘can gainsay such as I have heard speak evil of you; who say you 
‘do not own Christ, nor that he died: whereas I perceive you exal 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ' 443 


_* Christ in all his offices, beyond what I have ever heard lefore. This 
| ian, observing one to take in writing the heads of what I deliverea, de- 
sired him to let him have a copy of it; and staid another day with us 
before he went away; so great a love was raised in him to the truth. A 
_ very great convincement there was in most parts of the island; which 
| made the priest and some professors fret and rage. Our meetings were 

_ very large, and free from disturbance from the government; though the 
envious priests and some professors endeavoured to stir up the magis- 
trates against us. When they found they could not prevail that way, 
some Baptists came to the meeting at the town, which was full of people 
of several ranks and qualities. A great company came with them; and 
they brought a slanderous paper written by John Pennyman, with which 
they made a great noise. But the Lord gave me wisdom and utterance 
to answer their cavils; so that the auditory generally received satisfac- 
tion, and those quarrelsome professors lost ground. When they had 
wearied themselves with clamour, they went away; but the people stay- 
ing, the meeting was continued; the things they cavilled about were 
further opened and cleared, and the life and power of God came over 
all. But the rage and envy in our adversaries did not cease; they en- 
deavoured to defame friends with many false and scandalous reports, 
which they spread through the island. Whereupon I, with some other 
friends, drew up a paper, to go forth in the name of the people called 
Quakers, for the clearing truth and friends from those false reports. It 
was after this manner: 


P, 


‘For the governor of Barbadoes, with his council and assembly, and 
‘all others in power, both civil and military, in this island; from the 
‘people called Quakers. 


‘ WHeress many scandalous lies and slanders have been cast upon us, 
*to render us odious; as that “ We deny God, Christ Jesus, and the 
' “ scriptures of truth,” &c. This is to inform you, That all our books 
‘and declarations, which for these many years have been published to 
‘the world, clearly testify the contrary. Yet, for your satisfaction, we 
‘ now plainly and sincerely declare, That we own and believe in the only 
* Wise, Omnipotent, and Everlasting God, the Creator of all things in 
‘heaven and earth, and the Preserver of all that he hath made; who is 
* God over all, blessed for ever; to whom be all honour, glory, dominion, 
* praise and thanksgiving, both now and for evermore! And we own and 
‘believe in Jesus Christ, his beloved and only begotten Son, in whom he 
‘is well pleased; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of 
*the Virgin Mary; in whom we have redemption through his blood, 
' * even the forgiveness of sins; who is the express image of the Invisible 
* God, the first-born of every creature, by whom were all things created 
that are in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be 
thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers; all things were created 
““*by him. And we own and believe that he was made a sacrifice for 
_*sin, who knew no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; that he 
_ ‘was crucified for us in the flesh, without the gates of Jerusalem; and 
‘that he was buried, and rose again the third day by the power of his 
_ ‘Father, for our justification; and that he ascended up into heaven, and 
_ ‘now sitteth at the right hand of God. This Jesus, who was the found- 

ation of the holy prophets and apostles, is our foundation; and we be 
ieve there is no other foundation to be laid but that which is laid, ever 


144 " GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. pen 


Christ Jesus: who tasted death for every man, shed his blood for at 
men, is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for 
the sins of the whole world: according as John the Baptist testified of 
him, when he said, “ Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the 
‘sins of the world,” John i. 29. We believe that he alone is our Re- 
deemer and Saviour, the captain of our salvation, who saves us from 
‘sin, as well as from hell and the wrath to come, and destroys the devi! 
‘and his works; he is the Seed of the woman that bruises the serpent’s 


‘head, to wit, Christ Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. — 


‘ He is (as the scriptures of truth say of him) our wisdom, righteousness, 
‘ justification, and redemption; neither is there salvation in any other, 
‘for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby 
“we may be saved. He alone is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls : 
‘he is our Prophet, whom Moses long since testified of, saying, “ A pro- 
“ phet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like 
“unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto 
“you: and it shall come to pass, that every soul that will not hear that 
“ prophet shall be destroyed from among the people,” Acts ii. 22, 23. He 
‘is now come in Spirit, “and hath given us an understanding, that we 
«know him that is true.” He rules in our hearts by his law of love and 
‘life, and makes us free from the law of sin and death. We have no 
‘life, but by him; for he is the quickening Spirit, the second Adam, the 

Lord from heaven, by whose blood we are cleansed, and our conscien- 
‘ces sprinkled from dead works, to serve the living God. He is our Me- 
‘diator, who makes peace and reconciliation between God offended and 
‘us offending ; he being the Oath of God, the new covenant of light, life, 
‘ grace, and peace, the author and finisher of our faith. This Lord Jesus 
‘Christ, the heavenly man, the Emanuel, God with us, we all own and 
‘believe in; he whom the high-priest raged against, and said, he had 
* spoken blasphemy; whom the priests and elders of the Jews took coun- 
‘sel together against, and put to death; the same whom Judas betrayed 
‘for thirty pieces of silver, which the priests gave him as a reward for 
‘his treason; who also gave large money to the soldiers to broach an 
‘horrible lie, namely, “That his disciples came and stole him away by 
“night whilst they slept.” After he was risen from the dead, the history 
‘of the Acts of the apostles sets forth how the chief priests and elders 
‘persecuted the disciples of this Jesus, for preaching Christ and his re- 
‘surrection. This, we say, is that Lord Jesus Christ, whom we own to 
‘be our life and salvation. 

‘Concerning the holy scriptures, we believe they were given forth by 
‘the holy Spirit of God, through the holy men of God, who (as the scrip- 
‘ture itself declares, 2 Pet. i. 21,) “spoke as they were moved by the 
“ Holy Ghost.” We believe they are to be read, believed, and fulfilled 
‘(he that fulfils them is Christ); and they are “ profitable for reproof, for 
“correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God 
“ may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Tim. 3. 19. 
‘and are able to “make wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ 
‘ Jesus.” We believe the holy scriptures are the words of God; for it 

is said in Exodus 20. 1. “God spake all these words, saying,” &c. 
mening the ten commandments given forth upon mount Sinai. And in 
Rev. xxii. 18. saith Jolin, “I testify to every man that heareth the words 
‘of the prophecy of this book, if any man addeth unto these, and if any 
man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy” 


1671] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 445 


(not the Word) &c. So in Luke 1. 20. “Because thou believest not 
“my words.” And in John v. 47. xv. 7. xiv. 23. xii. 47. So that we 
‘call the holy scriptures, as Christ, the apostles, and holy men of God 
‘called them, viz. the words of God. 
* Another slander they have cast upon us, is, “ That we teach the ne- 
“ groes to rebel :’” a thing we utterly abhor in our hearts, the Lord knows 
‘it, who is the searcher of all hearts, and knows all things, and can tes- 
‘tify for us, that this is a most abominable untruth. That which we have 
‘spoken to them, is To exhort and admonish them to be sober, to fear 
‘ God, to love their masters and mistresses, to be faithful and diligent in 
‘ their service and business, and then their masters and overseers would 
‘love them, and deal kindly and gently with them; also that they should 
‘not beat their wives, nor the wives their husbands; neither should the 
‘men have many wives; that they should not steal, nor be drunk, nor 
‘commit adultery, nor fornication, nor curse, swear, nor lie, nor give 
‘bad words to one another, nor to any one else; for there is something 
‘in them that tells them they should not practise these nor any other 
‘evils. But if they notwithstanding should do them, then we let them 
know there are. but two ways, the one that leads to heaven, where the 
righteous go; and the other that leads to hell, where the wicked and 
* debauched, whoremongers, adulterers, murderers, and liars go. To the 
‘one the Lord will say, “ Come,_ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
“kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; to the 
‘other, “ Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil 
“and his angels:” so the wicked go into “ everlasting punishment, but 
)« the righteous into life eternal,” Mat. xxv. Consider, friends, it is no 
( ‘transgression for a master of a family to instruct his family himself, or 
‘for others to do it in his behalf; but rather it is a very great duty in- 
-*eumbent upon them. Abraham and Joshua did so: of the first, the Lord 
‘said, Gen. xviii. 19, “ 1 know that Abraham will command his children, 
“and his household after him; and they shall keep the way of the Lord, 
“to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham 
“the things ihat he hath spoken of him.” And the latter said, Josh. xxiv. 
£15, “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve—But as for me and my 
“ house, we will serve the Lord.” We declare, that we esteem it a duty 
incumbent on us to pray with and for, to teach, instruct, and admonish 
‘those in and belonging to our families; this being a command of the 
‘Lord, disobedience thereunto will provoke his displeasure; as may be 
‘seen in Jer. x. 25. “ Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee 
“not, and upon the families that call not upon thy name.”| Negroes, 
_*Tawnies, Indians, make up a very great part of the families in this 
‘island; for whom an account will be required by him who comes to 
)‘judge both quick and dead at the great day of judgment, when every 
‘one shall be “rewarded according to the deeds done in the body, 
whether they be good, or whether they be evil:” at that day, we say, 
‘ of the resurrection both of the good and of the bad, and of the just and 
‘the unjust, when “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with 
“his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know 
“not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall 
* be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, 
“and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in 
“ his saints, and admired in all them that believe in that day,” 2 Thess. 
*j. &, &c. See also 2 Pet. ili. 3, &c.’ 


ly 


Vv 


446 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. e7l 


This wicked slander, of our endeavouring to make the Negrves rebel, 
‘our adversaries took occasion to raise, from our having some meetings 
}amongst the Negroes; for we had several meetings with them in divers 


/ plantations, Sess we exhorted them to justice, sobriety, temperance, 
_ chastity, and piety, and to be subject to their masters and governors. 


Which was altogether contrary to what our envious adversaries mali. 
ciously suggested against us. 

As I had “been to isi the governor, as soon as I was well able, after 
I came thither; so when I was at Thomas Rouse’s, the governor came 
to see me, carrying himself very courteously. 

Having been three months or more in Barbadoes, and having visited 
friends, thoroughly settled meetings, and dispatched the service for which 
the Lord brought me thither; I felt my spirit clear of that island, and 
found drawings to Jamaica. Which when I had communicated to friends, 
I acquainted the governor also, and divers of his council, with my inten- 
tion; which | did, that as my coming thither was open and publick, so 
my departure also might be. Before I left the island, 1 wrote the follow- 
ing letter to my wife; that she might understand both how it was with 
me, and how I proceeded in my travels. 


‘ My dear Heart, 

‘To whom is my love, and to all the children in the Seed of life that 
‘changeth not, but is over all; blessed be the Lord for ever! I have un- 
‘ dergone great sufferings in my body and spirit, beyond words; but the 
‘God of Heaven be praised, his truth is over all. Jam now well; and, 
‘if the Lord permit, within a few days I pass from Barbadoes towards 
‘ Jamaica; and think to stay but little there. I desire that ye may be all 
‘kept free in the Seed of life, out of all cumbrances. Friends are gen- 
‘erally well. Remember me to friends that inquire afterme. So no 
‘more, but my love in the Seed and Life, that changeth not. G. F? 


‘ Barbadoes, the 6th of the 
‘11th month, 1671. 


I set sail from Barbadoes to Jamaica the eighth of the eleventh month, 
1671, Robert Widders, William Edmundson, Solomon Eccles, and Eliza- 
beth Hooton going with me. Thomas Briggs and John Stubbs remained 
in Barbadoes; with whom were John Rouse and William Baily. We 
had a quick and easy passage to Jamaica; where we met with James 
Lancaster, John Cartwright, and George Pattison again, who had been 
labouring there in the service of truth; into which we forthwith entered 
with them, travelling up and down through the island, which is large; 
and a brave country it is, though the people are many of them debauch- 
ed and wicked. We had much service. There was a great convince- 
ment, and many received the truth; some of which were people of ac- 
count in the world. We had many meetings there, which were large, 
and very quiet. The people were civil to us, so that not a mouth was 
opened against us. I was twice with the governor, and some other 
magistrates, who all carried themselves kindly towards me. 

About a week after we landed in Jamaica, Elizabeth Hooton. a woman 
of great age, who had travelled mach in truth’s service, and suffered 
much for it, departed this life. She was well the day before she died 
and departed in peace, like a lamb, bearing testimony to truth at her de. 
varture. 


| 1671] GEORGE FOX’S sOURN® L. 447 


When we had been about seven weeks in Jamaica, had brought 
| friends into pretty good order, and settied several meetings amongst 
| them, we left Solomon Eccles there; the rest of us embarked for Mary- 
land ; leaving friends and truth prosperous in Jamaica, the Lord’s powei 
being over all, and his blessed Seed reigning. 

Before I left Jamaica, I wrote another letter to my wife, as followeth: 


‘ My dear Heart, 

| *To whom is my love, and to the children, in that which changeth 
| not, but is over all; and to all friends in those parts. I have been at 
Jamaica about five weeks. Friends are generally well; and here is a 
| convincement; but things would be too large to write of. Sufferings 
| ‘in every place attend me; but the blessed Seed is over all: the great 
» Lord be praised, who is Lord of sea and land, and of all things therein. 
‘ We intend to pass from hence about the beginning of the next month, 
| ‘towards Maryland, if the Lord please. Dwell all of you in the Seed of 
‘God. In his truth I rest in love to you all. 


‘ Jamaica, 23d of the 
‘12th month, 1671. 


We went on board the 8th of the first month 1671-2; and having con 
trary winds, were a full week sailing forwards and backwards, before 
we could get out of sight of Jamaica. A difficult voyage this proved, 

and pretty dangerous, especially in our passing through the gulph of 

Florida, where we met with many winds and storms. But the great 
_ God, who is Lord of sea and land, and who rideth upon the wings of the 
: wind, did by his power preserve us through many and great dangers, 

when by extreme stress of weather our vessel was divers times like to 
be overset, and much of her tackling broken. And indeed we were sen- 

sible that the Lord was a God at hand, and that his ear was open to the 
 supplications of his people. For when the winds were so strong and bois- 
terous, ard the storms and tempests so great, that the sailors knew not 
what to do, but let the ship go which way she would; then did we pray 
| unto the Lord; who did graciously hear and accept us, and did calm the 


winds and seas, gave us seasonable weather, and made us to rejoice in 
| his salvation; blessed and praised be the holy name of the Lord, whose 
power hath dominion over all, and whom the winds and seas obey ! 
__ We were between six and seven weeks in this passage from Jamaica 
_ to Maryland. Some days before we came to land, after we had entered 
the bay of Patuxent river, a great storm arose, which cast a boat upon 
“us for shelter; in which were divers-men and women of account in the 
| world. We took them in; but the boat was lost, with five hundred 
_ pounds worth of goods in it, as they said. They continued on board us 
: "several days. not having any means to get off; and we had a very good 
_ meeting with them in the ship. But provisions grew short, for they 
brought none in with them; and ours, by reason of the length of our voy- 
_ age, were well nigh spent when they came to us: so that with their 
living upon it too, we had now little or none left. Whereupon George 
Pattison took a boat, and ventured his life to get to shore; the hazard 
__ was so great, that all but friends concluded he would be cast away. Yet 
it pleased the Lord to bring him safe to land; and in a short time after 
‘the friends of the place came to fetch us to land also, in a seasonable 
time, for our provisions were quite spent. 


| 


| 
2 
| 
| 


( 


118 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. fl 


We partook also of another great deliverance in this voyage, throug 
the good providence of the Lord, which we understood afterwar 
When we were determined to come from Jamaica, we had our choice 
of two vessels, both bound for the same coast. One was a frigate, the 
other a yacht. ‘The master of the frigate, we thought, asked unreason 
ably for our passage; which made us agree with the master of the yacht, 
who oflered to carry us ten shillings a piece cheaper than the other 
We went on board the yacht, and the frigate came out together with us. 
intending to be consorts during the voyage; and for several days we 
sailed together: but what with calms and contrary winds, we were in 
awhile separated. After which, the frigate, losing her way, fell among 
the Spaniards; by whom she was plundered and robbed, and the ine 


and mate made prisoners: afterwards, being retaken by the English, sh 
was sent home to her owners in Virginia. Which when we came to 
understand, we saw and admired the Providence of God, who preserved 
us out of our enemies’ hands; and he that was covetous fell among th 
covetous. 
Here we found Burnyeate, intending shortly to sail for Old England; 
but upon our arrival he altered his purpose, and joined us in the Lord’s 
service. He had appointed a general meeting for all the friends in th 
province of Maryland, that he might see them together, and take his leave 
of them, before he departed out of the country; and it was so order- 
ed by the good Providence of God, that we landed just time enough to 
reach that meeting ; by which means we had a very seasonable oppor- 
tunity of. taking the friends of the province together. A very large 
meeting this was, and held four days; to which, besides friends, came 
many other people, divers of whom were of considerable quality in the 
world’s account: for there were five or six justices of the peace, the 
speaker of their assembly, one of their council, and others of note, who 
seemed well satisfied with the meeting. After the publick meetings were 
over, the men’s and women’s meetings began; wherein I opened to friends 
the service thereof, to their great satisfaction. Afier this we went to the 
Cliffs, where another general meeting was appointed. We went some 
of the way by land, the rest by water; and a storm arising, our boat 
was run aground, in danger to be beaten to pieces, and the water came 
in upon us. I was in a great sweat, having come very hot out of a 
meeting before, and now was wet with the water besides: yet having 
faith in the divine power, I was preserved from taking hurt, blessed be the 
Lord! To this meeting many came, who received the truth with rever- 
ence. We had also a men’s meeting and a women’s meeting. Most of 
the backsliders came in again; and several of those meetings were 
established for taking care of the affairs of the church. 
After these two general meetings, we parted company, dividing our: 
selves unto several coasts, for the service of truth. James Lancaster 
and John Cartwright went by sea for New-England; William Edmund- 
son and three friends more sailed for Virginia, where things were much 
out of order; John Burnyeate, Robert Widders, George Pattison, and 1, 
_with several friends of the province, went over by boat to the eastern” 
shore, and had a meeting there on the first-day; where many people 
received the truth with gladness, and friends were greatly refreshed 
A very large and heavenly meeting it was. Several persons of quality 
in that country were at it, two of whom were justices of the peace. 
was upon me from the Lord to send to the Indian emperor and 


672). GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 449 


kings, to come to that meeting; the emperor came, and was at the meet- 
ing; but his kings, lying further off, could not reach thither time enough; 
yet they came after with their cockarooses. [| had in the evening twe 
good opportunities with them; they heard the word of the Lord willing- 
ly, and confessed to it. ‘What I spoke to them, I desired them to speak 
‘to their people; and let them know, that God was raising up his taber- 
‘nacle of witness in their wilderness-country, and was setting up his 
‘standard and glorious ensign of righteousness.’ They carried them 
selves very courteously and lovingly ; and inquired, ‘ Where the next 

meeting would be, and they would come to it.’ Yet they said, ‘ They 
‘had a great debate with their council about their coming, before they 
‘came now.’ 

The next day we began our journey by land to New-England: a te- 
dious journey through the woods and wilderness, over bogs and great 
rivers. We took horse at the head of Tredaven Creek, and travelled 
through the woods till we came a little above the head of Miles River ; by 
which we passed, and rode to the head of Wye River; and so to the head 
of Chester River: where, making a fire, we took up our lodging in the 
woods. Next morning we travelled the woods till we came to Sassafras 
River, which we went over in canoes (or Indian boats) causing our horses 
to swim by. Then we rode to Bohemia River; where in like manner 
swimming our horses, we ourselves went over in canoes. We rested a 
little at a plantation by the way, but not long, for we had thirty miles to 
ride that afternoon, if we would reach a town; which we were willing to 
do, and therefore rode hard for it. I, with some others, whose- horses 
were strong, got to the town that night, exceedingly tired. and wet to the 
skin; but George Pattison and Robert Widders, being weaker-horsed, 
were obliged to lay in the woods that night also. The town we went to 
was a Dutch town, called Newcastle; whither Robert Widders and 
George Pattison came to us next morning. We departed thence, and 
_ got over the river Delaware, not without great danger of some of our 
lives. When we were over, we were troubled to procure guides; which 
were hard to get, and very chargeable. Then had we that wilderness 
country to pass through, since called West Jersey, not then inhabited by 
English; so that we have travelled a whole day together without seeing 
man or woman, house or dwelling-place. Sometimes we lay in the woods 
_ by a fire, and sometimes in the Indians’ wigwams or houses. We came 
one night to an Indian town, and lay at the king’s house, who was a very 
_ pretty man. Both he and his wife received us very lovingly, and his at- 
tendants (such as they were) were very respectful to us. They laid us 
mats to lie on; but provision was very short with them, having caught 
but little that day. At another Indian town, where we staid, the 
_ king came to us, and he could speak some English. I spoke to him 
_ much, and also to his people; and they were very loving to us. At 
| length we came to Middletown, an English plantation in East Jersey , and 
there were some friends: but we could not stay to have a meeting at 


that time, being earnestly pressed in our spirits to get to the half-year’s 
meeting of friends at Oyster-Bay in Long-Island, which was near at 
hand. We went with a friend, Richard Hartshorn, brother to Hugh Harts- 
horn, the upholsterer in London, who received us gladly to his house 
where we refreshed ourselves, and then he carried us and our horses in 
his own boat over a great water, which held us most part of the day in 
getting over, and set us upon Long-Island. We got that evening to 
2G 


450 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1672 


“riends at Gravesend, with whom we tarried that night. Neat day we 
got to Flushing. The day following we reached Oyster-Bay; severa, 
_ friends both of Gravesend and Flushing accompanying us. The half- 
_ year’s meeting began next day, which lasted four days. The first and 
/ second days we had publick meetings for worship, to which people of — 
all sorts might and did come. On third-day were the men’s and wo- 
| men’s meetings, wherein the affairs of the church were taken care of. 
; Here we met with some bad spirits, who were run out from truth into 
“prejudice, contention, and opposition to the order of truth, and to friends 
therein. ‘These had been very troublesome to friends in their meetings 
there and thereabouts formerly, and it is like would have been so now; 
but I would not suffer the service of our men’s and women’s meetings 
to be interrupted and hindered by their cavils. I let them know, ‘If 
‘they had any thing to object against the order of truth which we were 
‘in, we would give them a meeting another day on purpose.’ And in- 
deed I laboured the more, and travelled the harder to get to this mect- 
ing, where it was expected many of these contentious people would be; 
because I understood they had reflected much upon me when I was far 
from them. The men’s and women’s meetings being over, on the fourth day 
we had a meeting with those discontented people, to which as many of 
them as would did come, and as many friends as had a desire were 
present also; and the Lord’s power broke forth gloriously, to the con- 
founding of the gainsayers. Then some, that had been chief in the 
mischievous work of contention and opposition against the truth, began 
to fawn upon me, and cast the blame upon others; but the deceitful 
spirit was judged down and condemned, and the glorious truth of God 
was exalted and set over all; and they were all brought down and bow- 
ed under. Which was of great service to truth, and great satisfaction 
and comfort to friends; glory to the Lord for ever! 
After friends were gone to their. several habitations, we staid some 
days upon the island, had meetings in several parts thereof, and good 
service for the Lord. When we were clear of the island, we returned 
to Oyster-Bay, waiting for a wind to carry us to Rhode-Island, com- 
puted to be about two hundred miles. As soon as the wind served we 
set sail, and arrived in Rhode-Island the thirtieth of the third month; 
where we were gladly received by friends. We went to Nicholas Hast- 
on’s, who was governor of the Island; where we lay, being weary with 
travelling. On first-day following we had a large meeting; to which the 
deputy governor and several justices came, and were mightily affected 
with the truth. The week following, the yearly meeting for friends of 
New-England, and other colonies adjacent, was held in this island; to 
which, besides many friends who lived in those parts, came John Stubbs — 
from Barbadoes, and James Lancaster and John Cartwright from an-— 
other way. This meeting lasted six days. The first four were spent in 
general publick meetings for worship; to which abundance of other peo- 
ple came. For having no priests in the island, and no restriction to any 
particular way of worship; and the governor and deputy-governor, with — 
several justices of the peace, daily frequenting meetings; it so encour-— 
aged the people, that they flocked in from all parts of the island. Very 
good service we had amongst them, and truth had good reception. 1 
have rarely observed a people, in the state wherein they stood, to hear 
with more attention, diligence, and affection, than generally they did, 
during the four days; which was also taken notice of by other friends. 


673] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 451 


These publick meetings over, the men’s meeting began, which was 
large, precious, and weighty. The day following was the women’s 


_ meeting, which also was large and very solemn. ‘These two meetings 


peing for ordering the affairs of the church, many weighty things were 
opened, and communicated to them, by way of advice, information, and 
instruction in the services relating thereunto; that all might be kept 
clean, sweet, and savoury amongst them. In these, several men’s and 
women’s meetings for other parts were agreed and settled, to take care 
of the poor, and other affairs of the church, and to see that all who pro- 
fess truth walk according to the glorious gospel of God. When this 
great general meeting was ended, it was somewhat hard for friends to 
part; for the glorious power of the Lord, which was over all, and his 
blessed truth and life fowing amongst them, had so knit and united them 
together, that they spent two days in taking leave one of another, and 
of the friends of the island; and then, being mightily filled with the 
presence and power of the Lord, they went away with joyful hearts to 
their several habitations, in the several colonies where they lived. 

When friends had taken their leave one of another, we, who travelled 
amongst them, dispersed ourselves into our several services, as the Lord 
ordered us. John Burnyeate, John Cartwright, and George Pattison 
went into the eastern parts of New-England, in company with the friends 
that came from thence, to visit the particular meetings there: whom 
John Stubbs and James Lancaster intended to follow awhile after, in the 
same service; but they were not yet clear of this island. Robert Wid- 
ders and I staid longer upon this island; finding service still here for the 
Lord, through the great openness, and the daily coming in of fresh peo- 
ple from other colonies, for some time, after the general meeting: so 
that we had many large and serviceable meetings among them. 

During this time, a marriage was celebrated amongst friends in this 
island, and we were present. It was at a friend’s house, who had for- 
merly been governor of the island: and three Justices of the peace, with 
many others not in profession with us, and friends also said, They never 
saw such a solemn assembly on such an occasion, so weighty a mar- 
riage, and so comely an order. Thus truth was set over all. This might 
serve for an example to others; for there were some present from many 
other places. 

After this I had a great travail in spirit concerning the Ranters in 
those parts, who had been rude at a meeting which I was not at. Where- 
fore I appointed a meeting amongst them, believing the Lord would give 
me power over them; which he did, to his praise and glory; blessed be 
his name for ever! There were at this meeting many friends, and divers 
other people; some of whom were justices of the peace, and officers, 
who were generally well affected with the truth. One, who had been a 
justice twenty years, was convinced, spoke highly of the truth, and more 
ighly of me than is fit for me to mention or take notice of. 

We had a meeting at Providence, which was very large, consisting 
of many sorts of people: I had a great travail upon my spirit, that it 
might be preserved quiet, and that truth might be brought over the peo 
ple, and might gain entrance and have place in them; for they were 


_ generally above the priests, in high notions; and some came on purpose 


.0 dispute. But the Lord, whom we waited upon, was with us, his power 
_ went over them all; and his blessed Seed was exalted and set above all. 
‘The disputers were silent, and the meeting quiet, and ended well, 


} 


452 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. fl 


praised be the Lord! The people went away mightily satisfied much 
desiring another meeting. ‘This place (called Providence) was about 
thirty miles from Rhode- Island; we went to it by water. ‘The governor 
of Rhode-Island, and many es. went with me thither; and we had 
the meeting in a great barn, which was thronged with people, so that I 
was exceeding hot, and ina great sweat; but all was well; the glo- 
rious power of the Lord shined over all, glory to the great God for 
ever ! . 

After this we went to Narraganset, about twenty miles from Rhode- 
sland; and the governor went ‘with us. We hada meeting at a justice’s, 
where friends never had any before. The meeting was very large, for 
the country generally came in; and people from Connecticut, and other 
parts round about. “There were four justices of peace. Most of these 
people were such as had never heard friends before; but they were 
mightily affected, and a great desire there is after the truth amongst 
them. So that meeting was of very good service; blessed be the Lord 
for ever! The justice, at whose house it was, ead another justice of 
that country, invited me to come again; but I was then clear of those 
parts, and was going towards Shelter-island. John Burnyeate and John 
Cartwright, being come out of New-England into Rhode-Island before 1 
was gone, I laid this place before them, and they felt drawings thither, 
and went to visit them. At another place, I heard some of the magis- 
trates said among themselves, ‘If they had money enough, they would 
‘hire me to be their minister.” This was, where they did not well un- 
derstand us, and our principles: but when I heard of it, I said, ¢ It was 
‘time for me to be gone; for if their eye was so much to me, or any of 
‘us, they would not come to their own teacher.’ For this thing (hiring 
ministers) had spoiled many, by hindering them from improving thei 
own talents ; whereas our labour is, to bring every one to their own 
teacher in themselves. 

I went from hence towards Shelter-Island, having with me Robert 
Widders, James Lancaster, George Pattison, ane John Jay, a planter in’ 
Barbadoes. We went off in a sloop; and passing by Point Juda and. 
Block-Island, we came to Fisher’s-Island, where at night we went on 
shore, but were not able to stay for the musquetoes, a sort of gnats, or 
little flies. which abound there, and are very troublesome. Wherefore 
we went into our sloop again, put off from the shore, cast anchor, and 
lay in our sloop that night. Next day we went into the Sound, but find- 
ing our sloop was not able to live in that water, we returned again, and 
came to anchor before Fisher’s-Island, where we lay in our sloop that 
night also. There fell abundance of rain, and our sloop being open, we’ 
were exceeding wet. Next day we passed over the waters called the 
Two Horse Races, and then by Garner’s-island; after which we passed 
by Gull’s-island, and got at length to Shelter-island, which though it was 
but about twenty-seven leagues from Rhode-island, through the difficulty 
uf passage, we were three days in getting thither. The day after, being 
first-day, we had a meeting there. In the same week, I had a meeting 
among the Indians, at which were their king, with his council, and about 
in hundred Indians more. They sat down like friends, and heard very 
attentively, while I spoke to them by an interpreter, an Indian that could 
speak English well. After the meeting they appeared very loving, and 
confessed what was said to them was truth. The next first-day we had 
a great meeting on the island, to which many people came who bad 


{672] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 458 


never heard fr.ends before. They were well satisfied with the meeting, 
and would not go away when it was done till they had spoke with me. 
[ went amongst them, and found they were much taken with the truth ; 
| good desires were raised in them, and great love. Blessed be the Lord, 
his name spreads, and will be great among the nations, and dreadful 
| among the heathen. 
| While we were in Shelter-island, Wiiliam Edmundson came to us, 
who had been labouring in the work of the Lord in Virginia. Fiom 
whence he travelled through the Desert-country, through difficulties and 
| many trials, till he came to Roan-oak, where he met with a tender peo- 
ple. After seven weeks’ service in those parts, sailing to Maryland, 
| and so to New-York, he came from thence to Long-island; where we 
met with him, and were very glad to hear from him the good service he 
| had for the Lord in the several places where he had travelled since he 
parted from us. 

We staid not long in Shelter-island, but entering our sloop again, put 
to sea for Long-island. We had a very rough passage; the tide run so 
strong for several hours, that I have not seen the like; and being against 
us, we could hardly get forward though we had a gale. We were upon 
the water all that day and the night following, but found ourselves next 
day driven back near Fisher’s-island. For there was a great fog, and 
towards day it was very dark, so that we could not see what way we 
made. Besides, it rained much in the night, which in our open sloop 
made us very wet. Next day a great storm arose, so that we were fain 
to go over the Sound, and did get over with much ado. We passed by 
Faulcon-island, and came to the Main, where we cast anchor till the 
storm was over. Then we crossed the Sound, all very wet, and much 
difculty we had to get to land, the wind being strong against us. But 
blessed be the Lord God of heaven and earth, and of the seas and waters, 
all was well. We got safe to Oyster-bay, in Long-Island, the seventh 
of the sixth month, very early in the morning, which, they say, is about 
two hundred miles from Rhode-Island. At Oyster-bay we had a very 
large meeting. The same day James Lancaster and Christopher Holder 
went over the bay to Rye, on the continent, in governor Winthrop’s 
government, and had a meeting there. From Oyster-bay, we passed 
about thirty miles to Flushing, where we had a very large meeting, 
many hundreds of people being there; some of whom came about thirty 
miles to it. A glorious and heavenly meeting it was (praised be the 
Lord God!) and the people were much satisfied. Meanwhile Christo- 
pher Holder and some other friends went to a town in Long-Island, call- 
ed Jamaica, and had a meeting there. We passed from Flushing to 
Gravesend, about twenty miles, and there had three precious meetings ; 
to which many would have come from New-York, but that the weather 
hindered them. Being clear of this place, we hired a sloop, and, the 
wind serving, set out for the new country now called Jersey. Passing 
dowr. the bay by Conny-island, Natton-island, and Stratton-island, we 
came to Richard Hartshorn’s at Middletown-harbour, about break of 
day, the twenty-seventh of the sixth month. Next day we rode about 
thirty miles into that country, through the woods, and over very bad 
bogs, one worse than all the rest; the descent into which was so steep 
that we were fain to slide down with our horses, and then let them lie 
and breathe themselves before they could go on. This place the people 
of the country called Purgatory. We got at length to Shrewsbury, in 


2 a GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. nea 


East-Jersey, and on first-day had a precious meeting there. to which 
friends and other people came far, and the blessed presence of the Lord 
was with us. The same week we had a men’s and women’s meeting 
out of most parts of New-Jersey. They are building a meeting-place in 
the midst of them, and there is a monthly and general meeting set up, 
which will be of great service in those parts, in ‘keeping up the gospel- 
‘order, and government of Christ Jesus, of the increase of which there 
‘is nc end, that they who are faithful may see that all who profess the 
holy truth live in the pure religion, and walk as becometh the gospel.’ 
While we were at Shrewsbury, an accident befel, which for the time 
was a great exercise to us; John Jay, a friend of Barbadoes, who came 
with us from Rhode-Island, and intended to accompany us through the 
woods to Maryland, being to try a horse, got upon his back, and the 
horse fell a running, cast him down upon his head, and broke his neck, 
as the people said. Those that were near him took him up as dead, car- 
ried him a good way, and laid him on a tree. I got to him as soon as I 
could ; and, feeling him, concluded he was dead. As I stood pitying him 
and his family, I took hold of his hair, and his head turned any way, his 
neck was so limber. Whereupon I took his head in both my hands, and 
setting my knees against the tree, I raised his head, and perceived there 
was nothing out or broken that way. Then I put one hand under his 
chin, and the other behind his head, and raised his head two or three 
times with all my strength, and brought it in. I soon perceived his neck 
began to grow stiff again, and then he began to rattle in his throat, and 
quickly after to breathe. The people were amazed; but I bade them 
have a good heart, be of good faith, and carry him into the house. 
They did so, and set him by the fire. I bid them get him something 
warm to drink, and put him to bed. After he had been in the house 
awhile, he began to speak; but did not know where he had been. The 
next day we passed away, and he with us, pretty well, about six- 
teen miles, to a meeting at Middletown, through woods and bogs, and 
over a river; where we swam our horses, and got over ourselves upon a 
hollow tree. Many hundred miles did he travel with us after this. | 
To this meeting came most of the people of the town. A glorious” 
meeting we had, and the truth was over all; blessed be the great Lord 
God for ever! After the meeting we went to Middle-town-harbour, about 
five miles, in order to take our long journey next morning, through the 
woods towards Maryland, having hired Indians for our guides. I deter-_ 
mined to pass through the woods, on the other side of Delaware-bay, 
that we might head the creeks and rivers as much as possible. The 
ninth of the seventh month we set forward, passed through many Indian 
towns, and over some rivers and bogs. When we had rid about forty 
miles, we made a fire at night, and lay by it. As we came among the 
Indians, we declared the day of the Lord to them. Next day we ravel: 
led fiftv miles, as we computed; and at night finding an old house, which 
the Indians had forced the people to leave, we made a fire, and lay there. 
at the head of Delaware-bay. The next day we swam our horses over 
a river about a mile, at twice, first to an island called Upper-Dinidock, 
and then to the main land, having hired Indians to help us over in their 
canoes. This day we could reach but about thirty miles, and came to a 
Swede’s house, where we got a little straw, and lay that night. Next 
day, having hired another guide, we travelled about forty miles throug}. 
the woods, and made a fire at night, by which we lay, and dried our 


1672] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 55 


selves; for we were often wet in our travels. Next tay we passed ovet 
a desperate river, which had in it many rocks and broad stones, very 
aazardous to us and our horses. From thence we came to Christian- 
river, where we swam our horses over, and went ourselves in canoes; 
put the sides of the river were so miry, that some of the horses had like 
to have been laid up. From thence we came to New-Castle, heretofore 
called New-Amsterdam ; and being very weary, and inquiring in the town 
where we might buy some corn for our horses, the governor came and 
invited me to his house, and afterwards desired me to lodge there; tell- 
ing me, he had a bed for me, and I should be welcome. So I staid, the 
other friends being taken care of also. This was on a seventh-day, and 
he offering his house for a meeting, we had the next day a pretty large 
one; for most of the town were at it. Here had never been a meeting 
before, nor any within a great way; but this was a very precious one, 
many were tender, and confessed to the truth, and some received it; 
blessed be the Lord for ever! 

The sixteenth of the seventh month we set forward, and travelled, as 
near as we could compute, about fifty miles, through the woods and over 
the bogs, heading Bohemia-river and Sassafras-river. At night we made 
a fire in the woods, and lay there all night. It being rainy weather, we 
got under some thick trees for shelter, and afterwards dried ourselves 
again by the fire. Next day we waded through Chester-river, a very 
broad water, and afterwards passing through many bad bogs, lay that 
night also in the woods by a fire, not having gone above thirty miles that 
day. The day following we travelled hard, though we had some trouble- 


some bogs in our way; we rode about fifty miles, and got safe that night 


to Robert Harwood’s, at Miles-river in Maryland. This was the eigh- 
teenth of the seventh month; and though we were very weary, and 
much dirtied with the bogs, yet hearing of a meeting next day, we went 
to it, and from it to John dundsenta- from whence we went three or 
four miles by water to a meeting on the first-day following. Here was 
a judge’s-wife, who had never been at any of our meetings before, who 
was reached, and said after the meeting, ‘She had rather hear us once, 
‘than the priests a thousand times.’ Many others also were well satis- 
fied; for the power of the Lord was emmently with us. Blessed for 
ever be his holy name! We passed from thence about twenty-two miles, 
and had a good meeting upon the Kentish shore, to which one of the 
judges came. After another good meeting hard-by at William Wil- 
cock’s, where we had good service for the Lord, we went by water 
about twenty miles to a very large meeting, where were some hundreds 
of people, and four justices of peace, the high-sheriff of Delaware, and 
others from thence; there was an Indian emperor or governor, and two 
others of the chief men among the Indians. With these Indians I had a 
good opportunity. I spoke to them by an interpreter: they heard the 
truth attentively, and were very loving. A blessed meeting this was, of 
great service both for convincing, and establishing in the truth those that 
were convinced of it. Blessed be the Lord, who causeth his blessed 
truth to spread! After the meeting a woman came to me, whose husband 
was one of the judges of that country, and a member of the assembly 
there. She told me, ‘Her husband was sick, not likely to live, and de- 
‘sired me to go home with her to see him.’ It was three miles to her 


house, and I being just come hot out of the meeting, it was hard for me 


then to go; yet considering the service, I got an horse, went with her, 


456 ' GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1672 


visited her husband, and spoke what the Lord gave me tu him. The 
man was much refreshed, and finely raised up by the power of the Lord; 
and afterwards came to our meetings. I went back to the friends that 
night, and next day we departed thence about nineteen or twenty miles 
to Tredhaven-creek, to John Edmundson’s again; from whence, the third 
of the eighth month, we went to the general meeting for all Maryland 
friends. 

This meeting held five days. The first three we had meetings for pub- 
lick worship, to which people of all sorts came; the other two were 
spent in the men’s and women’s meetings. To those publick meetings” 
came many Protestants of divers sorts, and some Papists; amongst 
whom were several magistrates and their wives, with other persons of 
chief account in the country. Of the common people, it was thought 
there were sometimes a thousand at one of those meetings; so that 
though they had enlarged their meeting-place, and made it as big again - 
as it was before, it could not contain the people. I went by boat every 
day four or five miles to the meeting, and there were so many boats at 
that time passing upon the river, that it was almost like the Thames. 
The people said, ‘ There were never so many boats seer there together 
‘before ;’ and one of the justices said, ‘ He never saw so many people 
‘together in that country.’ It was a very heavenly meeting, wherein 
the presence of the Lord was gloriously manifested, friends were sweetly 
refreshed, the people generally satisfied, and many convinced; for the 
blessed power of the Lord was over all: everlasting praises to his holy 
name for ever! After the publick meetings were over, the men’s and 
women’s began, and were held the other two days; for I had something 
to impart to them, which concerned the glory of God, the order of the 
gospel, and the government of Christ Jesus. When these meetings were 
over, we took our leave of friends in those parts, whom we. left well es- 
tablished in the truth. The tenth of the eighth month we went about 
thirty miles by water, passing by Cranes-island, Swan-island, and Kent- 
island, in very foul weather and much rain; whereby, our boat being 
open, we were not only very much wetted, but in great danger of being 
overset ; insomuch that some thought we could not have escaped bein | 
cast away, till they saw us come to shore next morning. But blessed be 
God, we were very well. Having got to a little house, dried our clothes 
by the fire, and refreshed ourselves a little, we took to our boat again, 
and put off from land, sometimes sailing, and sometimes rowing; but 
having very foul weather, we could not get above twelve miles forward. 
At night we got to land, made us a fire, by which some lay, and others — 
by a fire at a house a little way off’ Next morning we passed over the — 
Great-bay, and sailed about forty miles that day. Making to shore at 
night, we lay there, some in the boat, and some at an alehouse. Next 
morning, being first-day, we went six or seven miles to a friend’s house, ~ 
a justice of the peace; where we hada meeting. This was a little at 
the head of the Great-bay. We were almost four days upon water, 
weary with rowing, yet all was very well; blessed and praised be the 
Lord! We went next day to another friend’s over the head of Hatton’s- 


gsiand, where we had good service ; as we had also the day following at 
George Wilson’s, a friend, that lived about three miles further, where we 
had a very precious meeting, there being great tenderness amongst the 
people. 

Aster ‘this we sailed about ten miles to James Frizby’s, a justice of | 


1672] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 457 


peace; where, the sixteenth of the eighth month, we had a very large 
meeting, at which, besides friends, were some hundreds of people, as it 
was supposed. Amongst them were several justices, captains, and the 
sheriff, with other persons of note. A blessed heavenly meeting this 
was; a powerful, thundering testimony for truth was borne therein; a 
great sense there was upon the people, and much brokenness and ten 
derness amongst them. We staid till about the eleventh hour in the night, 
that the tide turned for us; then taking boat, we passed that night and 
the next day about fifty miles to another friend’s house. The two next 
days we made short journies, visiting friends. The twentieth we hada 
great meeting at a place called Severn, where there was a meeting-place, 
but not large enough to hold the people. Divers chief magistrates were 
at it, with many other considerable people, and it gave them generally 
great satisfaction. Two days after we had a meeting with some that 
walked disorderly, and had good service in it. Then spending a day or 
two in visiting friends, we passed to the Western-shore, and the twenty- 
fifth had a large and precious meeting at William Coale’s, where the 
speaker of their assembly, with his wife, a justice of peace, and severa 
people of quality, were present. Next day we had a meeting, six or 
seven miles further, at Abraham Birkhead’s, where many of the magis- 
trates and upper sort were; and the speaker of the assembly for that 
country was convinced. A blessed meeting it was; praised be the Lord ! 
We travelled next day; and the day following, the twenty-eighth, of the 
eighth month, had a large and very precious meeting at Peter Sharp’s, 
on the Clifts, between thirty and forty miles distant from the former. 
Many of the magistrates and upper rank of people were present, and a 
_ heavenly meeting it was. One of the governor’s council’s wives was 
convinced; and her husband was very loving to friends. A justice of 
peace from Virginia was convinced, and hath a meeting since at his 
house. Some Papists were at this meeting, one of whom threatened, 
before he came, to dispute with me; but he was reached, and could not 
oppose. Blessed be the Lord, the truth reached into the hearts of peo- 
ple beyond words, and it is of a good savour amongst them! After the 
meeting we went about eighteen miles to James Preston’s, a friend that 
lived on Patuxent River. Thither came an Indian king, with his brother, 
to whom I spoke, and | found they understood the thing I spoke of. Hav- 
ing finished our service in Maryland, and intending for Virginia, we had 
a meeting at Patuxent the fourth of the ninth month, to take our leave 
of friends. Many people of all sorts were at it, and a powerful meeting 
it was. 

The fifth of the ninth month we set sail for Virginia, and in three days 
came to Nancemum, about two hundred miles from Maryland. In th’s 
voyage we met with foul weather, storms, and rain, and lay in the woocs 
by a fire in the night. Here lived a friend, called the widow Wright 
Next day we had a great meeting at Nancemum, of friends and others 
There came to this meeting colonel Dewes, with several other officers 
_ and magistrates, who were much taken with the declaration of truth 
_ After the meeting, we hastened towards Carolina; yet had several meet- 
ings by the way, wherein we had good service for the Lord: one about 
four miles from Nancemum Water, which was very precious; and there 
was a men’s and a women’s meeting settled, for the affairs of the church. 
Another very good meeting we had at William Yarrow’s, at Pagan 
Creek; which was so large that we were fain to be abroad, the house 

3H 


458 2H4URGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (16" 


not being big enough to contain the people. A great openness there was, 
the sound of truth spread abroad, and had a good savour in the hearts 
of people: the Lord have the glory for ever! 

After this, our way to Carolina grew worse, being much of it plashy, 
and pretty full of great bogs and swamps; so that we were commcall 
wet to the knees, and lay abroad a-nights in the woods by a fire: saving 
one of the nights we got to a poor house at Sommertown, and lay by 
the fire. The woman of the house had a sense of God upon her. The 
report of our travel had reached thither, and drawn some that lived be- 
yond Sommertown to that house, in expectation to have seen and heard 
us; but they missed us. Next day, the twenty-first of the ninth month, 
having travelled hard through the woods, and over many bogs and 
swamps, we reached Bonner’s Creek; there we lay that night by the fire- 
side, the woman lending us a mat to lie on. 

This was the first house we came to in Carolina: here we left our 
horses, over-wearied with travel. From hence we went down the creek 
in a canoe to Macocomocock River, and came to Hugh Smith’s, where 
people of other professions came to see us (no friends inhabiting that 
part of the country) and many of them received us gladly. Amongst 
others, came Nathaniel Batts, who had been governor of Roan-oak. He 
went by the name of captain Batts, and had been a rude, desperate man. 
He asked me about a woman in Cumberland, who, he said, he was told, 
had been healed by our prayers and laying on of hands, after she had 
been long sick, and given over by the physicians: he desired to know 
the certainty of it. I told him, we did not glory in such things, but many 
such things had been done by the power of Christ. 

Not far from hence we had a meeting among the people, and they 
were taken with the truth; blessed be the Lord! Then passing down the 
river Maratick in a canoe, we went-down the bay Connie-oak, to a cap- 
tain’s, who was loving to us, and lent us his boat, for we were much 
wetted in the canoe, the water flashing in upon us. With this boat we 
went to the governor’s; but the water in some places was so shallow, 
that the boat, being loaden, could not swim; so that we put off our shoes 
and stockings, and waded through the water a pretty way. The gov- 
ernor, with his wife, received us lovingly ; but a doctor there would needs 
dispute with us. And truly his opposing us was of good service, giving 
occasion for the opening of many things to the people concerning the 
Light and Spirit of God, which he denied to be in every one; and af 
firmed it was not in the Indians. Whereupon I called an Indian to us, 
and asked him, ‘ Whether or no, when he did lie, or do wrong to any 
‘one, there was not something in him, that did reprove him for it?” He 
said, ‘ There was such a thing in him that did so reprove him; and he 
‘was ashamed when he had done wrong, or spoken wrong.’ So we 
shamed the doctor before the governor and people; insomuch thet the 
poor man ran out so far, that at length he would not own the scriptures. 
We tarried at the governor’s that night; and next morning he very 
courteously walked with us himself about two miles through the woods, 
to a place whither he had sent our boat about to meet us. Taking leave 
of him, we entered our boat, and went about thirty miles to Joseph Scot’s. 
one of the representatives of the country. There we had a sound, pre- 
cious meeting; the people were tender, and much desired ifter meetings 
Wherefore at an house about four miles further, we had another meet 


| 


672] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 459 


ing; to which the governor’s secretary came, who was chief secretary 


of the province, and had been formerly convinced. 


I went from this place among the Indians, and spoke to them by an 
interpreter, shewing them, ‘ That God made all things in six days, and 
‘made but one woman for one man; and that God did drown the old 
* world because of their wickedness. Afterwards I spoke to them con- 
‘ cerning Christ, shewing them, that he died for all men, for their sins, as 

well as for others; and had enlightened them as well as others; and 

that if they did that which was evil he would burn them; but if they 
*did well they should not be burned.’ There was among them their 
young king and others of their chief men, who seemed to receive kindly 
what I said to them. 

Having visited the north part of Carolina, and made a little entrance 
for truth upon the people there, we began to return again towards Vir- 
ginia, having several meetings in our way, wherein we had good service 
for the Lord, the people being generally tender and open; blessed be the 
Lord! We lay one night at the secretary’s, to which we had much ado 
to get; for the water being shallow, we could not bring our boat to shore. 
But the secretary’s wife, seeing our strait, came herself in a canoe, her 
husband being from home, and brought us to land. By next morning 
our boat was sunk, and full of water; but we got her up, mended her, 
and went away in her that day about twenty-four miles, the water being 
rough, and the winds high: but the great power of God was seen, in 
carrying us safe in that rotten boat. In our return we had a very pre- 
cious meeting at Hugh Smith’s; praised be the Lord for ever! The peo- 
ple were very tender, and very good service we had amongst them. 
There was at this meeting an Indian captain, who was very loving; and 
acknowledged it to be truth that was spoken. There was also one of the 
Indian priests, whom they called a Pauwaw, who sat soberly among the 
people. The ninth of the tenth month we got back to Bonner’s-Creek, 
where we had left our horses; having spent about eighteen days in the 
north of Carolina. 

Our horses having rested, we set forward for Virginia again, travel- 
ling through the woods and bogs as far as we could well reach that day, 
and at night lay by a fire in the woods. Next day we had a tedious jour- 
ney through bogs and swamps, and were exceeding wet and dirty all 
the day, but dried ourselves at night by a fire. We got that night to 
Sommertown. When we came near the house, the woman of the house 
seeing us, spoke to her son to keep up their dogs, for both in Virginia 
and Carolina they generally keep great dogs to guard their houses, living 
lonely in the woods, but the son said, ‘ He need not, for their dogs dic 
“not use to meddle with these people.’ Whereupon, when we were come 


__ into the house, she told us, ‘ We were like the children of Israel, whom 


*the dogs did not move their tongues against.’ Here we lay in our 
tlot~es by the fire, as we had done many a night before. Next day we 
had a meeting; for the people, having been informed of us, had a great 
desire to hear us; and a very good meeting we had among them, where 
we never had one before: praised be the Lord for ever! After the meet- 
ing we hasted away. When we had rid about twenty miles, calling at 


_ a house to enquire the way, the people desired us to tarry all night with 


them; which we did. Next day we came among friends, after we had 
travelled about an hundred miles from Carolina into Virginia: in which 
lime we observed great variety of climates, having pass2d in a few daya 


460 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1 O78 


from a very cold to a warm and spring-like country. But the power of 


the Lord is the same in all; is over all, and doth reach the good in all; — 


praised be the Lord for ever! 

We spent about three weeks in travelling through Virginia, mostly — 
amongst friends, having large and precious meetings in several parts of 
the country ; as at the widow Wright’s, where many of the magistrates, 
officers, and other high people came. A most heavenly meeting we had ; 
wherein the power of the Lord was so great, that it struck a dread upon 
the assembly, chained all down, and brought reverence upon the people’s . 
minds. Among the officers was a major, kinsman to the priest, who told 
me, ‘The priest threatened to come and oppose us.’ But the Lord’s 
power was too strong for him, and stopped him, and we were quiet ana 
peaceable. The people were wonderfully affected with the testimony of 
truth ; blessed be the Lord for ever! Another very good meeting we had 
at Crickatrough, at which many considerable people were, who had 
never heard a friend before; and they were greatly satisfied, praised be 
the Lord! We had also a very,good and serviceable meeting at John 
Porter’s, which consisted mostly of other people, in which the power of 
the Lord was gloriously seen and felt, and it brought the truth over all 
the bad walkers and talkers; blessed be the Lord! Divers other meet- 
ings we had, and many opportunities of service for the Lord amongst 
the people where we came. The last week that we staid we spent some 
time and pains among friends, sweeping away that which was to be 
swept out, and working down a bad spirit that was got up in some: and 
blessed for ever be the name of the Lord! he it is that gives victory 
over all. 

Having finished what service lay upon us at Virginja, the thirtieth of 
the tenth month we set sail in an open sloop for Maryland. But having 


a great storm, and being much wetted, we were glad to get to shore be- ~ 
fore night; and, walking to an house at Willoughby-Point, we got lodg- 


ing there that night. The woman of the house was a widow, a very 
tender person. She had never received friends.before; but she received 


us very kindly, with tears in her eyes. We returned to our boat in the — 
morning, and hoisted sail, getting forward as fast as we could; but to-— 


wards evening a storm rising, the wind being high, we had much ado to 
get to shore: and our boat being open, the water flashed often in, and 
sometimes over us, so that we were sufficiently wetted. Being got to 
land, we made a fire in the woods, to warm and dry us; and there we 
lay all that night, the wolves howling about us. The first of the eleventh 
month we sailed again, but the wind being against us, we made but little 


way ; and were fain to get to shore at Point-Comfort, where yet we found © 
but small comfort; for the weather was so cold, that though we made a — 


good fire in the woods to lie by, our water that we had got for use was _ 
frozen near the fire-side. We made to sea next day; but the wind being 

strong against us, we advanced but little; and were glad to get to land 

again, and travel about to find some house where we might buy pro- ~ 
visions, for our store was spent. That night also we lay in the woods; — 
so extreme cold was the weather, the wind blowing high, and the frost — 
and snow great, that it was hard for some to abide it. The third — 
of the eleventh month, the wind setting pretty fair, we fetched it up 
by sailing and rowing, and got to Milford-Haven, where we lay at — 
Richard Long’s near Quince’s-Island. Next day we passed by Rappa- 
hannock-river, where dwell much people; and friends had a meeting — 


1672] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 461 


there-away at a justice’s, who had formerly been at a meeting where | 
was. We passed over Powtomack-river also, the winds being high, the 
water very rough, the weather extreme cold; and having a meeting 
there-away, some were convinced; and when we parted thence, some 
of our company went amongst them. We steered our course for Patux- 
ent-river. I sat at the helm most part of the day, and some of the night. 
About the first hour in the morning we reached James Preston’s on Pa- 
tuxent river, which is accounted about two hundred miles from Nance. 
mum in Virginia. We were very weary; yet the next day, being the 
first of the week, we went to the meeting not far from thence. The same 
week we went to an Indian king’s cabin, where several Indians were, 
with whom we had a pretty opportunity to discourse, and they carried 
themselves very lovingly. We went also that week to a general meet- 
ing; from thence about eighteen miles further to John Geary’s, where 
we had a very precious meeting; praised be the Lord God for ever! 
After this the cold grew so exceeding sharp, such extreme frost and 
snowy weather beyond what was usual in that country, that we could 
hardly endure to be init. Neither was it easy or safe to stir abroad: 
yet we got with some difficulty six miles through the snow to John May- 
or’s, where we met with some friends that were come from New-Eng- 
land, whom we had left there when we came away; and glad we were 
to see each other, after such long and tedious travels. By these friends 
we understood William Edmundson, having been at Rhode-Island, and 
New-England, was gone from thence for Ireland; that Solomon Eccles 
coming from Jamaica, and landing at Boston in New-England, was taken 
ata meeting there, and banished to Barbadoes; that John Stubbs and 
another friend were gone into New-Jersey, and several other friends to 
Barbadoes, Jamaica, and the Leeward Islands. It was matter of joy to 
us to understand the work of the Lord went on and prospered, and that 
friends were unwearied and diligent in the service. 

The twenty-seventh of the eleventh month we had a very precious 
meeting in a tobacco-house. The next day we returned to James Pres- 
ton’s, about eighteen miles distant. When we came there, we found his 
house was burnt down to the ground the night before, through the care- 
lessness of a maid-servant ; so we lay three nights on the ground by the 
fire, the weather being very cold. We made an observation which was 
somewhat strange, but certainly true; that one day in the midst of this 
cold weather, the wind turning into the south, it grew so hot, that we 
could hardly bear che heat; and the next day and night, the wind chop- 
ping back into the north, we could hardly endure the cold. 

The second of the twelfth month we had a glorious meeting at Pa- 
tuxent; and after it went to John Geary’s,again, where we waited for a 
boat to carry us to the monthly meeting at the Clifts; to which we went 
and a living meeting it was; praised be the Lord! This was on the 
sixth of the twelfth month. Another meeting we had on the ninth, 
wherein the glory of the Lord shined over all; blessed and magnified 
be his holy name for ever! 

The twelfth of the twelfth month we set forward in our boat, and, 
travelling by night, we run our boat on ground i in a creek near Manace 
River. There we were fain to stay till morning, that the tide came and 
lifted her off. In the meantime sitting in an open boat, and the weather 
being bitter cold, some had like to have lost the use of their hands, they 
were so frozen and benumbed. In the morning, when the tide set our 


462 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1672-3 


boat a-float, we got to land, and made a good fire, at which we warmed 
ourselves well, and then took boat and passed about ten miles farther to 
a friend’s house, where next day we had a very precious meeting, at 
which some of the chief of the place were. I went after the meeting to’ 
a friend’s about four miles off, at the head of Anamessy River, where 
the day following the judge of the country and a justice with him came 
‘to me, and were very loving, and much satisfied with friends’ order. 
The next day we had a large meeting at the justice’s in his barn, for his 
house could not hold the company. ‘There were several of the great folks” 
of that country, and among the rest an opposer; but all was preserved — 
quiet and well. A precious meeting it was; the people were much af-— 
fected with the truth; blessed be the Lord! We went next day to see 
captain Colburn, a justice of peace, and there we had some service. 
Then returning again, we had a very glorious meeting at the justice’s — 
where we met before, to which came many people of account in th 
world, magistrates, officers, and others. It was a large meeting, and 
the power of the Lord was much felt, so that the people were generally — 
well satisfied and taken with the truth; and there being several mer- 
chants and masters of ships from New-England, the truth was spread 
abroad; blessed be the Lord! 

A day or two after we travelled about sixteen miles through the 
woods and bogs heading Anamessy River and Amoroca River, part of 
which we went over in a canoe, and came to Manaoke, to a friendly 
woman’s house, where on, the twenty-fourth of the twelfth month we 
had a large meeting ina barn. The Lord’s living presence was with 
us and among the people; blessed be his holy name for evermore! 
Friends never had a meeting in those parts before. After this, we pass- 
ed over the river Wicocomaco, and through many bad watery swamps 
and marshy way, and came to James Jones’s, a friend and a justice of 
the peace, where we had a large and very glorious meeting; praised be 
the Lord God! Then passing over the water in a boat, we took horse, 
and travelled about twenty-four miles through woods and troublesome 
swamps, and came to another justice’s house, where we had a very large 
meeting, much people and many of considerable account being present ; 
and the living presence of the Lord was amongst us; praised for ever 
be his holy name! This was the third of the first month 1672-3. The 
fifth of the same we had another living and heavenly meeting, at which 
divers justices with their wives and many others were; amongst whom 
we had very good service for the Lord; blessed be his holy name! At 
this meeting was a woman that lived at Anamessy, who had been many 
years in trouble of mind, and sometimes would sit moping near two 
months together, and hardly speak or mind any thing. When I heard 
of her, ] was moved of the Lord to go to her, and tell her, ‘ That sal- 
‘vation was come to her house.’ After I had spoken the word of life 
to her, and entreated the Lord for her, she mended, went up and down 
with us to meetings, and is since well; blessed be the Lord! 

We left Anamessy the seventh of the first month; and passing by 
water about fifty miles, came to a friendly wornan’s house at Hunger 
River. We had very rough weather in our passage to this place, and 
were in great danger, for the boat had like to have been turned over. 
But through the good providence of God we got safe thither: praised 
be hisname! At this place we had a meeting. Amongst the people 
were two Papists, a man and a woman; the man was very tender, and 


Me 
| 1672-3] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 4638 


tne woman confessed to the truth. I had no friend with me but Robert 
Widders, the rest having dispersed themselves into several parts of the 
country in the service of truth. 

So soon as the wind would permit, we passed from hence about forty 
miles by water, rowing most part of the way, and came to the head of 
Little Choptank River, to Dr. Winsmore’s a justice of peace, lately con | 
vinced. Here we met with some friends, with whom we staid awhile, 
and then went on by land and water, and had a large meeting abroad, 
for the house we were at could not receive the people. Divers of the 
magistrates and their wives were present; and a good meeting it was; 
blessed be the Lord, who is making his name known in that wilderness 
country! We went from thence to William Stephens’s, where we met 
with those friends that had been travelling in other parts; and were 
much refreshed in the Lord together, when we imparted to each other 
the good success we had in the Lord’s work, and the prosperity and 
spreading of truth in the places where we travelled. John Cartwright 
and another friend had been at Virginia, where were great desires in 
people after the truth; and being now returned, they staid a little with 
us here, and then set forward for Barbadoes. Before we left this place, 
we had a very glorious meeting, at which were many people; amongst 
others, the judge of that country, three justices of the peace, and the 
high-sheriff, with their wives. Of the Indians, was one called their em- 
peror, an Indian king, and their speaker, who sat very attentive, and 
carried themselves very lovingly. An establishing, se<tling meeting it 
was. This was the twenty-third of the first month. ; 

The twenty-fourth we went by water ten miles to the Indian town 
where this emperor dwelt; whom I had acquainted before with my 
coming, and desired to get their kings and councils together. In the 
morning the emperor came himself, and had me to the town; where 
they were generally come together, their speaker and other officers be- 
. ing with them, and the old empress sat among them. They sat very 
grave and sober, and were all very attentive, beyond many called Chris- 
tians. I had some with me that could interpret to them. We hada 
very good meeting with them, and of considerable service it was; for 
it gave them a good esteem of truth and friends; blessed be the Lord! 
___ After this we had meetings in several parts of that country; one at 
William Stephens’s, which was a general meeting once a month; an- 
_ other at Tredhaven Creek, another at Wye, another at Reconow Creek, 
and another at Thomas Taylor’s in the island of Kent. Most of these 
_ were large, there being many people at them, and divers of the most 
considerable in the world’s account. The Lord’s power and living 
_ presence was with us, and plenteously manifested amongst the people, 

by which their hearts were tendered, and opened to receive the truth, 
which had a good savour amongst them; blessed be the Lord God 
over all for ever! Being clear of that side, we passed over the bay 
about fourteen miles to a friend’s house, where we met with several 


friends. I sent for Thomas Thurston thither, and had a meeting with 
him, to bring the truth over his bad actions. 

Having travelled through most parts of that country, and visited 

most of the plantations, having alarmed people of all sorts where we 

_ came, and proclaimed the day of God’s salvation amongst them, we 

found our spirits began to be clear of those parts of the world, and to 

| draw towards Old England again. Yet we were desirous and felt 


464 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (67s . 
freedom from the Lord to stay till the general meeting for the province 
of Maryland was over (which drew nigh) that we might see ficoe 
generally together before we departed. Wherefore spending our time 
in the interim in visiting friends and fri-ndly people, in attending meet- 
ings about the Clifts and Patuxent, in writing answers to some cavilling 
objections which adversaries had raised and spread abroad to hindei 
people from receiving the truth; we were not idle, but laboured in the 
work of the Lord until that general provincial meeting, which began the 
seventeenth of the third month, and lasted four days. The first of these 
days the men and women had their meetings for business, wherein the 
aflairs of the church were taken care of, and many things relating there- 
to were opened to their edification and comfort. The other three days 
were spent in publick meetings for the worship of God, at which divers 
of considerable account in the government, and many others were pres- 
ent; who were generally satisfied, and many of them reached; for it 
was a wonderful glorious meeting, and the mighty presence of the Lord 
was seen and felt over all; blessed and praised be his holy name for ever, 
who over all giveth dominion! 

After this meeting we took our leave of friends, parting in great ten- 
derness, in the sense of the heavenly life and virtuous power of the Lord 
that was livingly felt amongst us, and went by water to the place where 
we were to take shipping; many friends accompanying us thither and 
tarrying with us that night. Next day, the twenty-first of the third 
month, 1673, we set sail for England: the same day Richard Covell 
came on board our ship, his own being taken from him by the Dutch. 
We had foul weather and contrary winds, which caused us to cast an- 
chor often, so that we were till the thirty-first of the third month ere we 
passed the capes of Virginia into the main sea. But after this we made 
good speed, and the twenty-eighth of the fourth month cast anchor at 
King’s Road, the harbour for Bristol. We had in our passage very high 
winds and tempestuous weather, which made the sea exceeding rough, 
the waves rising like mountains, so that the masters and sailors wonder- 
ed, and said, ‘ They never saw the like before.’ But though the wind 
was strong, it sat for the most part with us, so that we sailed before it; 
and the great God who commands the winds, who is Lord of heaven, 
earth, and the seas, and whose wonders are seen in the deep, steered our 
course, and preserved us from many imminent dangers. The same good 
hand of Providence that went with us, and carried us safely over, watch- 
ed over us in our return, and brought us safely back again. Thanks- 
givings and praises be to his holy name for ever! Many sweet and pre- 
cious meetings we had on board the ship during this voyage (commonly 
two a week) wherein the blessed presence of the Lord did greatly re- 
fresh us, and often break in upon and tender the company. When we 
came into Bristol harbour, there lay a man of war, and the press-master 

-came on board to impress our men. We had a meeting at that time in 
the ship with the seamen, before we went to shore; and the press-master 
sat down with us, staid the meeting, and was well satisfied with it. After 
the meeting J spoke to him to leave two of the men he had impressed in 
our ship (for he had impressed four) one of which was a lame man; he 
said, ‘ At my request he would.’ é 

We went on shore that afternoon, and got to Shearhampton. We 
procured horses, and rode to Bristol that night, where friends received 


‘16731 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 465 


us with great joy. Jn the evening I wrote a letter to my wife, to give 
her notice of my landing. 


‘ Dear heart, 

‘Tus day we came into Bristol, near night, from the sea; glory t> 
_ the Lord God over all for ever, who was our convoy, and steered our 
- course! who is the God of the whole earth, of the seas and winds, and 
* made the clouds his chariots, beyond all words, blessed be his name for 
‘ever! He is over all in his great power and wisdom. Amen. Robert 
‘ Widders and James Lancaster are with me, and we are well. Glory to 
‘the Lord for ever, who hath carried us through many perils, perils by 
* water. and in storms, perils by pirates and robbers, perils in the wilder 
“ness, and amongst false professors; praises to him whose glory is over 
‘all for ever, Amen! Therefore mind the fresh life, and all live to God 
‘in it. I intend (if the Lord will) to stay awhile this way. It may be 
‘till the fair. So no more, but my love to all friends. Gizka 

‘ Bristol, the 28th of the 

‘4th month, 1673.’ 


Between this and the fair my wife came out of the north to Bristol, 
and her son-in-law Thomas Lower with two of her daughters with her. 
Her other son-in-law John Rouse, W. Penn and his wife, and Gerrard 
Roberts came from London, and many friends from several parts of the 
‘nation to the fair, and glorious powerful meetings we had there; for the 
Lord’s infinite power and life was over all. In the fresh openings where- 
of I was moved to declare of Three Estates and Three Teachers, viz. 
“God was the first teacher of man and woman in paradise; and as long 
“as they kept to and under his teaching, they kept in the image of God, 
in his likeness, in righteousness and holiness: and in domunan over all 
‘that God had made; in the blessed state, in the paradise of God. But 
‘when they hearkened to the serpent’s false teaching (who was out of 
‘truth) disobeyed God, and obeyed the serpent, in “feeding upon ‘that 
‘which God forbad; they lost the image of God, the righteousness and 
‘holiness, came under the power of Satan, and were turned out of par- 
‘adise, out ef the blessed into the cursed state. Then the promise of 
*God was, “That the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s 
“head,” break his power that man and woman were under, and destroy 
this works. So here were Three States and Three Teachers. God 
‘was the First Teacher in paradise; and whilst man kept under his 
‘teaching, he was happy. The serpent was the second teacher; and 
when man followed his teaching, he fell into misery, into the fall from 
‘the i image of God, righteousness, and holiness, and from the power that 
*he had over all that God had made: and came under the serpent whom 
he had power over before. Christ Jesus was the Third Teacher; of 
_ whom God saith, “ This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, 
“hear ye him:” and who himself saith, “ Learn of me.” This is the true 
gospel-teacher, who bruises the head of the serpent the false teacher 
and the head of all false teachers and false religions, false ways, false 
‘worships, and false churches. Christ, who said, “ Learn of me,” and 
‘of whom the Father said, “ Hear ye him,” said, “I am the way to God, 
“Tam the truth, I am the life, and the true light. ” So as man and wo 
“man come to God, and are renewed up into his i image, righteousness. 
‘and holiness by Christ, thereby they come into the paradise of God, the 
‘state which man was in before he fell; and into an higher state than 
3 1 


‘ 


466 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAI. [6 


, ‘that, to sit down in Christ who never fell. Therefore the Son of Go 


‘is to be heard in all things, who is the Saviour and the Redeemer ; wa 
‘hath laid down his life, and bought his sheep with his precious bloo 
‘We can challenge all the world. Who hath any thing to say again 
‘our way? our Saviour? our Redeemer! our Prophet, whom God hat 
‘raised up that we may hear, and whom we must hear in all things 
‘Who hath any thing against our Shepherd, Christ Jesus, who leads an 
‘feeds us, and we know his heavenly voice? Who hath any thing again 
‘our Bishop, in whose mouth was never guile found, who doth overse 
‘us in his pasture of life, that we do not go astray out of his fold? Wh 
‘hath any thing against our Priest, Christ Jesus, made higher than th 
‘heavens, who gives us freely, and commands us to give freely? Wh 
‘hath any thing to say against our Leader and Counsellor, Christ Jesu 
‘who never sinned, but is holy, harmless, and separate from sinnets 
‘God hath commanded us to hear him, and he saith, “ Learn of me; 
‘and if we should disobey God’s and Christ’s command, we should b 
‘like our father Adam and mother Eve, who disobeyed God’s comman 
‘and hearkened to the serpent’s teaching. Man commands, and woul 
‘force us to hear the hirelings, who plead for sin and the body of deat 
‘to the grave; which doctrine savours of the devil’s teaching, not o 
‘Christ’s; but we resoive to hear the Son, as both the Father and h 
‘command; and in hearing the Son, we hear the Father also, as th 
‘scripture testifies. For the author to the Hebrews says, “ God, who ¢ 
“sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the father 
“by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son: 
‘ Mark that, God hath spoken unto us (his apostles, disciples, and church 
‘by his Son. And whereas some have objected, “ That although Chri: 
“did speak both to his disciples and to the Jews in the days of his flest 
“ yet since his resurrection and ascension he doth not speak now ;” the ar 
‘ swer is, as God did then speak by his Son in the days of his flesh, s 
‘the Son, Christ Jesus, doth now speak by his Spirit. Wherefore Joh 
* saith in the Revelations, “ He that hath an ear, let him hear what th 
“Spirit saith to the churches,” Rev. ii. And Christ is said to “spea 
“from heaven,” Heb. xii. 25. “See that ve refuse not him that speak 
“eth; for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, muc! 
“more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh fron 
“heaven.” They that resisted Moses’s law (who spake on earth) diet 
‘for it without mercy, which was a natural death; but they that refus 
‘him that speaks from heaven, neglect and slight their own salvation 
‘and so die a spiritual death, through unbelief and hardness of heart 
‘ Therefore was the exhortation given of old, “ To-day, if ye will heai 
“ his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,” &c. Heb. iii 
‘15, &c. They, who neglect or refuse to hear the voice of Christ nov 
‘ speaking from heaven in this his gospel-day,; harden their hearts. There 
‘fore let all mark well these three states and teachers: the God of truth 
‘was the first teacher, while man was in paradise and in innocence 

The serpent was the second teacher, the false teacher, who by his fal 
‘teaching came to be the god of the world which lies in wickedness 
‘Christ Jesus, that bruises the serpent’s aead, is the third teacher, whe 
saith, “ Learn of me;” of whom God saith, “ This is my beloved So 
‘ip whom I am weil pleased, hear ye him ;” and of whom the testimony} 
‘of the saints of old was, “That God,;hath in these last days spoke 
‘unto us by his Son.” Thus thev; that come to be renewed up agai 


67 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 467 


into the divine heavenly image in which man was at first \nade, will 
*know the same God, that was the first teacher of Adam and Eve in 
‘paradise, to speak to them now by his Son, who changes not; glory be 
*to his name for ever? 

Many deep and precious things were opened in those meetings by the 
eternal Spirit which searcheth and revealeth the deep things of God. 
After I had finished my service for the Lord in that city, I departed inte 
Gloucestershire, where we had many large and precious meetings; and 
) the Lord’s everlasting power flowed over all. From Gloucestershire I 
passed into Wiltshire, where also we had many blessed meetings. At 
Slattenford in Wiltshire we had a very good meeting, though we met 
‘with much opposition from some, who had set themselves against 
women’s meetings; which I was moved of the Lord to recommend to 
friends, for the benefit of the church of Christ. ‘That faithful women, 
‘called to the belief of the truth, made partakers of the same precious 
‘faith, and heirs of the same everlasting gospel of life and salvation as 
} the men are, might in like manner come into the possession and practice 
* of the gospel-order, and therein be meet helps unto the men in the resto- 
\‘ ration, in the service of truth, in the affairs of the church, as they are 
* outwardly in civil or temporal things. That so all the family of God, 
women as well as men, might know, possess, perform, and discharge 
their offices and services in the house of God, whereby the poor might 
be the better taken care of; the younger-sort instructed, informed, and 
“taught in the way of God; the loose and disorderly reproved and ad- 
“ monished in the fear of the Lord; the clearness of persons proposing 
‘marriage, more closely and strictly inquired into in the wisdom of God ; 
"and all the members of the spiritual body the church might watch over 
* and be helpful to each other in love.’ After these opposers had run into 
| much contention and wrangling, the power of the Lord struck down one 
of the chief of them, so that his spirit sunk, and he came to be sensible 
od the evil he had done, in opposing God’s heavenly power, confessed his 
error before friends, and afterwards gave forth a paper of condemnation, 
‘wherein he declared, ‘ That he did wilfully oppose (although I often 
-* warned him to take heed) until the fire of the Lord did burn within him, 
‘and he saw the angel of the Lord with his sword drawn in his hand, 
‘ready to cut him off,’ &c. 
| Notwithstanding the opposition was made at the meeting, yet a very 
' good and serviceable meeting it was; for occasion was thereby admin- 
_ istered to answer their objections and cavils, and to open the services of 
‘women in and for the church. At this meeting the women’s meetings 
for that county were established in the blessed power of God. 

After this I went to Marlborough, and had a meeting there, to which 
some of the magistrates came, and were civil and moderate. Then pass- 
‘ng to Bartholomew Maylin’s, I had a very precious meeting there 
Frum thence went a little beyond Ore, where we had a blessed meeting, 

‘and very large, as we had also soon after upon the border of Hamp- 
shire. Then turning into Oxfordshire, we visited friends there; then 
‘went to Reading where we had a large meeting. From thence passing 
into Buckinghamshire, we had many precious meetings in that county. 
_ After which we visited friends till we came to Kingston upon Thames 
“where my wife and her daughter Rachel met me. 
I made no long stay at Kingston, but went to London, where I found 
he Baptists and Socinians, with some old apostates, grown very rude 


468 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [167s 


haviug printed many books against us: so I had a great travail in th 
Lord’s power, before I could get clear of that city. But blessed be th 
Lord, his power came over then, and all their lying, wicked, scandalou 
books were answered. I made a short journey into some parts of Essex 
and Middlesex, visiting friends at their meetings, and their children at 
the schools, and returned soon to London. After some service ther 
among frieads, I went to Kingston, and from thence to Stephen Smith’s 
in Surry, where was a very large meeting, many hundreds of people 
attending it. I staid in those parts “till Thad cleared myself of the service 
the Lord had given me to do there, and then returned by Kingston te 
London, whither I felt my spirit drawn; having heard that many friends 
were taken before the magistrates, and divers imprisoned, both in Lon- 


‘don and in other parts of the nation, for opening their shop-windows upor 


holy-days and fast-days (as they were called) and for bearing testimony 


against all such observation of days. Which friends could not but do, 


knowing that the true Christians did not observe the Jews’ holy-days in 
the apostles’ times, neither could we observe the Heathens’ and Papists' 
holy-days (so called) which have been set up amongst those called Chris. 
tians since the apostles’ days. For we were redeemed out of days by 
Christ Jesus, and brought into the day which hath sprung from on high 
and are come into him, who is Lord of the Jewish sabbath, and the sub- 
stance of the Jews’ signs. 

After I had staid some time in London, labouring for some relief and 
ease to friends in this case, I went with my wife, and her daughte1 
Rachel, to Hendon, in Middlesex, and from thence to William Penn’s at 
Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire, whither Thomas Lower, who married 
another of my wife’s daughters, came the next day to accompany us ir 
our journey northward. After we had visited friends thereabouts, we 
passed to a friend’s house near Aylesbury; and from thence to Bray 
Doily’s at Adderbury, in Oxfordshire, where, on first-day, we had a large 
and precious meeting. ‘Truth being well spread, and friends in those 
parts much increased in number, two or three new meetings were ther 
set up thereabonts. 

At night, as ] was sitting at supper, I felt I was taken; yet I said 
nothing to any body of it then. But getting out next morning, we trav- 
elled into Worcestershire, and went to John Halford’s at Armscot, in 
Tredington parish; where we had a very large and precious meeting in 
his barn, the Lord’s powerful presence being eminently with and amongst 
us. After the meeting, friends being most of them gone, as I was sitting 
in the parlour, discoursing with some friends, Henry Parker, a justice. 
came to the house, and with him Rowland Hains, a priest of Hunniton, 
in Warwickshire. This justice came to know of the meeting by means 
of a woman-friend, who, being nurse to a child of his, asked ee of her 
mistress to go to the meeting to see me; and she speaking of it to her 
husband, he and the priest plotted together to break up the meeting, and 
apprehena me. But by means of their sitting long at dinner, it being 
the day on which his child was sprinkled, they came not till the meet- 
ing was over, and friends mostly gone. But though there was no meet- 
ing when they came, yet I being in the house, who was the person they 
aimed at, Henry Parker took me,.and Thomas Lower for company with 
me, and though he had nothing to lay to our charge, sent us both to 
Worcester gaol, by a strange sort of mittimus; a copy of which here 
fol’oweth : 


673] - GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 469 


To the constables of Tredington, in the said county of Worcester, 
‘and to all constables and tything-men of the several townships and 
‘ villages within the said parish of Tredington, and to the keeper of 
‘the gaol for the county of Worcester. 


‘Comptaint being made to me, being one of his majesty’s justices of 
' the peace for the said county of Worcester, that within the said parish 
of Tredington, in the said county, there has of late been several meet- 
ings of divers persons, to the number of four hundred persons and _up- 
wards at a time, upon pretence of exercise of religion, otherwise than 
|* what is established by the laws of England. And many of the said 
|‘ persons, some of them were teachers, and came from the north, and 
others from the remote parts of the kingdom, which tends to the preju- 
dice of the reformed and established religion, and may prove prejudi- 
cial to the publick peace. And it appearing to me, that there was this 
present day such a meeting as aforesaid, to the number of two hundred 
‘or thereabouts, at Armscot, in the said Parish of Tredington; and that 
‘George Fox, of London, and Thomas Lower, of the parish of Creed, 
| fin the county of Cornwall, were present at the said meeting; and the 
‘said George Fox was teacher or speaker of the said meeting; and no 
satisfactory account of their settlement or place of habitation appearing 
/*to me; and forasmuch as the said George Fox and Thomas Lower re- 
‘fused to give sureties to appear at the next sessions of the peace to be 
| ‘holden for the said county, to answer the breach of the common laws 
fof England, and what other matters should be objected against them: 
|‘ These are therefore, in his majesty’s name, to will and require you or 
‘either of you forthwith to convey the bodies of the said George Fox 
‘and Thomas Lower to the county gaol of Worcester aforesaid, and 
‘there safely to be kept until they shall be from thence delivered by due 
“course of Jaw: for which this shall be your sufficient warrant in that 
‘behalf. Dated the 17th day of December, in the 25th year of his 
‘majesty’s reign over England, &c. ‘Henry Parker.’ 


4 Being thus made prisoners, without any probable appearance of being 
released before the quarter-sessions at soonest, we got some friends to 
accompany my wife and her daughter into the north, and we were con- 
veyed to Worcester gaol. From whence, by that time I thought my wife 
could be got home, I wrote her the following letter. 


| e 


‘Dear heart, ; 

__ ‘ Tuou seemedst to be a little grieved when I was speaking of prisons. 

and when I was taken. Be content with the will of the Lord God. For 

“when I was at John Rouse’s at Kingston, I had a sight of my being ta- 
‘ken prisoner; and when I was at Bray Doily’s, in Oxfordshire, as I sat 

“at supper, I saw I was taken, and I saw I had a suffering to undergo. 
‘But the Lord’s power is over all; blessed be his holy name for ever! 


‘Goh = 


‘When we had been some time in the gaol, we thought fit to lay our 
case before the lord Windsor, lord-lieutenant of Worcestershire, and be- 
fore the deputy-lieutenants, and other magistrates; which we did by the 
following letter : 

‘ Tuese are to inform you, the lord-lieutenant (so called) the deputy- 


‘lieutenants, and the justices of the county of Worcestershire, how un- 
‘christianly and inhumanly we have been dealt withal by Henry Parker 


SS 


470 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1673 


‘a justice (so called) in our journey towards the north. We coming to 
‘our friend John Halford’s, the 17th of the 10th monta, 1673, some 
‘friends bringing us on the way, and others coming to visit‘us there: 
‘towards night came the aforesaid justice, and a priest called Row- 
‘land Hains, of Hunniton, in Warwickshire, and demanded our names 
‘and places of abode. And though we were not in any meeting 
‘but were discoursing together when they came in, he made a mittimus 
to send us to Worcester gaol. Now whereas he says in his mittimus, 
‘That complaint had been made to him of several by-past meetings of 
“ many hundreds at a time ;” we know nothing of that, nor do we think 
‘that concerns us. And whereas he says further, “ That no satisfactory 
“account of our settlement or place of habitation appeared unto him ;” 
‘this he contradicts in his own mittimus, mentioning therein the places 
‘of our abode and habitation; the account of which we satisfactorily and 
‘fully gave him. And one of us (Thomas Lower) told him, that he was 
‘going down with his mother-in-law (who is George Fox’s wife) and 
‘with his sister, to fetch up his own wife and child out of the north into 
‘his own country. And the other of us (George Fox) told him, that he 
‘ was bringing forward his wife on her journey towards the north, who 
‘had been at London to visit one of her daughters, who had lately lain 
‘in. And having received a message from his mother, an ancient woman 
‘in Leicestershire, that she earnestly desired to see him before she died, 
‘he intended, as soon as he had brought his wife on her journey as far 
‘as Causal, in Warwickshire, to turn into Leicestershire, to visit his 
mother and relations there, and then to have returned to London. But 
by his interrupting us in our journey, taking the husband from his wife, 
‘the son from his mother and sister, and stopping him from visiting his 
‘wife and child so remote, we were forced to get strangers, or whom 
‘ we could, to help them on their journey, to our great damage and their 
‘hindrance. We asked the priest, “ whether this was his gospel, and 
“their way of entertaining strangers?” And we desired the justice to 
‘consider, whether this was doing “ as he would be done by?” But he 
«said, “ He had said it, and he would do it.” And whereas he says, 
“ We refused to give sureties.” He asked only George Fox for sureties ; 
‘who replied, “ He was an innocent man, and knew no law he had 
“broken ;” but he did not ask Thomas Lower for any, as if it had been 
‘crime and cause enough for his commitment that he came out of Corn- 
wall. If we were at a meeting, as he says in his mittimus, he might 
have proceeded otherwise, than by sending us to gaol, to answer the 
‘breach of the common laws; though he shewed us no breach of any, 
‘as may be seen in the mittimus. We thought fit to lay before you the 
substance of his proceedings against us, hoping there will more modera- 
‘tion and justice appear in you towards us, that we may prosecute our 
intended journey. 
. ‘George Fox, 
‘Thomas Lower.’ 


But no enlargement did we receive by our application to the lord 
Windsor (so called.) And although Thomas Lower received several 
letters from his brother Dr. Lower, who was one of the king’s physi 
cians, concerning his liberty, and one, by his procurement, from Henry 
Savil. who was of the king’s bed-chamber, to his brother called the lora 
Windsor, to the same effect; yet seeing it related only to his enlarge- 


673) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 471 


ment, not mine, so great was his love and regard to me, that he would 
not seek his own liberty singly, but kept the letter by him unsent; so we 
were continued prisoners till the next general quarter sessions of the 
peace. At which time divers friends from several places being in town, 
did speak to the justices concerning us; who spoke fair, and said, we 
should be discharged. For many ‘of the justices seemed to dislike the 
severity of Parker’s proceedings against us, and declared an averseness 
[fo ensnare us by the tender of the oaths. Some friends also had spoken 
with lord Windsor, who likewise spoke them fair; so that it was the 

neral discourse we should be discharged. We heard also, that Dr 
ow ‘er had procured a letter from colonel Sands at London, to some of 
the justices in our favour. Some of the justices also spoke to some 
friends, to acquaint us, that they would have us speak but little in the 
court, lest we should provoke any of the bench, and they would warrant 
we should be discharged. 

We were not called till the last day of the sessions, which was the 
twenty-first of the eleventh month, 1673. When we came in, they 
were struck with paleness in their faces, and it was some time before 
any thing was spoken; insomuch that a butcher in the hall said,‘ What! 
‘are they afraid? Dare not the justices speak to them? At length, 
before they spoke to us, justice Parker made a long speech on the bench, 
much to the same effect as was contained in the mittimus, often men- 
tioning the common laws, but not instancing any we had broken. Add- 
‘ing, ‘That he thought it a milder course to send us two to gaol, than to 
‘put his neighbours to the loss of two hundred pounds. which they must 
‘have suffered if he had put the law in execution against conventicles.’ 
But in this he was either very ignorant, or very deceitful; for there be- 
ing no meeting when he came, nor any to inform, he had no evidence to 
Bonvict us, OF ahs neighbours by. 

When Parker had ended his speech, the justices began with Thomas 
‘Lower, whom they examined of the cause of his coming into. that coun- 
try; of which he gave them a full and plain account. Sometimes I put 
‘in a word while they were examining him, and then they told me, 
«They were upon his examination, when it came to my turn, I should 
i have free liberty to speak, for they would not hinder me; but I should 

have full time, and they would not ensnare us.’ When they had done 
with him, they asked me an account of my travel, which I gave them. 
‘as is mentioned before, but more largely. And whereas justice Parker, 
to aggravate the case, had made a great noise of ‘there being some 
*from London, some from the north, some from Cornwall, and some 
‘from Bristol, at the house when I was taken.’ I told him, ‘ This was 
‘in a manner all but one family. For there was none from London, but 
heal none from the north, but my wife and her daughter; none 
“trom Cornwall, but my son-in-law Thomas Lower; nor any from Bris- 
*tol, but one friend, a merchant there, who met us, as it were, provi- 
*dentially, to assist my wife and her daughter in their journey home- 

wards, when by our imprisonment they were deprived of our company 
“and help.’ When I had spoken, the chairman, whose name was Simp- 
son, an old Presbyterian, said, ‘ Your relation or account is very inno- 
ape Then he and Parker perce awhile together, and after that 
the chairman stood up, and said: ‘ You, Mr. Fox, are a famous man, 

‘ and all this may be true which you have said; but that we may be the 
better satisfied, will you take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy? 


472 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL [1673 


T to.d them, ‘ They had said, “« They would not ensnare us;” but this was 
a plain snare: for they knew we could not take any oath.” However, 
they caused the oath to be read; and when they had done, I told them, 
‘I never took an oath in my life, but I had always been true 1» the gov- 
‘ernment: that I was cast into prison at Derby, and kept a prisoner six 

months there, because I would not take up arms against king Charles 
‘at Worcester-fight ; and for going to meetings, was carried up out of 
‘Leicestershire, and brought before Oliver Cromwell, as a plotter ta 
‘bring in king Charles. And ye know,’ said I, ‘in your own con. 
“sciences, that we, the people called Quakers, cannot take an oath, nor 
‘sweur in any case, because Christ hath forbidden it. But as to the 
‘mater or substance contained in the oaths, this I can and do say, that 
‘I do own and acknowledge the king of England to be lawful heir and 

successor to the realm of England, and do abhor all plots and plotters, 
‘and contrivances against him; and I have nothing in my heart, but 
“love and good-will to him and all men, and desire his and their pros- 
‘perity ; the Lord knows it, before whom I stand an innocent man. 
‘ And as to the oath of supremacy, I deny the pope, his power, and his 
‘religion, and abhor it with my heart.’ While I was speaking they 
cried, ‘Give him the book.’ I said, ‘The book saith, * Swear not at 
“all.” Then they cried, ‘Take him away, gaoler ;’ and I still speaking 
on, they were urgent upon the gaoler, crying, ‘ Take him away, we shall 
‘have a meeting here. Why do you not take him away? That fellow 
‘(meaning the gaoler) loves to hear him preach.’ Then the gaoler 
drew me away; and as | was turning from them, I stretched out my 
arm, and said, ‘The Lord forgive you, who cast me into prison for 
‘obeying the doctrine of Christ.’ Thus they apparently broke their 
promise in the face of the country; for they promised | should have 
free liberty to speak, but now they would not give it me; and they 
. promised they would not ensnare us, yet now they, tendered me the oaths 
on purpose to ensnare me. 

After I was had away, Thomas Lower was stayed behind in the 
court; and they told him,‘ He was at liberty.’ Then he would have 
reasoned with them, asking them, ‘Why I might not be set at liberty as well 
‘as he, seeing we were both taken together, and our case was alike” But 
they told him, ‘ They would not hear him;’ saying, ‘ You may be gone 
‘about your business, for we have nothing more to say to you, seeing 
‘you are discharged.’ This was all he could get from them. Where- 
fore, after the court was risen, he went to speak with them at their 
chamber, desiring to know, ‘ What cause they had to detain his father, 
‘seeing they had discharged him?’ and wishing them to consider, 
whether this was not partiality, and would be a blemish to them. Where- 
upon Simpson threatened him, saying, ‘If you be not content we will 
‘tender you the oaths also, and send you to your father.’ To which he 
replied, ‘They might do that, if they thought fit; but whether they sent 
him or no, he intended to go and wait upon his father in prison ; for that 
‘ was now his business in that country.’ Then said justice Parker to 
him, ‘ Do you think, Mr. Lower, that I had not cause to send your father 

and you to prison, when you had such a great meeting that the parson 
of the parish complained to me, that he hath lost the greatest part of 
his parishioners; so that when he comes amongst them he has scaree 
any auditors left?” <I have heard,’ replied Thomas Lower, ‘ that th 
priest of that parish comes so seldom to visit his flock (bat once, it ma 


1673] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 473 


‘be, or twice in a year, to gather up his tythes) tiat it was - st charity 
‘in my father to visit such a forlorn and forsaken flock; therefore thou 
‘fadst no cause to send my father to prison for visiting them, or for 
‘teaching, instructing, and directing them to Christ, their true teacher, 
‘who had so little comfort or benefit from their pretended pastor, who 
‘comes amongst them only to seek for his “gain from his quarter” 
Upon this the justices fell a laughing; for it seems Dr. Crowder, the 
a they spoke of, was then sitting among them, though Thomas 
ower did not know him; and he had the wit to hold his tongue, and 
not undertake to vindicate himself in a matter so notoriously known to 
be true. But when Thomas Lower was come from them, the justices 
did so play upon Dr. Crowder, that he was pitifully ashamed, and so 
nettled with it, that he threatened to sue Thomas Lower in the bishop’s 
court, upon an action of defamation. Which when Thomas Lower 
heard of, he sent him word, he would answer his suit, let him begin it 
when he would; and would bring his whole parish in evidence against 
him. This cooled the doctor. Yet some time after he came to the 
prison, pretending he had a mind to dispute with me, and to talk with 
Thomas Lower about that business; and he brought another with him, 
he himself being then a prebendary at Worcester. 
When he came in, he asked me, ‘ What I was in prison for? ‘ Dost 
‘not thou know that?’ said I. ‘ Wast not thou upon the bench, when 
justice Simpson and Parker tendered the oath to me? And hadst not 
thou an hand in it” Then he said, ‘It is lawful to swear; and Christ 
‘did not forbid swearing before a magistrate ; but swearing by the sun 
and the like.’ I bid him prove that by the scriptures, but he could not. 
Then he brought that saying of Paul’s, ‘ All things are lawful unto me,’ 
1 Cor. vi. 12. ‘ And if,’ said he, ‘ all things were lawful unto him, then 
‘swearing was lawful unto him.’ ‘ By this argument,’ said I, ‘ thou 


“mayest also affirm, that drunkenness, adultery, and all manner of sin 


‘and wickedness is lawful also, as well as swearing.’ ‘ Why,’ said Dr. 
Crowder, ‘do you hold that adultery is unlawful? ‘ Yes,’ said I, ‘ that 
‘Ido.’ * Why then,’ said he, ‘ this contradicts the saying of St. Paul.’ 
Thereupon I called to the prisoners and the gaoler, to hear what doc- 
trine Dr. Crowder- had laid down for orthodox, viz. ‘that drunkenness, 
‘swearing, adultery, and such like things were lawful.’ Then he said, 
‘He would give it under his hand;’ and took a pen, but wrote another 
thing than what he had spoken. Then turning to Thomas Lower, he 
asked him, ‘ Whether he would answer what he had there written” 
Who undertook it. Whereupon, when he had threatened Thomas 
Lower to sue him in the bishop’s court for speaking so abusively (as he 
called it) of him before the justices, and Thomas had bid him begin 
when he pleased, for he would answer him, and bring his parishioners 
in evidence against him, he went away in a great fret, grumbling to 
himself as he went. A few days after Thomas Lower sent him an 
answer to the paper he had wrote and left with him; which answer a 
friend of Worcester carried to him, and he read it, and said, ‘ He would 
ay. to it;’ but he never did, though he often sent him word he would 
> it. ; 
_ Soon after the sessions, the term coming on, an Habeas Corpus was 
sent to Worcester for the sheriff to bring me up to the king’s-bench-bar. 
Whereupon the under-sheriff, having made Thomas Lower his deputy to 
convey me to London, we set out the twenty-ninth of the eleventh 
3K 


174 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAI.. [167 


month, 1673, and came to London the second of the twelfth month the 
ways being very deep, and the waters out. Next day, notice being 
given that I was brought up, the sheriff was ordered to bring me into 
court. I went accordingly, and did appear in court before judge W:.d; 
and both he and the lawyers were pretty fair, so that I had time to 
speak, to clear my innocency, and shew my wrong imprisonment. 
After the return of the writ was entered, I was ordered to be breught 
into court again next day: the order of court being as followeth 


ae ) Thursday, next after the morrow of the Purification 
Bde ee oe of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the 26th Year of 
(eee King Charles the Second. 
‘George Fox. 5 
Tue defendant being brought here into court, upon a writ of Habeas 
‘Corpus ad subjiciend, &c. unde: the custody of the sheriff of the coun- 
‘ty aforesaid; it is ordered, That the Return unto the Habeas Corpus 
‘be filed, and the Defendant is committed unto the marshal of this court, 
‘be safely kept until, &c. 
‘By motion of Mr. G. Srroupe. 
‘ By the Court.’ 


Accordingly I went in the morning, and walked in the hall till the 
sheriff came to me (for he trusted me to go whither I would) and it 
being early, we went into the court of King’s-bench, and sat among 
the lawyers almost an hour, till the judges came in, when the sheriff 
took off my hat; and after awhile I was called. The Lord’s presence 


was with me, and his power I felt was over all. I stood and heard the 


king’s attorney, whose name was Jones, who indeed spoke notably on 
my behalf, as did also another counsellor after him; and the judges, 
who were three, were all very moderate, not casting any reflecting 
words at me. I stood still in the power and Spirit of the Lord, seeing 
how the Lord was at work, and the earth was helping the woman. But 
when they had done, I applied myself to the chief justice, desiring, 
‘That I might speak ;’ and he said, I might. ‘Then I related the cause 
‘of our journey, the manner of our being taken and committed, and the 
‘time of our imprisonment until the sessions; with a brief account of 
‘our trial at the sessions, and what I had offered to the justices then, as 
‘a declaration that I could make or sign, instead of the oaths of allegi- 
‘ance and supremacy.’ When I had done, the chief justice said, ‘I was 
‘to be turned over to the King’s-bench, and the sheriff of Worcester to 
‘be discharged of me.’ He said also, ‘ That they would consider further 
‘of it; and if they found any error in the record, or in the justices’ pro- 
‘ceedings, I should be set at liberty.’ So a tipstaff was called to take 
me into custody, and he delivered me to the keeper of the King’s-bench, 
who let me go toa friend’s house, where I lodged and appointed to meet 
me at Edward Man’s in Bishopgate-street the next day. But after this, 
justice Parker, or some other of my adversaries, moved the court, that 
I might be sent back to Worcester. Whereupon another day was ap- 
pointed fer another hearing, and they had four counsel that pleaded 
against me. George Stroude, a counsellor, pleaded for me, and was 
pleading before I was brought iuto the court; but they bore him down, 
and prevailed with the judges to give judgment, * That I should be sent 
‘down to Worcester sessions.’ Only they told me I might put in bail te 
appear at the sessions, and to be of good behaviour in the mean time 


EEE 


1674] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 475 


] told them, ‘I never was of ill behaviour in my life; and that they, tle. 
‘four judges, might as well put the oath to me there, a: send me to 
‘ Worcester to be ensnared by the justices, in their putting the oath to 
‘me, and then premuniring me, who never took oath in my life. I told 
‘them, if I broke my Yea or Nay, I was content to suffer the same pen- 
‘alty which they should that break their oaths.’ This alteration of the 
judges’ minds in my case proceeded, as was thought, from some false in- 
formations that my adversary justice Parker had given against me: for 
between the times of my former appearance and this, he had spreac 
aoroad a very false and malicious story, viz. ‘That there were many 
‘ substantial men with me out of several parts of the nation when he took 
‘me, and that we had a design or plot in hand; and that Thomas Lower 
‘staid with me in prison long after he was set at liberty, to carry on our 
‘design.’ This was spoken in the parliament-house; insomuch that if I 
had not been brought up to London when I was, I had been stopped at 
Worcester, and Thomas had been re-committed with me. But although 
these lies were easily disproved and laid open to Parker’s shame, yet 
would not the judges alter their last sentence, but remanded me to Wor- 
cester gaol; only this favour was granted, that I might go down my own 
way, and at my own leisure; provided I would be without fail there by 
the assize, which was to begin the second of the second month following. 
I staid in and about London till towards the latter end of the first 
month, 1674, and then went down leisurely (for I was not able to abide 
hasty and hard travelling) and came into Worcester the last of the first 
month, 1674, being the day before the judges came to town. The sec- 
ond day of the second month I was brought from the gaol to an inn near 
the hall, that I might be in readiness if I should be called. But not veing 
called that day, the gaoler came at night, and told me, ‘I might go home,’ 
meaning to the gaol. Gerrard Roberts of London being with me, he 
and I walked down together to the gaol without any keeper. Next day 
being brought up again, they set a little boy about eleven years old to be 
my keeper. I came to understand justice Parker and the clerk of the 
peace had given order that I should not be put into the calendar, that I 
might not be brought before the judge; wherefore I got the judge’s son 
to move in court, ‘ That I might be called’ whereupon I was called and 
brought to the bar before judge Turner, my old adversary, who had ten- 
dered me the oaths, and premunired me once before at Lancaster. After 
silence made, he asked me, ‘ What I did desire?’ I answered, ‘ My liber- 
‘ty according to justice.’ He said, ‘I lay upon the oath;’ and asked, 
‘If I would take it? ‘I desired he would hear the manner of my being 
‘taken and committed ;’ and being silent, ] gave him an account thereof 
at large, as is before set down, letting him also know, ‘That since my 
‘imprisonment J had understood my mother, who was an ancient, tender 
woman, and had desired to see me before she died, hearing that I was 
st pped and imprisoned in my journey, so that I was not likely to come 
‘to see her, it struck her so, that she died soon after, which was a very 
‘hard thing to me.’ When I had done speaking, he again asked me, 
“To take the oaths.’ I told him, ‘I could not take any oath, for con- 
‘science-sake ; and I did believe he and they all knew in their consciences 
‘that it was for conscience-sake I could not swear at all. I declared 
“amongst them what I could say and what I could sign, in owning of the 
‘king’s right to the government, and in denying the pope and his pretend- 
‘ed power, and all plotters, plots, and conspiracies against the govern- 


{76 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1674 


ment.’ Some thought the judge had a mind to set me at liberty, for he 
saw they had nothing justly against me; but Parker, who committed me, 
endeavoured to incense him, telling him, ‘ That I was a ringleader; that | 
‘many of the nation followed me, and he knew not what it might come 
‘to; with many more envious words, which some took notice of; who 
also observed, that the judge gave him never a word in answer. How- 
ever, the judge, willing to ease himself, referred me and my case to the 
sessions again, bidding the justices make an. end of it there, and not 
trouble the assizes any more with me. So I was continued prisoner, 
chiefly (as it seemed) through the means of justice Parker, who in this 
case was as false as envious; for he had promised Richard Cannon of 
London, who had acquaintance with him, ‘ That he would endeavour to 
‘have me set at liberty ;’ yet he was the worst enemy I had in court, as 
some of the court observed and reported. Other justices were very lov- 
ing, and promised, ‘That I should have the liberty of the town, and to 
‘lodge at a friend’s house till the sessions ;’ which accordingly I had, and 
the people were very civil and respectful to me. 

Between this time and the sessions I had some service for the Lord 
with several that came to visit me. At one time came three noncon- 
formist priests and two lawyers to discourse with me; and one of the 
priests undertook to prove, ‘ That the scriptures are the only rule of life.’ 
After I had defeated his proof, I had a fit opportunity to open to them. 
‘The right and proper use, service, and excellency of the scriptures; and 
‘also to shew, that the Spirit of God which was given to every one to 


‘profit withal, the grace of God which bringeth salvation, and which 


hath appeared to all men, and teacheth them that obey it to deny un- 
‘godliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly 
‘in this present world; that this, [ say, is the most fit, proper, and uni- 
‘ versal rule which God hath given to-all mankind to rule, direct, govern, 
‘and order their lives by.’ 
Another time came a common-prayer priest, and some people with 
him. He asked me, ‘If I was grown up to perfection? I told him, 
What I was, I was by the grace of God.’ He replied, ‘ It was a mod- 
‘est and civil answer.’ Then he urged the words of John, ‘If we say 
‘that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.’ 
He asked, ‘ What did I say to that” ‘I said with the same apostle, “ If 
“ we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is 
“ not in us;” who came to destroy sin, and to take away sin. So there 
‘is a time for people to see that they have sinned, and there is a time for 
‘them to see that they have sin; and there is a time for them to confess 
‘their sin, and to forsake it, and to know the blood of Christ to cleanse 
‘from all sin. Then the priest was asked, ‘Whether Adam was not 
‘perfect before he fell? and whether all God’s works were not perfect ” 
The priest said, ‘ There might be a perfection as Adam had, and a fall 
‘ing froin it? But I told him, ‘There is a perfection in Christ above 
‘ Adam, and beyond falling; and that it was the work of the ministers 
‘of Christ to present every man perfect in Christ; for the perfecting of 
whom they had their gifts from Christ; therefore they that denied per- 
fection, denied the work of the ministry, and the gifts which Christ gave 
for the perfecting of the saints.’ The priest said, * We must always be 
striving.’ I answered, ‘It was a sad and comfortless sort of striving, 
to strive with a belief that we should never overcome.’ I told him also, 
shat ‘Paul, who cried out of the body of death, did also “thank Goa. 


EEE ee ————eEeEeEeE—eeeeerreeee 


1674] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 477 


“who gave him the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” So there 
‘ was a time of crying out for want of victory, and a time of praising 
‘God for the victory. And Paul said, “There is no condemnation tc 
“them that are in Christ Jesus.” The priest said, ‘ Job was not perfect.’ 
I told him, ‘ God said Job was a perfect man, and that he did shun evil; 
‘and the devil was forced to confess, that “God had set an hedge about 
“him ;” which was not an outward hedge, but the invisible, heavenly 
‘power. The priest said, ‘ Job said, «« He chargeth his angels with folly, 
«and the heavens are not clean in his sight.” I told him, ‘ That was his 
‘mistake, it was not Job said so, but Eliphaz, who contended against 
‘Job.’ ‘Well, but,’ said the priest, ‘what say you to that scripture, 
* The justest man that is sinneth seven times a day” ‘ Why truly,’ said 
I, ‘I say there is no such scripture ;’ and with that the priest’s mouth was 
stopped. Many other services J had with several sorts of people between 
the assizes and the sessions. 

The next quarter-sessions began the twenty-ninth of the second month, 
and I was called before the justices. The chairman’s name was 
Street, he was a judge in the Welsh circuit, and he misrepresented me 
and my case to the country, telling them ‘That we had a meeting at 
‘ Tredington from all parts of the nation, to the terrifying of the king’s 
‘subjects, for which we had been committed to prison: that for the trial 
‘of my fidelity the oaths were put to me; and, having had time to con- 
‘sider of it, he asked me if I would now take the oaths?’ ‘I desired lib- 
‘erty to speak for myself; and, having obtained that, began first to clear 
‘myself from those falsehoods he had charged on me and friends; de- 
‘claring, that we had not any such meeting from all parts of the nation, 
‘as he had represented it; but that (except the friend from whose house 
‘we came, and who came with us to guide us thither, and one friend of 
‘ Bristol, who came accidentally, or rather providentially, to assist my 
‘ wife homewards, after we were taken) they that were with me were in 
‘a sense part of my own family, being my wife, her daughter, and her 
‘son-in-law. And we did not meet in any way or manner that would 
‘occasion terror to any of the king’s subjects; for we met peaceably 
‘and quietly, without arms; and I did not believe there could be any one 
‘produced that could truly say he was terrified with our meeting. Be- 
‘sides, I told them we were but in our journey, the occasion whereof I 
‘now related as before. As to the oaths, I shewed why I could not take 

them (seeing Christ hath forbidden all swearing) and what I could say 
‘or sign in lieu of them, as] had done before. Yet they caused the 
‘oaths to be read to me, and afterwards read an indictment, which they 
‘had drawn up in readiness, having a jury ready also.” When the in- 
dictment was read the judge asked me, ‘If I was guilty” I said, ‘Nay; 
‘for it was a great bundle of lies;? which I shewed and proved to the 
judge in several particulars, which J instanced ; asking him, if he did not 
‘know in his conscience they were lies?’ He said, ‘ It was their form. 
I said, ‘It was not a true form.’ He asked me again, ‘ Whether I was 
‘ouilty ? 1 told him, ‘Nay, I was not guilty of the matt2r, nor of the 
‘form; for I was against the pope and popery, and did acxnowledge and 
‘should set my hand to that.’ Then the judge told the jury what they 
should say and do, and what they should write on the backside of the 
indictment; and as he said, they did. But before the jury gave in their 
verdict, I told them, ‘It was for Christ’s sake, and in obedience to his 
and his apostle’s command, that I could not swear; therefore,’ said I, 


478 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. y1014 


take heed what ye do, for before his judgment-seat ye shall all be 
‘brought.’ The judge said, ‘This is canting.’ I said, ‘If to confess 
‘Christ our Lord and Saviour, and to obey his command, be called cant- 
‘ing by a judge of a court, it is to little purpose for me to say more 

among you: vet ye shall see that I am a christian, and shall shew forth 

christianity, and my imnocency shall be manifest.’ So the gaoler led 
me out of the court; and the people were generally tender, as if they 
had been in a meeting. Soon after I was brought in again, and the jury 
found the bill against me, which I traversed. ‘Then I was asked to put 
in bail till the next sessions, and the gaoler’s son offered to be bound for 
me. But I stopped him, and warned friends not to meddle, for I told 
them, ‘There was a snare in that;’ yet I told the justices, I could prom- 
ise to appear if the Lord gave health and strength, and I was at liberty. 
Some of the justices were loving, and would have ‘stopped the rest from 
indicting me or putting the oath to me; but judge Street the chairman 
said, ‘He must go according to law.’ So I was sent to prison again; 
vet within two hours after, through the moderation of some of the jus- 
tices, I had liberty given me till next quarter-sessions. ‘These moderate 
justices, as it was said, desired justice Parker to write to the king for 
my liberty, or for a Noli prosequi, because they were satisfied I was not 
such a dangerous person as I had been represented. ‘This, it was said, 
he promised to do, but did it not. 

After I had got a copy of the indictment, I went to London, visiting 
friends as went. When I came there, some that were earnest to get 
me out of the hands of those envious justices that sought to premunire 
me at Worcester, would needs be tampering again, to bring me before 
the judges of the King’s Bench; whereupon I was brought ¢ again by an 
Habeas Corpus before them. I tendered them a paper, in which was 
contained what I could say instead of the oaths of allegiance and su- 
premacy, as followeth: 


‘ Tuts I do in the truth and in the presence of God declare, That king 
Charles the Second is lawful king of this realm, and of all other his do- 
‘ minions; that he was brought in and set up king over this realm by the 
‘power of God; and J have nothing but love and good will to him and 
‘all his subjects, and desire his prosperity and eternal good. I do utter- 
‘ly abhor and deny the pope’s power and supremacy, and all his super- 
‘ stitions und idolatrous inventions; and do affirm, that he hath no power 
‘to absolve sin. I do abhor and detest his murdering of princes, or other 
‘people, by plots or contrivances. And likewise I do deny all plots and 
contrivances, and plotters and contrivers against the king and his sub- 
jects; knowing them to be the works of darkness, the fruits of an evil 
spirit, against the peace of the kingdom, and not from the Spirit of God, 
the fruit of which is love. I dare not take an oath, because it is for- 
bidden by Christ and the apostle ; but if I break my Yea or Nay, et me 

suffer the same penalty as those that break their oaths. 

‘ Groner Fox.’ 


But the business being so far proceeded in at Worcester, they would 
not meddle in it, but left me to appear again before the justices at the 
next general quarter-sessions at Worcester. 

Meanwhile the yearly meeting of friends came on, at which I was 


resent; and exceeding glorious the meetings were, beyond eens 
lessed be the Lord! 


ee 


ie 


ms 


1674] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 47 


Alter the yearly meeting, I set forward for Worcester, the sessions 
drawing on, which were held in the fifth month. When I was called to 
the bar, and the indictment read, some scruple arising among the jury 
concerning it, the judge of the court, justice Street, caused the oaths to 
be read and tendered to me again. I told him, ‘I came now to try the 
‘traverse of my indictment; and that his tendering me the oaths anew 
‘ was a new snare. I desired him to answer me a question or two; and 
‘asked him, Whether the oaths were to be tendered to the king’s sub- 
‘jects, or to the subjects of foreign princes” He said, ‘ To the subjects 
of this realm.’ ‘Then,’ said I, ‘You have not named me a subject in 
‘the indictment, and therefore have not brought me within the statute.’ 
The judge cried, ‘Read the oath to him.’ I said, ‘I require justice.’ 
Again I asked him, ‘ Whether the sessions ought not to have been holden 
‘for the king, and the body of the county” He said,‘ Yes.’ + Then,’ 
said I, ‘ you have there left the king out of the indictment ; how then can 
‘ you proceed upon this indictment to a trial between the king and me, 
‘ seeing the king is left out” He said, ‘The king was in before.’ But | 
told him, ‘ The king’s name being left out, here was a great error in the 
‘indictment, and sufticient, as 1 was informed, to suash it. Besides, I 
‘told him that I was committed by the name of George Fox of London, 
‘but now I was indicted by the name of George Fox of Tredington in 
‘the county of Worcester. I wished the jury to consider how they could 
‘find me guilty upon that indictment, seeing I was not of the place the 
‘indictment mentioned.’ ‘The judge did not deny but there were errors 
in the indictment; but said, ‘I might take my remedy in its proper place.’ 
I answered, ‘ You know that we are a people that suffer all things, and 
‘bear all things; and therefore ye thus use us, because we cannot re- 
‘venge ourseives; but we leave our cause to the Lord.’ The judge said, 
‘The oath hath been tendered to you several times, and we will have 
“some satisfaction from you concerning the oath.’ I offered them “the 
same declaration instead of the oath, which I had offered to the judges 
above; but it would not be accepted. Then I desired to know, seeing 
they put the oath anew to me, whether the indictment was quashed or 
no! Instead of answering me, the judge told the jury, ‘ They might go 
‘out.’ Some of the jury were not satisfied; whereupon the judge told 
them, ‘ They had heard a man swear that the oath was tendered to me 
‘the last sessions; and’ then directed what they should do. I told him, 
‘ He should leave the jury to their own consciences.’ However, the jury, 
being put on by him, went forth, and soon after came in again, and found 
me guilty. J asked them, ‘ How they could satisfy themselves to find me 
‘guilty upon that indictment, which was laid so false, and had so many 
‘errors in it” They could make but little answer; yet one who seemed 
to be the worst of them, would have taken me by the hand: but I put 
him by, saying, ‘ How now, Judas, hast thou betrayed me, and dost thou 
‘now come with a kiss?’ So I bid him and them repent. Then the judge 
began to teli me ‘ How favourable the court had been to me.’ I asked 
him, ‘ How he could say so? Was ever any man worse dealt by than I 
“had been in this case, who was stopped in my journey when travelling 
‘upon my lawful occasions, and imprisoned without cause; and now had 
‘the oaths put to me only for a snare? I desired him to answer me in 
‘the presence of the Lord, in whose presence we all are, whether this 
‘oath was not tendered to me in envy” He would not answer that; but 
said, ‘Would you had never come here, to trouble us and the country? 


480 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [167 


I answered, ‘I came not thither of myself, but was brought, being stop- 

ped in my journey. I did not trouble them, but they had brought trou- 
‘ble upon themselves.’ Then the judge told me, ‘ What a sad sentence 
‘he had to tell me.’ I asked him, ‘ Whether what he was going to speak 
* was by way of passing sentence, or for information? For I told him | 
‘had many things to say, and more errors to assign in the indictment, 


‘ besides those I had already mentioned, to stop him from giving sentence 


‘ against me upon that indictment.’ He said, ‘ He was going to shew me 
‘the danger of a premunire, which was the loss of my liberty and of all 
‘my goods and chattels, and to suffer imprisonment during life’ But he 
said, ‘ He did not deliver this as the sentence of the court upon me, but 
‘as an admonition to me.’ Then he bid the gaoler ‘ Take me away.’ | 
expected to have been called again to hear the sentence; but when I was 
gone, the clerk of the peace (whose name was Twittey) asked him, as I 
was informed, ‘ Whether that which he had spoken to me should stand 
‘for sentence!’ And he, consulting with some of the justices, told him, 
‘ Yes, that was the sentence, and should stand.’ This was done behind 
my back, to save himself from shame in the face of the country. Many 
of the justices, and the generality of the people, were moderate and civil ; 
and John Ashley, a lawyer, was very friendly both the time before and 
now, speaking on my behalf, and pleading the errors of the indictment 
for me; but justice Street, the judge of the court, would not regard, but 
over-ruled all. This justice Street said to some friends in the morning 
nefore my trial, ‘ That if he had been upon the bench the first sessions, 
“he would not have tendered me the oath; but if I had been convicted 
‘ of being at a conventicle. he would have proceeded against me accord 
‘ing to that law; and that he was sorry that ever I came before him; 
yet he maliciously tendered the oath to me in the court again, when | 
was to have tried my traverse upon the indictment. But the Lord plead 
ed my cause, and met with both him and justice Simpson, who first en- 
snared me with the oath at the first sessions; for Simpson’s son was ar 
raigned not long after at the same bar for murder. And Street, who, as 
he came down from London, after the judges had returned me back from 
the King’s-bench to Worcester, said, ‘Now I was returned to them, I should 
‘lie in prison and rot;’ had his daughter (whom he so doted on that she 
was called his idol) brought dead from London in an herse to the same 
inn where he spoke those words, and brought to Worcester to be buried 
within a few days after. People took notice of the hand of God, how 
sudden it was upon him; but it rather hardened than tendered him, as 
his carriage afterwards shewed. 

After I was returned to prison, several came to see me; amongst 
others, the earl of Salisbury’s son, who was very loving, and troubled 
that they had dealt so wickedly by me. He staid about two hours with 
me, and took a copy of the errors of the indictment in writing. 

The sessions being now over, and I fixed in prison by a premunire, 
my wife came out of the north to be with me; and the assizes coming 
on in the sixth month, the state of my case being drawn up in writing, 
she and Thomas Lower delivered it to judge Wild. In it was set fortn 
the occasion of my journey, the manner of my being taken and impris- 
oned, the proceedings of the several sessions against me, and the errors 
in the indictment by which I was premunired. When the judge had read 
it, he shook his head, and said, ‘ We might try the validity or invalidity 
‘of the errors, if we would ;’ which was all they could get from him 


! 
. 


74] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 481 


_ While I lay in prison, it came upon me to state our principle to the 
king : not with particular relation to my own sufferings, but for his better 
information concerning our principle, and us as a people. 


‘To the KING. 


‘ Tue principle of the Quakers is the Spirit of Christ, who died for us, 
and is risen for our justification; by which we know we are his. He 
‘dwelleth in us by his Spirit, and by the Spirit of Christ we are led out 
of unrighteousness and ungodliness. It brings us to deny all plottings 
‘and contrivings against the king, or any man. The Spirit of Christ 
“brings us to deny all manner of ungodliness, as lying, theft, murder, 
‘adultery, fornication, all uncleanness, debauchery, malice, hatred, de- 
*ceit, cozening and cheating whatsoever, and the devil and his works. 
* The Spirit of Christ brings us to seek the peace and good of all men, 
‘and to live peaceably, and leads us from such evil actions as the magis- 
*trate’s sword takes hold upon. Our desire and labour is, that all who 
‘profess themselves Christians may walk in the Spirit of Christ; that 
‘they through the Spirit may mortify the deeds of the flesh, and by the 
‘sword of the Spirit may cut down sin and evil in themselves. ‘Then 
‘the judges and other magistrates would not have so much work in pun- 
‘ishing sin in the kingdom; neither then need kings or princes fear any 
‘of their subjects, if they all walked in the Spirit of Christ, for the fruits 
‘of the Spirit are love, righteousness, goodness, temperance, &c. If all 
‘that profess themselves Christians did walk in the Spirit of Christ, and 
‘by it did mortify sin and evil, it would be a great ease to the magis- 
‘trates and rulers, and would free them from a great deal of trouble, for 
it would lead all “ to do unto others as they would have others do unto 
“them,” and so the royal law of liberty would be fulfilled. For if all 
‘called Christians did walk in the Spirit of Christ, by it to have the evil 
‘spirit and its fruits mortified and cut down in them, then, not being led 
‘by the evil spirit, but by the good Spirit of Christ, the fruits of the good 
‘Spirit would appear in all. For as people are led by the good Spirit 
* of Christ, it leads them out of sin and evil, which the magistrate’s sword 
| *takes hold of, and so would be an ease to the magistrates. But as peo- 
‘ple err from this good Spirit of Christ, and follow the evil spirit, which 
leads them into sin and-evil; that spirit brings the magistrate into a 
* sreat deal of trouble, to execute the law upon the sinners and transgres- 
‘sors of the good Spirit. That Spirit, which leads people from all man- 
‘ner of sin and evil, is one with the magistrate’s power, and with the 
‘righteous law; for the law being added because of transgression, that 
| * Spirit which leads out of transgression must needs be one with that 
law which is against transgressors. So that Spirit which leads out of 
transgression is the good Spirit of Christ,and is one with the magis- 
‘trates in the higher power, and owns it and them; but that spirit which 
leads into transgression is the bad spirit, is against the law, against the 
magistrates, and makes them a great deal of troublesome work. The 
manifestation of the good Spirit is given to every man to profit withal ; 
and no man can profit in the things of God but by the Spirit of God, 
which brings to deny al] sin and evil. It is said of Israel, Nehem. ix. 
«The Lord gave them his good Spirit to instruct them, yet they rebelled 
‘against it.” tIf all people did mind this manifestation of the Spirit 
which God hath given to instruct them, it would lead them to forsake 
‘all manner of sin and evil, enmity, hatred, malice, unrighteousness and 


Fl 3L 


A A at is 


482 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ers 


ungodliness, and to mortify it. Then in the Spirit of Christ they would 
have fellowship and unity, which is the bond of peace ; then would love 
and peace, which are the fruits of the good Spirit, flow among all that 
are called Christians. 
v ‘Weare a people, who, in tenderness of conscience to the command 
‘of Christ and his apostle, cannot swear; for we are commanded in 
‘ Matth. v. and James v. to keep to Yea and Nay, and “ not to swear al 
“all; neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, lest 
we go into evil, and fall into condemnation.” The words of Christ are 
‘these: “ Ye have heard that it hath been said by (or to) them of old 
“time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord 
“thine oaths.” These were true and solemn oaths, which those who 
‘made ought to have performed in old time; but these Christ and his 
‘apostle forbad in the gospel-times, as well as false and vain oaths. If 
‘ we could take any oath at all, we could take the oath of allegiance. 
“knowing that king Charles was by the power of God brought into Eng- 
‘land, and set up king of England, &c. over the heads of our old perse- 
'*cutors; and as for the pope’s supremacy, we utterly deny it. And the 
‘apostle having commanded us not to swear, but to keep to Yea and 
‘ Nay, we dare not break their commands; therefore many knowing this 
‘have put the oaths to us as a snare, that they might make a prey of us. 
‘Our denying to swear is not in wilfulness, stubbornness, or contempt, 
but only in obedience to the command of Christ and his apostle; and 
‘ we are content, if we break our Yea and Nay, to suffer the same penal- 
‘ty as they should that break their oaths. We desire therefore that the 
‘king would take this into consideration, also how long we have suffer- 
‘ed in this case. This is from one who desires the eternal good and 


‘prosperity of the king and of all his subjects in the Lord Jesus ean F 


About this time I hada fit of sickness, which brought me very low 
and weak in my body; and I continued so a pretty while, insomuch that 
some friends began to doubt of my recovery. I seemed to myself to be 
amongst the graves and dead corpses; yet the invisible power did se- 
cretly support me, and conveyed refreshing strength into me, even when 
I was so weak that I was almost speechless. One night, as I was lying 
awake upon my bed in the glory of the Lord which was over all, it was 
said unto me, ‘ That the Lord had a great deal more work for me to do 
* for him, before he took me to himself.’ | 

Endeavours were used to get me released, at least for a time, till T 
should grow stronger; but the way of effecting it proving difficult and 
.edious, for the king was not willing to release me by any other way 
than a pardon, being told he could not legally do it; and I was not. will- 
.ng to accept of a pardon, which he would readily have given me, be- 
cause | did not look upon that way as agreeable with the innocence of 
my cause, Edward Pitway, having occasion to speak with justice Par- 
ker upon business, desired him to give order to the gaoler, That, in re 
gard of my weakness, I might have liberty to go out of the gaol into the 
city. Whereupon justice Parker wrote the following letter to the gaoler. 
and sent it to the friend to deliver. 


‘ Mr. Harris, 
‘I nave been much importuned by some friends to George Fox, t 
write to you. Iam informed by them, that he is in a very weak condi 


1674] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 483 


tion, and very much indisposed: what lawful faxour yoa can lo, for 
the benefit of the air for his health, pray shew him. I suppose, the nex* 
term they will make application to the king. I am, Sir, 
‘ Your loving friend, 
‘ Evesham, the 8th of ‘Henry Parker.’ 
‘Octob. 1674.’ 


e 

After this, my wife went to London, and spoke to the king; ‘laying 
before him my long and unjust imprisonment, with the manner of my 
being taken, and the justices’ proceedings against me, in tendering me 
the oath as a snare, whereby they had premunired me: so that I being 
now his prisoner, it was in his power and at his pleasure to release me; 
which she desired.’ The king spoke kindly to her, and referred her to 
the lord keeper; to whom she went, but could not obtain what she de- 
sired ; for he said, ‘The king could not release me otherwise than by a 
‘pardon ;’ and I was not free to receive a pardon, knowing I had not 
done evil. If I would have been freed by a pardon, I needed not have 
laid so long; for the king was willing to have given me one long before ; 
and told Thomas Moore, ‘That I need not scruple being released by a 
‘pardon, for many a man that was as innocent as a child had had a par- 
‘don granted him?’ yet I could not consent to accept one. For I had 
rather have lain in prison all my days, than come out in any way dishon- 
ourable to truth: wherefore I chose to have the validity of my indictment 
tried before the judges. Having first the opinion of a counsellor upon 
it (Thomas Corbet of London, whom Richard Davis of Welchpool was 
well acquainted with, and recommended to me) an Habeas Corpus was 
sent to Worcester, to bring me up once more to the King’s-bench bar, 
for the trial of the errors in my indictment.. The under-sheriff set for- 
ward with me the fourth of the twelfth month, there being also in the 
coach the clerk of the peace, and some others. The clerk had been my 
enemy all along, and now sought to ensnare me in discourse; but I saw, 
and shunned him. He asked me, ‘ What I would do with the errors in 
‘the indictment’ I told him, ‘ They should be tried, and every action 
‘should crown itself’ He quarrelled with me for calling their ministers 
priests. I asked him, ‘If the law did not call them so” He asked me, 
‘What I thought of the church of England? Were there no Christians 
‘among them” J said, ‘ They are all called so, and there are many ten- 
‘der people amongst them.’ We came to London the eighth of the 
twelfth month, and the eleventh I was brought before the four judges at 
the King’s Bench, where counsellor Corbet started a new plea. He told 
the judges, ‘They could not imprison any man upon a premunire.’ 
Whereupon the chief justice Hale said, ‘Mr. Corbet, you should have 
‘come sooner, at the beginning of the term, with this plea.’ He answered, 
*We could not get a copy of the return and the indictment.’ The judge 
replied, ‘ You should have told us, and we would have forced them to 
‘have made a return sooner.’ Then said judge Wild, ‘ Mr. Corbet, you 


go upon general terms; and if it be so as you say, we have committed 
ds Yi 7 


many errors at the Old Bailey, and in other courts. Corbet was posi- 
tive that by law they could not imprison upon a premunire. The judge 
said, ‘ There is summons in the statute.’ ‘ Yes,’ said Corbet, ‘ but sum- 
‘mons is not imprisonment, for summons is in order to a trial.’ ‘ Well, 
raid the judge, ‘we must have time to look in our books, and consult the 


statutes.’ So the hearing was put off till next day. 


184 GEORGE FOX S JOURNAL. [1674 


‘The next day they chose rather to let this plea fall, and begin with 
the errors of the indictment; and when they came to be opened, they 
were so many and gross, that the judges were all of opinion the ‘ indict- 
*ment was quashed and void, and that I ought to have my liberty.’ Ther2 
were that day several great men, lords and others, who had the oaths 
of allegiance and supremacy tendered to them in open court, just before 
my trial came on; and some of my adversaries moved the judges that 
the oaths might be tendered again to me, telling them, ‘ I was a danger- 

ous man to be at liberty.’ But judge Hale said, ‘ He had indeed heard 

some such reports, but he had also heard many more good reports of 
‘me;’ so he, with the rest of the judges, ordered me to be freed by pro- 
clamation. Thus after I had suflered imprisonment a year and almost 
two months for nothing, I was fairly set at liberty upon a trial of the er- 
rors of my indictment, without receiving any pardon, or coming under 
any obligation or engagement at all; and the Lord’s everlasting power 
went over all, to his glory and praise. Counsellor Corbet got great fame 
by it; many of the lawyers told him, ‘He had brought that to light 
‘which had not been known before, as to the not imprisoning upon a pre- 
‘munire;’ and after the trial a judge said to him, ‘ You have obtained a 
‘great deal of honour by pleading George Fox’s cause so in court.’ 

During the time of my imprisonment in Worcester, notwithstanding 
my want of health, and being so often hurried to and fro to London and 
back, I wrote several books for the press, one whereof was called, ‘A 
‘warning to England ;’ another was, ‘'To the Jews, proving by the pro- 
‘phets, that the Messiah is come ;’ another, ‘ Concerning inspiration, reve- 
‘Jation, and prophecy ;’ another, ‘ Against all vain disputes ;’ another, 
‘For all bishops and ministers to try themselves by the scriptures ;’ an- 
other, ‘To such as say, We love none but ourselves ;’ another, intituled, 
\‘ Our testimony concerning Christ ;’ and another little book * concerning 
‘Swearing,’ being the first of those two given to the parliament. Besides 
these, I wrote many papers and epistles to friends, to encourage and 
strengthen them in their services for God, which some who made pro- 
fession of truth, but had given way to a seducing spirit, and were de- 
parted from the unity and fellowship of the gospel, in which friends stand, 
endeavoured to discourage them from ; especially in their diligent and 
watchful care for the well-ordering and managing the affairs of the church 
of Christ. 

Being at liberty, I visited friends in London; and having been very 
weak, and not yet well recovered, I went to Kingston; and having vis- 
ited friends there, returned to London, wrote a paper to the parliament, 
and sent several books to them. A great book against swearing had been 
delivered to them a little before; the reasonableness whereof had so 
much influence, that it was thought they would have done something to- 
wards our relief if they had sat longer. I staid in and near London til] 
the yearly meeting, to which friends came from most parts of the nation, 
and some from beyond sea. A glorious meeting we had in the everlast- 
ing power of God. 

This meeting over, and the parliament risen who had done nothing 
for nor against friends, I was clear of my service for the Lord at Lon- 
don. And having taken my leave of friends there, and had a glorious 
meeting with some of them at John Elson’s in the morning, I set for- 

_ ward with my wife and her daughter Susan by coach (for I was not able 
* to travel on horseback) towards the north, many friends accompanying 


} 
| ace, 


1675} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 485 


us as far as Highgate, and some to Dunstable, where we lodged that 
night. We visited friends and were visited by them at Newport-Pagnel, 
Northampton, and Cossel, where, amongst others, came a woman, and 
brought her daughter for me to see how well she was; putting me in 
mind, ‘ That when I was there before, she had brought her to me much 
‘troubled with the king’s evil, and had then desired me to pray for her.’ 
Which I did, and she mended upon it ; praised be the Lord! From Cos- 
2 we went by John Simcock’s and William Gandy’s to Warrington, 
Preston, and Lancaster. 

I had not been at Lancaster since I was carried prisoner from thence 
by the under-sheriff and gaoler, towards Scarborough castle in York- 
shire. I found the town full of people; for it was fair-time, and the 
trained bands were met upon a general muster. Many friends were alse 
in town from several parts of the county, because the quarterly meeting 
was to be there next day. I staid two nights and a day at Lancaster, 
and visited friends both at their men’s and women’s meetings, which 
were very full, large, and peaceable; for the Lord’s power was over all, 
and none meddled with us. Here met us Thomas Lower and his wife, 
Sarah Fell, James Lancaster, and Leonard Fell. The next day after 
the meeting, the twenty-fifth of the fourth month, we went over the sands, 
with several other friends, to Swarthmore. 

After I had been awhile at Swarthmore, several friends from divers 
parts of the nation came to visit me, and some out of Scotland; by 

whom I understood, four young students of Aberdeen were convinced 
‘there this year, at a dispute held by Robert Barclay and George Keith 
'with some of the scholars of that university. 

Among others, colonel Kirby paid me a visit, who had been one of 
my great persecutors; but now he said he came to bid me welcome into 
the country, and carried himself in appearance very lovingly; yet be- 
fore I left Swarthmore he sent for the constables of Ulverstone, and or- 
dered them to tell me, ‘ That we must have uo more meetings at Swarth- 
‘more; for if we had, they were commanded by him to break them up, 
‘and were to come the next first-day.’ That day we had a very precious 
“meeting, the Lord’s presence was wonderful amongst us, and the constables 
did not come to disturb us. The meetings have been quiet since, and 
have increased. 

The illness I got in my imprisonment at Worcester had so much weak- 
ened me, it was long before I recovered my natural strength again. For 
which reason, and as I had many things lay upon me to write for pub- 
lick and private service, I did not stir much abroad during the time | 
now staid in the north; but when friends were not with me, spent pretty 
much time’in writing books and papers for truth’s service. While I was 
at Swarthmore, I gave several to be printed; viz. 

One, ‘ Concerning swearing.’ 

Another, shewing, ‘ That none are successors to the prophets and 
‘apostles, but who succeed them in the same power and Holy Ghost 

that they were in.’ 

Another, shewing, ‘ That possession is above profession; and how the 
professors now do persecute Christ in spirit, as the professing Jews did 
persecute him outwardly in the days of his flesh.’ 

Another little book, ‘To the magistrates of Dantzick.’ 

Another, called, ‘Cain against Abel; or, an Answer to the New-Rng 
‘and men’s laws.’ 


486 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. "1676 


Another, ‘ To friends at Nevis, concerning watching.’ 

Another, ‘ A general epistle to all friends in America.’ 

Another, ‘ Concerning Ceesar’s due, and God’s due, &c.’ 

Another ‘ Concerning ordering of families.’ 

Another intituled, «The spiritual man judgeth all things’ 

Another, ‘ Concerning the higher power.’ 

Besides these, I w rote sever al epistles to friends, both in England and 
bevond the seas; and answers to divers papers concerning the ‘ running 
“out of some who had opposed the order of the gospel,’ had stirred up 
a great deal of strife and contention in Westmoreland. Wherefore | 
Was moved to write a few lines particularly to friends there. 


‘ This is for friends in Westmoreland: 


Y « Att live in the power of God, in his light and Spirit, which did first 
‘convince you; that in it ye may keep in ‘the ancient unity, in humility 

in the fear of the Lord, and his gentle and peaceable wisdom, which is 
‘easy to be intreated. That in ‘the same power, light, and Spirit of 
‘God, ye may be serviceable in your men’s and women’s meetings, in 
‘the possession of the gospel-order ; which gospel, the power of God 
‘hath brought life and immortality to light ; that in this ye may see over 
‘him that hath darkened you. In this power no apostates can come; 
‘for the power of God was before apostates were, or the fall of man and 
‘woman was, or the devil either, and will be when he is gone. There- 
‘fore praise God in the eternal fellowship of the everlasting gospel of 


‘Jesus Christ, which is not of man, nor by man. And all friends in 


‘Westmoreland, keep in the power of God, which will and must pre- 
‘serve and cover you, if ye be preserved. Let your faith stand in the 
‘power of God, and not in the wisdom of men’s words, lest ye fall. In 
‘God’s power ye have peace, life, and unity; and for want of keeping 
‘in God’s power, in his righteousness and Holy Ghost, is all this strife 
‘come among you. , G. FY 


I also wrote the following general epistle to friends at the yearly 
meeting in London: 


*‘ My dear friends and brethren, 

*‘Wuom the Lord hath preserved by his eternal power to this day, 
‘over and through many troubles, storms, tempests, and prisons. Let 
* every one’s faith stand in the power of God, which is over the devil 
‘and was before him. Your faith standing in the invisible power of 
‘ God, it stands in that which does not change; and the faith that Christ 
‘Jesus, the power of God, is the author of, must stand in the power of 
‘God, so then it stands in that which is over all, in which they are 
‘established. This the apostle brought the church, the true Christians 
‘to: and so ought all the true Christians’ faith now, which Christ is the 
‘author of, to stand in the power of God, in which the everlasting king- 
“dom stands. As every one’s faith stands in this power, it keeps all in 

‘the power of godliness. 
‘For as it was in the days of the apostles, when some were erying 
‘up Paul and Apollos, and so forth, he judged them as carnal; and ex- 
‘horted and admonished them that their faith should not total in men. 
nor in the words of man’s wisdom, but in the power of God. He said 
“ He would not know the speech of them, but the power anongst them, 
‘for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” So it is to be 


GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 487 


-*now Every one’s faith must stand in the pc wer of God, and not in 
' men, nor their speeches upon the good words. For we have seen 
*by experience, when they begin to cry up mien, and their faith stands in 
| ‘them; such as would have people’s faith to stand in them, love popu- 
| ‘larity, and bring not people’s faith to stand in the power of God. 
_ * Such cannot exalt Christ; and when such fall, they draw a great com- 
‘pany after them. Theretore the apostle would not know such after the 
‘flesh, but them that were in the power and Spirit; and struck down 
every one’s faith that stood in the words of man’s wisdom, that they 
might stand in the power of God. So it must be now. They whose 
‘faith doth not stand therein, cannot exalt his kingdom, that stands in 
‘ power ; therefore every one’s faith must stand in the power of God. 
‘The apostle denied popularity, when he judged the Corinthians for 

‘looking at Paul and Apollos, to be carnal: such are carnal still. There- 
‘fore all should know one another in the Spirit, life, and power, and 
‘look at Christ; this keeps all in humility. They, whose faith stands in 
‘men, will make sects; as in the days of J. N. J. P. and others. The 
*faith of such, Christ is not the author of; if he hath been, they have 
erred from it, and made shipwreck of it. All that are in the true faith, 
‘that stands in the power of God, will judge them as carnal, and judge 
‘down that carnal part in them, that cries up Paul or Apollos; that 
‘their faith may stand in the power of God, and that they may exalt 
‘Christ, the author of it. For every one’s eye ought to be to Jesus, and 
‘every just man and woman may live by their faith, which Christ is the 
‘author and finisher of. By this faith every man may see God, who is 
‘invisible; which faith gives the victory, and thereby he hath access to 
-*God. So every one’s faith and hope standing in the power of God, 
‘therein all have unity, victory, and access to God’s throne of grace; 
‘in which faith they please God. By this faith they are saved, obtain 
‘the good report, and subdue all the mountains betwixt them and God. 
‘This power hath preserved friends over their persecutors, over the 
‘wrath of men, above the spoiling of their goods, and imprisonments 
‘as seeing God, that “ created all, gives the increase of all, and upholds 
“ all by his word and power.” Therefore let every one’s faith be in his 
‘power. In this no schism nor sect can come, for it is over them, be- 
‘fore they were, and will be when they are gone. But perfect unity is 
‘in the truth, in the Spirit; that circumciseth the body of death, puts off 
_ ‘the sins of the flesh, and plunges it down with the Spirit. In the Spirit 
_ ‘of God there is perfect fellowship; and Christ is the minister of this 
‘circumcision and baptism. 
‘ This is upon me from the Lord to write unto you, that every one of 
you, whose faith Jesus is the author of, may stand in the power of God. 
From the Lord I warn you, and all every where of the same; for if a 
‘star should fall, which has been a light, either the earth or the sea 
_ ‘does receive it: that is, the earthly mind, or the foaming, raging peo- 
‘ple: though neither the seed, light, power, nor truth ever fell, nor the 
* faith itself, the gift of God; but men going from it, become unsavoury. 
‘ Adam, whilst he kept in truth, and obeyed the command of God, was 
happy; but when he disobeyed the Lord, he fell under the power of 
Satan, and became unhappy, though he might talk after of his experi- 
ences in paradise; but he had lost his image, and his power and do- 
minion, that God created him in. 

‘ The Jows, after they received the law, as long as they kept the law 


488 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1676 


of God, which was just, holy, good, and perfect, it kept them good, just 
holy, and savoury ; but when they turned their backs on the Lord, “and 
forsook his law, they came under the power of darkness, under the 
‘ powers of the earth, ‘and were trodden under as unsavoury. 

‘The Christians were called a “city set on a hill, the light of the 
“ world, and the salt of the earth;” but when they forsook the power 
‘of God, and their faith stood in words and men, and not in the power. 
‘then their walls fell down, though the power in itself stood; and they 
‘Jost their hill, their saltness, and their shining. And as Christendom 
‘nw confesseth, they are not in the same power and spirit the apostles | 
‘were in, so not in the same salt, nor upon the same hill. So ther — 
‘came to be trod under, and the beast, the whore, and the false pro — 

‘phet are uppermost, the unsavoury. Their dead faith is in men, ana ~ 
‘in words; therefore they are full of sects, and one against another. | 

‘And now the everlasting gospel, the power of God, is preached — 
‘again, which was before the devil was, that darkened man; and by this 
‘power of God life and immortality is come to light again; therefore 
‘every one’s faith is to stand in this power that hath brought life and im- — 
‘mortality to light in them, and so to be heirs of the power of God, the 
‘gospel. Herein all have a right to the power of God, which is the 
‘authority of men’s and women’s meetings, and of all other meetings 
‘set up thereby. 

* As the gospel is preached again, if your faith doth not stand in the 

‘power, but in men, and in the wisdom of words, you will grow carnal; 
‘and such are for judgment, who cry up Paul or Apollos, and not Christ, 
‘the author of your faith. Those that love to be popular would have 

‘ people’s faith stand in them; such do not preach Christ, but themselves. 
‘ But such as preach Christ and his gospel would have every man and 
‘woman to be in the possession of it, and every man and woman’s faith 
‘to stand in Christ, the author of it, and in the power of God, in which, 
‘as their faith stands, nothing can get betwixt them and God; for if any 
‘should fall amongst us, as too many have done, that leads its followers 
‘either into the waters or into the earth. 

‘If any should go from the spirit of prophecy, that did open them, and 
‘from the power, they may speak those experiences the power opened 
‘to them formerly. So might Adam and Eve speak of what they saw 

and enjoyed in paradise; so might Cain and Balaam, of what they saw; 
‘and also the Jews, Corah, and Dathan, who praised God on the banks, — 
‘saw the victory over Pharaoh, ate of the manna, drank of the rock, 
‘came to mount Sinai, and saw the glory of the Lord. So might the 
‘false apostles speak of their experiences, and all those false C hristians 
‘that turned from the apostles and Christ. So may such do now, that 
‘err from the Spirit, that are come out of spiritual Egypt and Sodom, 

and have known the raging of the Sodomites, as Lot did the outward ;_ 
and the pursuit of the spiritual Egyptians, as the outward Jew did the 
outward Egyptians; yet if they do not walk in the Spirit of God, in 
the light, and in the grace, which keeps their hearts established, their 
words seasoned, and their faith in the power of God, in which the king: 
dom stands, they may go forth like the false Christians, like the Jews, — 
like Adam and Eve, C a Corah, and Balaam, and be wandering stars, 
trees without fruit, wells without water, and clouds without rain; and 
so come to be unsavoury, trodden down, and as Adam who lost para- | 
dise, and the Jews who lost the Holy Land, not walking in the aw, and 


1676) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 489 


‘keeping the command of God; and as the Christians who lost the city, 
‘the hill, the salt, and the light, since the apostles’ days, and came to be 
‘unsavoury, and to be trodden under foot of men. 

‘Therefore let every one’s faith stand in the Lord’s power, which is 
‘over all, through which they may be built upon the rock, the foundation 
‘of God, the seed Jesus Christ. So all in Christ may be ever fresh and 
‘green; for he is the green tree that never withers, all are fresh and green 
‘that are grafted in him, abide in him, and bring forth heavenly fresh 
‘fruits to the praise of God. And tho’ Adam and Eve fell from paradise, 
‘the Jews fell from the law of God, many of the Christians fell from 
‘their prophecies, erred from the faith, the Spirit, and the grace: and 
‘the stars have fallen, as was spoken in the Revelations; yet the Spirit, 
‘orace, faith, and power of God remains. 

‘Many such states have I seen within these twenty-eight years ; though 
‘there is a state that shall never fall, nor be deceived, in the Elect be- 
‘fore the world began, who are come to the end of the prophecies, and 
‘are in him, where they end, renewed up into the image of God (by 

Christ) which man was in before he fell; in that power, where he had 
‘dominion over all that God made; and not only so, but “attain to a 
“perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness cf Christ,” 
‘who never fell. In him is the sitting down in life eternal, where their 
‘feet stand sure and fast in the gospel, his power. Here their bread is 
‘sure; and he that eats this bread lives for ever. 

‘And all friends and brethren, that declare God’s eternal truth and 
‘word of life, live in it, be seasoned with grace, and salted with the hea- 
‘venly salt, that your lives and conversations may preach wherever you 
‘come; that there be no rawness, nor no quenching of the Spirit, nor 
_aespising prophecy either in men or women. For all must meet in the 
‘faith that Jesus is the author of, and in the light that comes from him, 
‘and be so grafted into the life, that your knowledge may be there one 
‘of another in Christ, and that there may be none slothful, nor sitting 
‘down in earthly things, minding them, like Demas of old, lest you clothe 
‘yourselves with another clothing than you had at first; but all keep 
‘chaste, for the chaste follow the Lamb. 

‘And friends that are ministers, possess as if ye did not; be married 
‘as if ye_were not; be loose to the world in the Lord’s power; for God’s 
‘oil will be atop of all visible things, which makes his lamps burn, and 
‘give light afar off. Let none strive nor covet to be rich in this world, 
‘in these changeable things that will pass away ; but let your faith stand 
‘in the Lord God, who changes not, created all, and gives the increase 
‘of all. 

‘Now friends, concerning faithful men and women’s meetings, which 
were set up in God’s counsel, whoever oppose them, oppose the power 
of God, which is the authority of them. They are no ministers of the 

‘gospel, nor of Christ, that oppose his power, which all are to possess. 
‘For the true ministers of Christ, that preach his gospel, which is to be 
‘preached to all nations, as deceit is gone over all nations, and a_] na- 
‘tions have drunk the whore’s cup, and she hath them in her cage, her 
‘unclean power from the beast and dragon, out of the power of God, 
‘and out of truth and the Spirit of Ged, the apostles were in; the power 
‘of God must come over all this again; and all true ministers, that preach 
the gospel, must bring people into the possession of t again. I] say 


_ whosoever preaches the gospel of Christ and him to people and nations 


3M 


190 x*ORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1676 


those people ana nauuns receiving the gospel, they receive the power 
‘of God, that brings life and immortality to light in them; and they see 
‘over the devil that hath darkened them, and the beast, the whore, and 
‘her cage. So by the power of God, life and immortality is brought te 
light in them; then these men and women, being heirs of this power 
‘the gospel, are heirs of authority and power over the devil, beast, whore 
and dragon. 

‘It is their possession and portion, and they are to labour in their pos- 
‘session and portion, to do God Almighty’s business and service in the 

possession of the power of God, the gospel, which is a joyful, glorious, 
‘everlasting order. Here is the authority of our men’s and women’s 
‘meetings, and other meetings in the name of Jesus, the gospel of Christ 
‘the power of God, which is not of man, nor by man. In this are all to 
‘meet, and to worship God. By this are all to act, and in this have all 
‘fellowship, a joyful fellowship, a joyful and comfortable assembly. All 
‘faithful men and women in every country, city, and nation, whose faith 
‘stands in the power of God, the gospel of Christ, who have received 

the gospel, and are in the possession thereof, have all right to the power 

in these meetings, for they are heirs of the power, which is the authority 
‘of the men’s and women’s meetings. 

‘So here is God’s choice (and not man’s) by his power, of his heirs; 
‘and they have all freedom therein to go to the meetings, the men to the 
‘men’s, and the women to the women’s, for they are heirs of the power, 
‘which is received in the Holy Ghost; and they see over enmity, and 
‘before it was, by the light, the life, and immortality, which is brought 
‘to light in them. 

‘ The devil, the author of enmity, cannot get into this authority, power, 
‘order, nor fellowship of the gospel, nor life, nor light, nor into the unity 
‘of the faith, which gives victory over him that hath separated man from 
‘God. Into the unity of this faith the serpeut cannot come, nor into the 
‘worship of God in spirit and truth the devil cannot come, nor any en- 
‘mity. And they that are in this, are in unity over him. Therefore, 
‘let every one’s faith stand in the power of God, the glorious gospel; all 
‘walk as becomes the gospel, and the order of it. As every one hath 
‘received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in him, and let him be their 
‘Lord and orderer. For the preaching of the gospel of Christ Jesus is 
‘to the intent that all might come to be heirs of the gospel, into the pos- 
‘session of it, to be heirs of Christ and of his government, to the in- 
‘crease of which there is no end; who is over all in his righteousness, 
‘and over all in his light, life, power, and dominion. Therefore know 
‘one another in his power, his gospel ; know one another in Christ Jesus, 
‘who is able to restore man out of the state of the fall into the image 
‘of God, and into that power and dominion that man had before he fell _ 

and into himself, that never fell, whence they shall go no more forth. 
Here is the rock and foundation of God that stands sure. 
. * And, friends, be tender to the tender principle of God in all. Shun | 
the occasion of vain disputes and janglings, both amongst yourselves” 
‘and others; for that many times is like a blustering wind, that hurts and 
bruises the tender buds and plants. |For the world, though they have 
‘the words, are out of the life; and the apostle’s disputing with them 
‘was to bring them to the life. And those disputers among the Chris- 
‘tians about genealogies, circumcision, the law, meats, drinks, and days 
‘came to be the worst sort of disputers, whom the aposi les judged; for 


1676) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 49 


such destroyed people from the faith. Therefore did the apostles exnor 
the churches, that every one’s faith should stand in the power or God 
‘and to look at Jesus the author of it. There every graft stands in Christ 
*the vine, quiet, where no blustering storms can hurt them; there is the 
“safety. ‘There all are of one mind, one faith, one soul, one spirit, bap- 
‘tized into one body with the one spirit, and made all to drink into one 
‘spirit, one church, one head, that is heavenly and spiritual; and one faith 
‘in this head, Christ, who is the author of it, and hath the glory of it; 
‘one Lord to order all, who is the baptizer into this one body. So Christ 
‘hath the glory of his faith out of every man and woman; and the 
* Father through him hath his glory, the Creator of all in his power, the 
‘ gospel that hath brought life and immortality to light in them; and their 
faith standing in it, they know the immortal God, serve and worship him 
in his spirit and in his truth; by which they are made God’s free men 
‘and women, from him that is out of the truth. 
‘ Now, friends, you that have been ancient labourers, and have known 
‘the dealings of the Lord these twenty years (more or less) as I have 
‘often said to you, draw up what you can of that which the Lord hath 
‘carried you through by his power, the passages and sufferings, and how 
‘by the Lord ye have been supported from the first; so that he may be 
‘exalted by his power now, and in ages to come, who hath been the only 
‘support, defence, and stay of his people all along, over all to himself; 
‘to whom be all glory and praise for ever and ever. Amen. He de- 
_ ‘serves it in his church throughout all ages, from his living members, 
_ ‘who return the praise to the living God, who lives and reigns over all, 

‘blessed for ever; who is the life, strength, health, and length of the days 
_/‘of his people. Therefore let there be no boasting, but in the Lord, in ‘ 
_)‘ his power and kingdom; that keeps all in humility. 

* And friends, in the Lord’s power and truth, what good you can do 
‘for friends in prison, or sufferers, by informing or helping them, every 
|‘one bend yourselves to the Lord’s power and spirit, to do his will and 
‘his business; and in that all will have a fellow-feeling of one another’s 
‘conditions in bonds, or in what trials or tribulations soever; you will 
~ ‘have a fellow-feeling one of another, having one head, one Lord, and 
_ ‘being one body in him. For God’s heavenly flail hath brought out his 
_ *seed, his heavenly plough hath turned up the fallow ground, his heaven- 
‘ly seed is sown by the heavenly man, which brings forth fruits to the 
‘heavenly sower, in some fifty, sixty, and an hundred fold in his life- 
_ ‘time; and such in the world without end will have life everlasting. Oh! 
_ ‘therefore all keep within; let your lights shine, and your lamps burn, 
| ‘that you may be wells full of the living water, and trees full of the 
_ ‘living fruit of God’s planting, whose fruit is unto holiness, and end is 
| ‘everlasting life. 

‘The Lord God of power preserve you all in his power. Let your 
faith stand therein, that you may have unity in the faith, and in the 
power; and by this faith and belief you may be all grafted into Christ. 
the sure root and rock of ages, where the eternal Sun of righteousness 

_ ‘shines, in the heavenly and eternal day, upon his plants and grafts. This 
‘Sun never goes down, and the heavenly springs of life, and showers 
‘are known to water and nourish the grafts, plants, and buds, that they 
‘may always be kept ftesh and green, and never wither; bringing forth 
fresh, green, and living fruit, which is offered up to the living God; wha 
's glorified, in that you bear much fruit. The Lord God Almighty keep 


{ 


a 


492 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. . [16:5 


you, and preserve you all in his power, light, and life, over death and 
darkness ; that therein you may spread his truth abroad, and be valiant 
for it upon the earth, answering that of God in all; that with it the 
minds of people may be turned to God, so that with it they may come 
to know Christ Jesus in the new covenant, in which the knowledge of 
*the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters do the sea. His life must 
‘go over death, his light must go over darkness, and the power of God 
‘must go over the power of Satan. 
‘So all you that are in the light, life, and power, keep the heavenly 
fellowship in the heavenly power, the heavenly unity in the heavenly 
‘divine faith, and the unity of the spirit, which is the bond of the heaven- 
‘ly Prince of Princes’ peace; who bruises the head of the enemy, the 
‘adversary, and reconciles man to God, and all things in heaven and 
‘earth. A blessed reconciliation! Let every one’s faith stand in the 
‘power of God, which Jesus Christ is the author of; that all may know 
‘their crown of life. For all outward things, without the substance, the 
life, the power, are as the husk without the kernel, and do not nourish 
‘the immortal soul, nor the new-born Babe; but that which it is nour- 
' ‘ished by, is the milk of the word, whereby it groweth in the heavenly 
‘life, strength, and wisdom. The gospel is not of man, nor by man, but 
‘is the power of God, and answers the truth in all: all the possessors of 
‘jt are to see that all walk according to it; which everlasting order is 
‘ordained of God already, and all the possessors of him possess their 
‘ joy, their comfort, and salvation. My love unto you all, with him that 
‘reigns, and is over all, from everlasting to everlasting. 
’  ¢ Dwell in the love of God, which passeth knowledge, and edifieth the 
‘living members of the body of Christ: which love of God you come to 
‘be built up in, and in the holy faith. This love of God brings you to 
‘bear all things, endure all things, and hope all things.” From this love, 
‘which you have in Christ Jesus, nothing will be able to separate you, 
‘neither powers nor principalities, heights nor depths, things present nor 
‘things to come, prisons nor spoiling of goods, death nor life. The love 
‘of God keeps above all that which would separate from God, and makes 
‘you more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Therefore in this dwell, that 
‘with the same love you may love one another, and all the workmanship 
‘of God; that you may glorify God with your bodies, souls, and spirits, 
‘which are the Lord’s. Amen. / G. F? 


‘ All friends sit low in the life, the Lord’s power. Keep your place in 
‘it, till the Lord and Master of the heavenly feast bid you “si 
“higher ;” lest you take the highest place, and be put down with 
‘shame. He that hath an ear, let him hear. G. F? 


“POSTSCRIPT. 


‘ Friends, take heed of speaking the things of God in the words th 
men’s wisdom hath taught; for those words will lift up the foolish, tha 
err from the Spirit of God ; which words and wisdom are for condem 
nation, and that which is lifted up by them, and they that thereby spea 
the things of God in them. So that old house, with its goods, must 
thrown under the foot of the new birth. 

‘ And, friends, I desire that you may all keep the holy order, which 1 
in the gospel, the glorious order in the power ‘of God, which _the dev 
is out of; which was before all his orders were, and before the wor 
made any. 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 493 


_ ‘This joyful order keeps all hearts pure to God, in everlasting pzace, 
_ unity, and order; feel it, and keep it, both men and women, and come 
| *to be heirs of the gospel, which brings life and immortality to light, and 
*to see over that power of darkness, by him who was before the powe1 
‘of death was. In this is the holy order in Jove and peace. So keep in 
‘this, that keeps you always pure; what men and women act in this, they 
“act in that which will stand when the world is gone. 

‘There hath been some scruple about men’s and women’s meetings: 
| *men and women in the gospel are heirs of the power, which was before 
*the devil was; heirs of this, then enter into the possession of it, and do 

the Lord’s business therein. Every one take care of God’s honour, and 
‘keep all things in righteousness and holiness, which becomes God’s 
‘house. In that, which honours the Lord God, it eased me, when those 
‘meetings were set up for men and women, who are heirs of the gospel. 
‘and have right to the gospel order. Then take your possessions, prac- 
| * tise in it, be not talkers only, but live and walk in the gospel, the power 
| * of God, which is the authority of your meetings. Gan 


‘ Swarthmore, the 28th of the 
‘2d month, 1676.’ 


| Read at the yearly meeting in London, the 17th of the third month, 
1676. 


During this time, I collected together as many as I could of the epis- 
| tles | had wrote in former years to friends. I made a collection too of 
| the several papers I had wrote to Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard, 
in the time of their protectorships, and to the parliaments and magistrates, 
‘in their times. I collected also the papers I had wrote to king Charles 
the Second since his return, and to his council and parliaments, and the 
"justices or other magistrates under him. I made another collection of 
certificates, which I had received from divers governors of places, judg- 
4 justices, parliament-men, and others, for the clearing of me from 
many slanders, which the envious priests and professors, both here and 
beyond sea, had cast upon me. This I did for the truth’s sake, knowing 
that their design in slandering me was to defame the truth published by 
“me, and hinder the spreading thereof amongst the people. Besides these, 
‘I made two books of collections; one was, a list or catalogue of the 
names of those friends who- went out of the north of England, when 
truth first broke forth there, to proclaim the day of the Lord through 
this nation. The other was of the names of those friends: that went first 
to preach the gospel] in other nations, countries, and places, in what 
years, and to what parts they went. 
_ I made another collection, in two books; viz. one of epistles and let- 
ters from friends and others, on several occasions, to me; the other of 
: letters of mine to friends and others. 

I wrote also a book of the types and figures of Christ, with their signi- 
feations; and many other things, which will be of service to truth and 
friends in time to come. 

_ I took notice also of those who had run out from truth, drawn others 
‘out after them, and turned against truth and friends, since the first break- 
ing forth of truth in this latter age, and what became of them; noting 
particularly the repentance and return of such of them as came back te 
: truth again. Some ran quite out, and never returned, but were cut off 
in their gainsaying and rebellion; for tiie word and power cf God hath 


4 


194 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. (16 


blasted, and is blasting them, and the holy seed hath ground, and i 
grinding them to pieces. I have observed that they, who have been co 
vinced, and have not lived and walked in the truth, have been the wors 
enemies to the truth, and done most hurt amongst friends in the truth 
and to others. In these I have seensfulfilled what the Lord did long sine 
shew me, ‘ That such would be greater deceivers than all the priests an 
professors.’ For such as came as far as Cain, Balaam, Corah, and Ia 
than, who could ‘ preach Christ,’ and say, ‘ They had preached in + is 
‘name ;’ such as came to be apostles, and had tasted of the power of 
Christ, and then turned from it, such could yet speak their old oan 
riences, and have good words like Corah and Balaam; but not keeping 
in the life and truth, they deceived the hearts of the simple. Such com 
to be of the devil, who abode not in the truth; as Cain and all the Jew 
that abode not in the truth were. For though Cain did sacrifice to God, 
and did talk with God, and the Jews could talk of Abraham, Moses, an 
the prophets, yet Christ told them, ‘ They were of their father the devil.’ y 
In like manner, though those called Christians can talk of Christ, and use 
his and his apostles” and disciples’ words, yet not abiding in the truth, 
power, and spirit the apostles were in, they are of the devil, out of truth, 
and do his work. So are all those that have been convinced of God’s 
eternal truth since it sprang up in this nation, that have not abode in the 
light, in the spirit and power of Christ Jesus, but have turned against the 
power, and have opposed the work thereof; though they may retain their 
former experiences, and be able to speak many good words, yet not liv- 
ing in the life and power that gave them those experiences, they live in 
the power of darkness, which is of the devil; and by the light and truth 
both he and they are condemned, and must own their condemnation, if 
ever they come to truth again. For to resist the heavenly power, and to 
oppose the workings and divine manifestations thereof through any, is 
not a light matter. And as I had been moved of the Lord to travel in 


_ his power round this nation, and in other parts, to preach the everlasting 


gospel, and to declare the word of life, which was in the beginning, 
through many imprisonments, hardships, sufferings, and trials: so I was 
afterwards moved to travel in the same heavenly power about the nation 
again (and to write to such places where I came not) to recommend 
unto friends the ‘ setting up of the quarterly and monthly meetings in ali 
‘counties, for looking “after the poor, taking care for orderly proceed- 
‘ings in marriages, and other matters relating to the church of Christ.’ 
Though some meetings for this end were settled in the north of Eng- 
land in the year 1652. 

After this also, truth still spreading further over the nation, and friends 
increasing in number, I was moved by the same eternal power to recom- 
mend the setting up women’s meetings also, that all, both male and fe- 
male, who had received the gospel, the word of eternal life, might come 
into the order_of-the gospel, brought forth by the power of God, and 
might act for God in the power, and therein do business and service for 
him in bis church. All the faithful must labour in God’s vineyard ; they 
being his hired servants, he having given them the earnest of his Spirit. 
For a master that hires a servant, and gives him the earnest of his hire, 
expects he should do his work after he knows his will, in the outward 
creation; so all God’s people that are of the new creation, and have re- 
ceived the earnest of his Spirit, ought to labour with, by, and in his 
Spirit, power, grace, and faith, in the light, in God’s vineyard, that they 


> 167%) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. J A495 


may have their wages when they have done God’s work and business 
in his day, which is eternal life. But none can labour in his vineyard, 
and do his work and will, but as they walk in the heavenly divine light, 
grace, and Spirit of Christ ; which hath been, and is my travail and labour 
in the Lord to turn all to. 

Some that professed truth, and had made a great shew thereof, being 


were set up for that end-and service. Wherefore I was moved of the 
Lord to write the following epistle, and send it among friends, for the 
discovering of that spirit by which those opposers were acted, its work 
and way by which it wrought, and to warn friends of it, that they might 
not be betrayed by it. 


‘ All my dear friends, 
‘ Live in the seed of peace, Christ Jesus, in whom ye have life. That 
spirit, which comes amongst you to raise up strife, is out of Christ ; for 
‘jt is the spirit that is not easy to be intreated, not gentle, so not of the 
| ‘wisdom of God, which is justified of her children. They that follow 
‘that spirit are none of wisdom’s children. ‘There is a spirit that hath 
‘made a separation, and has been against men’s and women’s meetings: 

“ vet has set up one of their own, which they have given power to; and 

“that none shall sit amongst them but whom they give power to, but 
| “shall be looked upon as usurpers of authority.” This spirit and its 

_ work is not of God, though it has made a jumble amongst some; and 
‘the path it may travel in is through the earthly affections, amongst the 
‘unestablished or apostates. But all that are in the life, spirit, light, grace 

_ ‘truth, and power of God, bar it out; and such as sit under their own 
_ ‘vine, Christ Jesus, and are grafted into him, have no need of their ex- 

‘hortation or counsel; for the true believers are entered into their rest 
_ ‘Therefore all keep in the gospel of peace, and they that be heirs of the 
‘kingdom keep your possession thereof. 

‘ Some of this spirit have said to me, “ They see no service in women’s 
“meetings.” My answer is, and hath been to such, If they be blind and 
‘without sight, they should.not oppose others; for none impose any thing 
_ ‘upon them. God never received the blind for a sacrifice. neither can 
_ fhis people. But Christ has enlightened all; and to as many as receive 
_ ‘him, he gives “ power to become the sons of God.” Such as are heirs 
_ ‘of his power, and of his gospel, which brings life and immortality to 
_ ‘light, can see over him that has darkened those; and all such keep the 
_ ‘order of the gospel, the power of God, and their meetings therein, 
‘which preserves them in life and immortality. These see the great ser- 
‘vice of men’s and women’s meetings, in the order of the gospel, the 


‘power of God; for they are meet-helps in this power, which is the au- 
thority of their meetings. I say to all you that be against men’s and 
‘women’s meetings, who say, “ you see no service for the women’s 
“meetings,” and oppose them; you are therein out of the power of God, 
and his Spirit you live not in. For God saw a service for the assem- 
____ blies of the women in the time of the law, about those things that apper 
tained to his worship and service, and to the holy things of his taben 
nacle: an: they in his Spirit see now their service in the gospel, many 


496 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1676 


‘things in these meetings being more proper for the women than the 
‘men; and they, in the power and wisdom of God, may inform the men 
‘of such things as are not proper for them; and the men may inform the 
‘women of such things as are not proper for them, as meet-helps to each 
‘other. For in the time of the law, the women were to offer as well as 
‘the men; so in the time of the gospel they are to offer their spiritual 
‘ sacrifices ; for they are all called, both men and women, a royal priest- 
‘hood. the household of faith, the living stones, that make up the spirit- 
‘ual building, which Christ is the head of; and are to be encouraged in 

their labour in the gospel; for all things that both men and women do, 

are to be done in the power of God. Such as see no service for these 
‘women’s meetings, or the men’s, but oppose them, and make strife 
‘among friends, are in the spirit of the world that is against and forbids 
‘our other meetings, in the same spirit that hath been and is against 
‘women’s speaking in meetings, and say, “ They must be silent,” &c. 
‘though the same apostle commands, “ That men should keep silence as 
“ well as the women,” if there were not an interpreter. You may see 
‘the spirit of the world hath entered such opposers, though they come 
‘under another colour ; for they would not have us to meet at all. These 
‘are against women’s meetings, and some of them against men’s also, 
‘and say, “ They see no service for them;” then they may hold their 
‘tongues, and not oppose them that do see their service for God in these 
‘ meetings. 

‘ Therefore all you that feel the power of God, and your service for 
‘God in them, both men and women, keep your meetings in the power 
‘of God, the authority of them, as they were settled in it; then ye will 
‘be preserved both over this spirit that opposes them, and over the spirit 
‘of the world that opposes your other meetings; for it is all one in the 
‘ground, and would bring you into bondage. Such as are out of the 
‘peaceable gospel oppose its order; and out of the faith that works by 
‘love, out of the wisdom that is gentle, easy, and peaceable, &c. and out 
‘of the kingdom that stands in peace and joy. Therefore keep over that 
‘ spirit that sows discord or dissension, and would draw you from your 
‘habitation and possession in the order of the gospel; for it is the same 
‘ spirit that deceived Adam and Eve, by which they lost their habitation 
‘in righteousness and holiness, and their dominion; so that spirit got 
‘over them, and it would get over you. One while it will tell you, “ It 
“sees no service for your meetings;” and another time oppose you. But 
‘IT say, this is the blind spirit which is out of the power of God, and 
‘which the power of God is over. Therefore keep in the power, that ve 
‘may stand for your liberty in Christ Jesus, males and females, heirs of 
‘him, of his gospel, and his order. Stand up for your liberty in the gos- 

pel, and in the faith, which Christ Jesus hath been the author of; for if 
‘ye lose it, and let another spirit get over you, ye will not soon regain 
‘it. I knew Satan would bestir himself in his instruments, when men’s 
and women’s meetings came to be set up in the power, light, and truth, 
‘and the heirs of the gospel to take their possession of it in every county 
‘and city, therein to walk, watch over one another, and take care of 
‘God’s glory and honour, and his precious truth, and to see that all walk 
‘in the truth as becomes the gospel, and to see that nothing was lack- 
ing; and so whatsoever was decent, modest, virtuous, lovely, comely, 
righteous, and of good report, to follow after ; and to admonish and ex- 
hort all that were not faithful and to rebuke all that did evil. I knew 


—— 


——— 2 


4, 1677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 497 


this would give such a check to all loose speakers, talkers, and walkers, 
‘that there would be an Opposition against such meetings. But heed it 
‘not, truth will come over them all, and is over them all, and faith must 
‘have the victory; for the gospel and its order is everlasting, the Seed 
*(Christ) is the beginning and the ending, and will outlast all; : the Amen, 
‘in whom ve have peace. I say, all that oppose the men’s and women’s 
‘meetings, or that marriages should be laid before them, or the record- 

ing of condemnations of sin and evil, or admonishing or exhorting 

such as walk not in the truth, are of a loose spirit, and their spirits 
‘tend to looseness. Let those take them that will; truth will not have 
‘them, nor any of their sacrifice: for nothing is accepted of God but 
‘what is done in truth, and in his Spirit, which is peaceable. The 
‘authority of our men’s and women’s meetings is the power of God; 
‘all the heirs of the gospel are heirs of that authority and dignity; this 
‘is of God, and shall answer the witness of God in all. The greatest 
‘opposers of this practice and work are such as have been convinced 
* of God’s truth, but have not lived in it. Such were the greatest trou- 
‘blers of the church in Moses’s day, and in the days of the apostles; 
‘but mark their end, and read what became of them all. Therefore all 
‘keep your habitation in the truth, and therein ye may see what became 
‘of all the opposers of it for twenty years past: they are all gone, and 
‘the truth lives and reigns; the Seed is over all, and all are one in it, in 
‘rest, peace, and life everlasting; and therein they sit down together 
‘in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, the Amen. G. Fe 

‘Swarthmore, the 5th of the 
‘8th month, 1676.’ 


While I was at Swarthmore, died William Lampit, priest of Ulver 
stone the parish that Swarthmore is in. He was an old deceiver, and 
perverter of the right way of the Lord, and a persecutor of the people 
of God. Much contest I had with him when I first came into those 
parts. He had been an old false prophet: for in the year 1652 he pro- 
phesied (and said he would wage his life upon it) ‘that the Quakers 
‘would all vanish and come to nought within half a year?’ but he came 
to nought himself. For he continued in his false accusing of God’s peo- 
ple till a little before he died, and then cried for a little rest. To one 
of his hearers, that came to visit him before he died, he said, ‘ I have 
‘been a preacher a long time, and thought I had lived well; but I did 
*not think it had been so hard a thing to die.’ 

After I had finished the services which lay upon me then to do, feel- 
ing my spirit drawn towards the south, though I was but weak, and not 
able to travel far ina day, I left Swarthmore the twenty-sixth of the 
first month 1677, and went to Thomas Pearson’s at Powbank in West- 
moreland, where I had a meeting the next day; and from thence to 
Thomas On s at Camm’s-gill, whither Robert aWidders with his wife 
and several other friends came to see me before I left the country, and 
to attend the meeting there the next day, which was very large, and in 
which I was largely drawn forth in testimony to the truth. I had much 
discourse with some of that meeting, who were not in unity with the 
quarterly meeting they belonged to; but afterwards sev eral of them, 
that were somewhat tender, came to see their error, and gave forth 
condemnations against themselves. Next day John Blaykling came to 
Thomas Camm’s, to bring me to his house at Drawell in Sedberg in 

3N 


498 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. po7 


Yorkshire ; whither I went with him, visiting friends in the way. I staid 
at Drawell two or three nights, having meetings there and thereabouts: 
for while 1] was there, the men’s and women’s meetings were held, 
which were very large and precious. The first-day following I had a 
meeting at Brigflats, to which most of the friends from the several 
meetings round, with a great concourse of other people, came; it was 
thought there were five or six hundred people. A very good meeting it 
was, wherein truth was largely declared and preciously opened, to the 
comforting and refreshing the faithful, and the drawing near them that 
were afar off. I had another meeting at John Blaykling’s, where came 
many friends that were going to the quarterly meeting at Kendal: with 
them my wife went back (who with her daughter Rachel had accompa- 
nied me thus far;) and I, having Leonard Fell with me, passed through 
Sedberg and Garsdale into Wensydale, visiting friends as we went. At 


————— 


night I reached Richard Robinson’s at Counterside, where several | 
friends came to me that evening; some of whom went with me next — 
day to the widow Tenant’s at Scarhouse in Langstroth-dale, whither we — 


had much ado to get, the snow lay so deep, though it was a week in the 


second month. Here on first-day we had a large meeting, friends . 
coming to it from several parts round about; and the Lord gave mea — 
very seasonable testimony to bear amongst them, which I did for seve- 

ral hours, to their great satisfaction and comfort. Thence passing — 
through Bishopsdale, Mildum, Barton, and by Bedal and Northailerton, — 


I came to George Robinson’s at Burrowby, where also friends coming 
from several parts, we had a very large and good meeting, and very 
peaceable. Not long after, an envious justice, hearing I had a great 
meeting there, troubled friends about it, and made them appear at the 
sessions, where he asked them many ensnaring questions; for he knew 
not how to convict them, because he had no proof against them. When 
he saw his questions did not catch them; he told them, ‘ He had heard 
‘that George Fox was at a large meeting with them, and they all sat 
‘silent, and none spoke in the meeting.’ This false story he cunningly 
feigned, thinking thereby to have drawn some of the friends to have 
contradicted him, and have said, ‘That I had spoke in the meeting ;’ 
that he might have convicted them upon their own confession, and have 
fined them. But friends standing in the wisdom of God, did not answer 
‘him according to his desire, and so escaped his snare. But two friends 
that came out of Ireland having a meeting that evening about three 
miles off, this evil-minded justice got information thereof, and fined 
friends, and plundered them very sorely for it. 

I went from Burrowby to Isaac Lindley’s, calling upon friends as I 
went. Robert Lodge, and some friends with me, next day passed to 
York; and the day following, being first-day, I was at friends’ meeting 
at York, which was large and peaceable. The second day also I staid 
in York, and had two meetings with friends at John Taylor’s, from 
whence I wrote to my wife, as followeth: 


‘ Dear heart, 
‘To whom is my love, and to thy daughters, and all friends that in- 
quire after me. My desires are, that ye all may be preserved in the 


Lord’s everlasting Seed, in whom ye will have life and peace, domin-— 


ion, and settlement in the everlasting home or dwelling, in the house 
built upon the foundation of God. In the power of the Lord ] am 


| 1677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 499 


brought to York, having had many meetings in the way. The way 
was many times deep and bad with snow, our horses sometimes ‘were 
down, and we were not able to ride; sometimes we had great storms 
and rain, but by the power of the Lord I went through all. At Scar- 
‘house was a very lasge meeting, and another at Burrowby, to which 
‘friends came out of Cleveland and Bishoprick; and many other meet- 
‘ings we have had. At York yesterday we had a very large meeting, 
| ‘exceedingly thronged, friends being at it from many parts, and all quiet, 
| ‘and friends well satisfied: Oh! the glory of the Lord shined over all. 
‘This day we had a large men’s and women’s meeting, many friends, 
“both men and women, and all was quiet. This evening we are to . 
-have the men’s and women’s meeting of the friends of the city. John 
‘Whitehead is here, with Robert Lodge and others: friends are mighty 
‘glad, above measure. So I am in my holy element, and holy work in 
‘the Lord; glory to his name for ever! To-morrow I intend to go out 
‘of the city towards Tadcaster, though I cannot ride as in days past; 
_ ‘yet praised be the Lord that I can travel so well as I do! So my love 
‘in the Fountain of Life, in which as ye all abide ye will have the re- 
‘freshment of life; that by it ye may grow, and gather eternal strength 
‘to serve the Lord, and be satisfied. ‘To the God of all power, who is 
_ ‘all-sufficient to preserve you, I commit you all to his ordering. 
| GE? 
‘York, the 16th of the second 
‘month, 1677.’ 


Leaving York, I visited friends at Tadcaster, Nottingly, Doncaster, 
and Balby, having meetings asI went. At Balby I staid the first-day 
_ meeting, and went next day to Thomas Stacy’s at Ballowfield, where in 
the evening I had a meeting, to compose a difference that had happened 
between some that professed truth, and they were reconciled. Next 
_ day I came to Stainsby in Derbyshire, in which county I had formerly 
_ lived, about the first breaking forth of truth. Here I had a good meet- 
_ ing with friends, and afterwards passed to Skegby in Nottinghamshire, 
_ and from thence to Nottingham, to John Reckless’s. I had a meeting 
_ with friends at his house that evening, and another the next day in 
_ friends’ publick meeting-house, which was peaceable and well. 
| I went the day following to John Fox’s at Wymeswould in Leices- 
_ tershire, where I had a meeting that evening: and next day to William 
Smith’s at Sileby, where, it being first-day, we had a very large meet 
_ ing: for besides friends from several places, many of the town’s-people, 
| hearing I was there, came to the meeting, and heard the truth declared 
_ gladly. Next day I went to Leicester, where finding many friends 
come out of the country to be at the horse-fair next day, I had a very 
good meeting with them that night, and another next evening at William 
Wells’s at Knighton, about a mile from Leicester. Next day I passed to 
Swanington, and had a meeting there: from thence to Samuel Fret- 
well’s at Hartshorn in Derbyshire, where I had a meeting also; then te 
Henry Sidon’s a1 Badgely in Warwickshire, and staid the meeting there, 
which, being the first-day, was very large and peaceable, notwithstand- 
_ ing a justice had threatened to come and break it up. I went in the 
_ evening to Richard Baal’s of Whittington, where several friends came 
to visit me. Next day I went to Nathaniel Newton’s at Hartshill, 
where several friends met me, with whom I had good service. After this 


VA 


ee ae SF * 


500 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (167% 


- passed on, visiting friends in di ‘ers places, till I came to Dingley, where | 
a meeting was appointed before, which was very numerous, and truth was — 
largely opened to the people: the meeting was peaceable, and the people © 
generally sober; saving that, while | was shewing how christendom (so 
called) was gone from the pure religion that is undefiled, &c. a man rush- 
ed out in a furious manner, and said, ‘I deny that.’ After this meeting, | 
went with Thomas Charles to his house at Adingworth; and next day to 
Northampton, where I staid the first-day meeting, which was very large 
and peaceable. I had much service among friends besides. Next day Ed- 
ward Cooper of Northampton accompanied me to Olney in Bucking- 
hamshire, where I staid at James Brierlie’s, several friends coming to 
see me in the evening. Next day I went to a meeting at Turry in Bed- 
fordshire, to which friends caine from several parts. It was a very 
large meeting. Here I met with William Dewsberry, who after the 
meeting took me to his son-in-law John Rush's of Kempston, where | 
staid with William that night and most of the next day; passing thence 
towards the evening through Ampthill to Thomas Gamboll’s of Bullocks 
hill. Wiliam Dewsberry went along with me, and several friends 
came to visit us. Next day, passing through Luton, I went to Market- 
street, William Dewsberry accompanying me part of the way, and the 
day following Leonard Fell. I had a meeting at Kensworth, which 
was pretty large and peaceable; after which we visited friends at Al- 
ban’s, and next day at South Mims and Barnet. We came that night to 
the widow Haly’s at Guttershedge in Hendon, Middlesex. Next day, 
being first-day, we had a very large meeting there, several] friends 
coming from London. I staid second-day, and the third went to Wil- 
liam Mead’s house at Highgate, with whom next day I went to London. 
It being fourth-day, I went to the meeting at Gracechurch-street, where | 
friends and I were greatly refreshed in each other in the Lord, and the 
Lord’s power and Seed was set over all; blessed be his name for ever! 

Thus-it pleased the Lord to bring me safe to London, tho’ much 
wearied ; for tho’ I rode not very far in a day, yet thro’ weakness of 
body, continual travelling was hard to me. Besides, 1 had not much rest 
a-nights to refresh nature, for I often sat up late with friends where I 
lodged, to inform and advise them in things wherein they were wanting ; 
and when I was in bed, I was often hindered of sleep by great pains in | 
my head and teeth, occasioned, as I thought, by cold I had taken by — 
riding often in the rain. But the Lord’s power was over all, and car — 
ried me through all, to his praise. 

In my journey I observed a slackness and shortness in some that pro- 
fessed truth, in keeping up the ancient testimony of truth against tythes ; 
for where-ever that spirit got entrance which wrought division in the 
church, and opposed the men’s and women’s meetings, it weakened those 
that received it in their testimony against tythes. Wherefore 1 was 
moved of the Lord to give forth an ‘Epistle to friends,’ to stir up the 
pur2 mind in them, and to encourage and strengthen them in their chris- 
tian testimony against that antichristian yoke of oppression. 


gO 


‘ My dear friends, 

‘ Be faithful to the Lord in your testimony for Jesus, who hath endea” 
the levitical priesthood of Aaron that took tythes, and sent his ministers 
to give freely that which they had received of him freely, without a bag 
o1 a staff. Christ’s disciples could not ioin with those that made a trade 


» 677) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 501 


of preaching. And as there was a testimony to be’ borne against those 
tythes which were commanded in the law for Levi and Aaron, so there 
is a testimony to be borne against those tythes which have been set up 
by man in the dark time of popery, and not set up by God nor Christ. 
To cry against the priests in words, and yet to give them means, and 
put into their mouths, that they may not prepare war against you, is a 
‘contradiction. Therefore take heed: for if the Lord bless you with 
‘ outward creatures. and vou bestow them upon Baal’s priests, he may 
‘justly require the outward things from you again which he hath given 
* you; who saith, That his ministers should freely give, as they have 
‘freely received. So all the preachers for tythes and money, and the 
‘takers and payers of tythe, must be testified against in the Lord’s power 
‘and Spirit; that all may stand up in their testimony for Jesus Christ, in 
‘his power and Spirit, against the tythe-mongers. Consider how many 
‘faithful servants and valiants of the Lord have laid down their lives 
‘ against them, in this day of the Lord; and in the days of the martyrs 
‘they did witness against them. Consider also what judgments have 
‘come upon those that spoiled friends’ goods, and cast them into prison 
‘for tythes and maintenance. Therefore in the power of the Lord main- 
‘tain the war against the beast, and do not put into his mouth, lest he 
‘cry peace to you; which peace you must not receive, but it must be 
‘broken and thrown out by the Spirit of God. Then in the same Spirit 
‘ye will receive the peace from the Son of peace, which the beast, the 
‘whore, and the world, with all their earthly teachers for the earth, 
‘made by man, cannot receive nor bereave you of. Therefore keep 
‘ your authority and dominion in the power, Spirit, and name of Jesus, 
‘in whom is my love to you. G. BS 
‘3d month, 1677.’ 


I came to London ten or twelve days before the yearly meeting; in 
which time J fell in with friends there in the service of truth, visiting 
them at the meetings. The parliament then sitting, we prepared some- 
thing to lay before them, concerning seizing the third part of friends’ es- 
tates, as Popish recusants; which was a great suffering, and a grievance 
we complained of; but no redress we got. 

To the yearly meeting many friends came from most parts of the na- 
tion, and some out of Scatland, Holland, &c. Very glorious meetings 
we had, wherein the Lord’s powerful presence was very largely felt, and 
the affairs of truth were sweetly carried on in the unity of the Spirit, to 
the satisfaction and comfort of the upright-hearted; blessed be the Lord 
for ever! After the yearly meeting, having staid a week or two with 
friends in London, I went with William Penn to his house in Sussex ; 
John Burnyeate and some other friends being with us. As we passed 
through Surry, hearing the quarterly meeting for the county was that 
day, William Penn, John Burnyeate and J went from the road to it; and 
after the meeting returning to our other company, went with them to 
William Penn’s that night, which is forty miles from London. I staid at 
Worminghurst about three weeks, in which time John Burnyeate and I 
answered a very wicked and envious book, which Roger Williams, 2 
priest of New-England (or some colony thereabouts) had written against 
truth and friends. When we had finished that service, we went with 


Stephen Smith to his house at Warpledon in Surry, where we had a large 


meeting. Friends thereawav had been exceedingly plundered about twe 


502 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. p67: 


months before on the priest’s account; for they took from Stephea Smith 
five kine, being all he had, for about fifty shillings tythes. From thence 
we ee to Kingston, aad so to London, where I staid not long: for i 
was upon me from the Lord to go into Holland, to visit friends and to 
preach the gospel there and in some parts of Germany. Wherefore set- 
ting things in order for my journey as fast as I could, I took Jeave of 
friends at London, and with several other friends went down to Colches- 
er in Essex, in order to my passage for Holland. Next day, being first- 
day, I was at the publick meeting of friends there, which was very large 
and peaceable. In the evening T had another large meeting, but not so 


publick, at John Furly’s house, where I lodged. The day following was 


the women’s meeting, which was also very large. Next day we passed 


—eE 


to Harwich, where Robert Duncon, and several other friends came to — 


see us; and some from London that intended to go over with me. The 
packet-boat not. being ready, we went to the meeting in the town, and a 
precious opportunity we had together; for the Lord, according to his 
wonted goodness, by his overcoming, refreshing power, opened many 
mouths to declare his everlasting truth, and to praise and glorify him. 
After the meeting, we returned ‘to Tei Vandewall’s, where I had lodg- 
ed; and when the boat was ready, taking leave of friends, we that were 


bead for Holland went on board about the 9th hour in the evening, the — 


25th of the 5th month, 1677. 

The friends that went over with me were William Penn, Robert Bar- 
clay, George Keith and his wife, John Furly and his brother, William 
Tailcoat, George Watts, and Isabel Yeomans, one of my wife’s daugh- 
ters. About the first hour in the morning we weighed anchor, having a 
fair, brisk wind, which by the next morning brought us within sight of 
Holland. But that day proving very clear and calm, we got forwara 
but little till about the fourth hour in the afternoon, when a fresh gale 
arose, which carried us within a league of land. Then being becalmed, 
we cast anchor for that night between the hours of nine and ten in the 
evening. But William Penn and Robert Barclay, understand:ng Benja- 
min Furly was come from Rotterdam to the Briel to meet us, got two 
of the boatmen to let down a small boat that belonged to the packet, and 
row them to shore: but before they could reach it, the gates were shut; 
and there being no house without the gate, they were fain to lie in a fish- 
er’s boat all night. As soon as the gates were opened in the morning, 
they went in, and found Benjamin Furly, with other friends of Rotter- 
dam, come to receive us; and they sent a boat, with three young men 
in it, that lived with Benjamin Furly, who brought us to the Briel, where 
the friends received us with great gladness. 

We staid about two hours to refresh ourselves; and then took boat, 
with the Holland friends, for Rotterdam, where we arrived about the 
eleventh hour that day, the 28th of the fifth month, 1677. I was very 
well this voyage, but some of the friends were sea-sick. A fine passage 
we had, and all came safe and well to land; blessed and praised be the 
name of the Lord for ever! 

The next day, being first- day, we had two meetings at Benjamin 
Furly’s, where many of the town’s- people and some officers came in, 
and all were civil. Benjamin Furly or John Claus interpreted, when 
any friend declared. I spent the next day in visiting friends. The day 
following, William Penn and I, with other friends, went towards Amster 
dam. with some of that city, who came to Rotterdam to conduct us 


cm 


677] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 503 


thither. We took boat in the afternoon, and, passing by Overkirk, came 


| to Delft, through which we walked on foot; and then took boat again to 
i Leyden, where we lodged that night at an inn. This is counted six 
| Dutch miles from Rotterdam, which are eighteen English miles, and five 
hours’ sail, or travelling ; for our boat was “drawn by: an horse that went 
| onthe shore. Next day taking boat again, we went 1» Harlem, fourteen 


miles from Leyden, where we had appointed a meeting, which proved 
very large. Many of the town’s-people came in, and two of their preach- 
ers. The Lord gave us a b.essed opportunity, not only with respect to 
friends, but to other sober people, and the meeting ended peaceably and 
well. After meeting we passed to Amsterdam, accompanied by several 
friends of that city and of Alkmaer. 

Next day was the quarterly meeting at Amsterdam, to which came 
friends from Harlem, and Rotterdam, and with them those of our com- 
pany, whom we had left at Rotterdam, viz. Robert Barclay, George 
Keith and his wife, &c. The meeting was at Gertrude Dirick Nieson’s. 
A very large and serviceable meeting it was. William Penn and I were 
drawn to open many things concerning the order of the gospel, and to 
shew the benefit and service of yearly, quarterly and monthly meetings 
of men and women. We had another meeting at Gertrude’s the next 
day, more publick, and very large, at which were professors of several 
sorts, unto whom the way of life and salvation was largely and livingly 
opened; which they hearkened very attentively to, none making any ob- 
jection to what was declared. In the afternoon we had another meeting 
in the same place, but less, and more private. The day following we 
had a meeting of friends only, wherein by joint agreement were settled 
several meetings, to wit, monthly, quarterly, and a yearly meeting, to be 
held at Amsterdam for friends in all the United Provinces of Holland, 
and in Embden, the Palatinate, Hamburgh, Frederickstadt, Dantzick, 
and other places in and about Germany; which friends were very glad 
of, and it hath been of great service to truth. 

Next dzy an exercise came upon me concerning that deceitful spirit 
which wrought in some to make divisions in the church, and the care of 
the churches being upon me, I was moved to write a few lines to warn 


' friends of it, as followeth: 


‘ Aut friends, keep over that spirit of separation and division, in the 
‘peaceable truth, and in the,Seed of life, which will wear it all out, and 
‘outlast it. For the Lamb will have the victory over all the spirits of 
‘strife, as.it hath had since the beginning ; and they will wither, as others 
‘have done: but all that keep in the Seed, which is always green, shall 

never wither; as friends have been to this day kept. If any have back- 
‘slidden, fe aeon the cross, grown loose and full, and gone into strife 
‘and contention with their earthly spirits, and therein plead for liberty, 


‘this spirit taketh with loose, earthly spirits, and cries imposition to such 


‘as admonish them to come to the life, light, Spirit, and power of God, 
‘that they may be made alive, and live again with the living. Upon this 


‘admonition their spirits rise into contention, strife, and separation, turn- 


ing against the living, in their loose earthly spirits, which would have 


_ the name of truth, but are not in the nature of it, but are for eterna. 


_ ‘judgment of the living Seed. This is it which doth deceive, but it is 
_ judged by that which doth undeceive and save. G. F.’ 
‘ Amsterdam in Holland, the 5th 
‘of the 6th month. 1677.’ 


304 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1677 


This being first-day, we had a very large mecting, there coming to i 
a great concourse of people of several opinions, Baptists, Seekers, So- 
cinians, Brownists, and some of the Collegians. Robert Barclay, George 
Keith, William Penn and I, did all severally declare the everlasting truth 
among them; opening the state of man in the fall, and shewing by what 


way man and woman may come into the restoration by Christ Jesus. — 


The mystery of iniquity and the mystery of godliness were very plainly 
laid open, and the meeting ended quietly and well. 

The day following, George Keith, Robert Barclay, and William Penn, 
leaving me and some other friends at Amsterdam, set forward towards 
Germany, where they travelled many hundred miles, and had good ser- 
vice for the Lord, Benjamin Furly going with them, and interpreting. 

That day and the next I staid at Amsterdam, visiting friends, and as- 
sisting them in some business concerning their meetings. Three Bap- 
tists came to discourse with me, to whom | opened things to their satis- 
faction, and they parted trom me in kindness. I wrote a letter also to 
the princess Elizabeth, which Isabel Yeomans delivered to her, when 
George Keith’s wife and she went to visit her. 


‘ Princess Elizabeth, 

‘I nave heard of thy tenderness towards the Lord and his holy truth, 
‘by some friends that have visited thee, and also by some of thy letters, 
‘which I have seen; which indeed is a great thing, for a person of thy 
‘quality to have such a tender mind after the Lord and his precious truth; 
‘seeing so many are swallowed up with voluptuousness, and the plea- 
‘sures of this world; yet all make an outward profession of God and 
‘Christ one way or other, but without any deep inward sense and feel- 
‘ing of him. For it is not many mighty nor wise of the world that can 
‘become fools for Christ’s sake, or can become low in the humility of 
‘Christ Jesus from their mighty state, through which they might receive 
‘a mightier estate, and a mightier kingdom, through the fand holy 
‘Spirit, the divine light and power of God; ; and a mightier wisdom, 


‘which is from above, pure and peaceable: which wisdom is above that — 


‘which is below, that is earthly, sensual, and devilish, by which men de- 
‘stroy one another about their religions, ways, worships, and churches * 
‘but this they have not from God nor Christ. The wisdom which is from 
‘above, by which all things were made and created, which the holy fear 
‘of God in the heart is the beginning of, keeps the heart clean. By this 
‘wisdom are all God’s children to be ordered, and with it come to order 
‘all things to God’s glory. This is the wisdom that is justified of her 
‘children. In this fear of God and wisdom, my desire is, that thou may- 
‘est be preserved to God’s glory. For the Lord is come to teach his 
‘people himself, and to set up his ensign, that the nations may flow unto 
‘it. There hath been an apostacy, since the apostles’ days, from the di- 

‘vine light of Christ, which should have given them the “light of the 

‘knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus ;” and from 

the Holy | Spirit, which would have led them into all truth; and there- 
‘fore have people set up so many leaders without them, to give them 
‘knowledge; and also from the holy and precious faith which Jesus 

‘Christ is aie author and finisher of, which faith purifies the heart, and 

gives victory over that which separates from God; through which faith 

they have access to God, and in which faith they please God, the mys- 
‘tery ‘of which is held in a pure conscience. And also from the gospe! 


7 
ie 
| 
| 
1 
| 


1677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 505 


which was preached in the apostles’ days (which gospel is the power 
ef God) which brings life and immortality to light in man and woman, 
‘by which people should have seen over the devil that has darkened 
them; which gospel will preserve all them that receive it in life and im- 
‘mortality. For the eyes of people have been after men, and not after 
‘the Lord, who doth write his law in the hearts, and puts it into the 
‘minds of all the children of the new covenant of light, life, and grace; 
‘through which they all come to know the Lord, from the least to the 
‘greatest: so. that the knowledge of the Lord may cover the earth, as 
‘the waters do the sea. This work of the Lord is beginning again, 1s 
‘it was in the apostles’ days; people shall come to receive an unction in 
‘them from the Holy One, by which they shall know all things, and shal! 
‘not need any man to teach them, but as the anointing doth teach them ; 
‘and also to know what the righteousness of faith speaks, the word nigh 
‘in the heart and mouth to obey it, and to do it. This was the word eo 
‘faith the apostles preached ; which is now received and preached again, 
‘and is the duty of all true Christians to receive. So now people are 
‘coming out of the apostacy, to the light of Christ and his Spirit: to re- 
‘ceive faith from him, and not from men; to receive the gospel from 
‘him, their unction from him, the Word; and as they receive him, they 
‘declare him freely, as his command was to his disciples, and is still to 
‘the learners and receivers of him. For the Lord God and his Son Jesus 
‘Christ is come to teach his people, and to bring them from all the world’s 
‘ ways to Christ the way, the truth, and the life, who is the way to the 
‘Father; and*from all the world’s teachers and speakers, to him the 
‘speaker and teacher, as Heb. i. 1. and from all the world’s worshippers, 
‘to worship God in the Spirit and in the truth, which worship Christ set 
‘up above sixteen hundred years ago, when he put down the Jews’ wor- 
‘ship at the temple at Jerusalem, and the worship at the mountain where 
Jacob’s well was; and to bring people from all the world’s religions, 
‘which they have made since the apostles’ days, to the religion that was 
‘set up by Christ and his apostles, which is pure and undefiled before 
‘God, and keeps from the spots of the world; and to bring them out of 
“all the world’s churches-and fellowships, made and set up since the apos 
‘tles’ days, to the church that is in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus 
‘Christ, Thess. i. 1. and to bring to the unity and fellowship in the Holy 
‘Spirit, that doth mortify, gircumcise, and baptize, to plunge down sin 
and corruption, that has got up in man and woman by transgression. 
“In this Holy Spirit there is holy fellowship and unity ; yea, it is the bond 
‘of the Prince of Princes, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords’ 
‘peace: which heavenly peace all true Christians are to maintain w th 
spiritual weapons, not with carnal. 

‘And now, my friend, the holy men of God wrote the scriptures as 
‘they were moved by the Holy Ghost; and all Christendom are on heaps 
‘about those scriptures, because they are not led by the same Holy 
‘Ghost as those were that gave forth the scriptures; which Holy Ghost 
‘they must come to in themselves, and be led by, if they come into all 

the truth of them, and to have the comfort of ‘God, Christ, and them. 

For none can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost; and all that call 

Christ Lord without the Holy Ghost, take his name in vain. Likew.se 

all that name his name are to depart from iniquity; then they name his 

name with reverence, in truth and righteousness. O therefore feel the 

grace and truth in thy heart, that is come by Jesus Christ, that will teach 
30 


-hy words, and bring thy salvation, and will be a teacher unto thee a. 
‘all times. By it thou mayest receive Christ, from whence it comes; 
and as many as receive him, to them he gives power not only to stand 
against sin and evil, but to become the sons of God: if sons, then heirs 
‘of a life, and a world and kingdom without end, and of the eternal riches 
‘and treasures thereof. So in haste, with my love in the Lord Jesus 
‘Christ, who tasted death for every man, and bruises the serpent’s head 
‘that has been betwixt God and man, that through Christ man may come 
‘to God again, and praise him through Jesus Christ the Amen, the spirit- 


‘ual, heavenly rock and foundation for all God’s people to build upon, — 


‘to the praise and glory of God, who is over all, blessed for evermore ! 
‘GrorcE Fox.’ 
‘Amsterdam, the 7th of the 
‘6th month, 1677.’ 


‘POSTSCRIPT. 


‘The bearer hereof is a daughter-in-law of mine, that comes with 
Gertrude Dirick Nicson and George Keith’s wife, to give thee a visit. 
‘G. FY 


The princess Elizabeth’s answer: 


‘Dear friend, 

‘I cannot but have a tender love to those that love the Lord Jesus 
‘Christ, to whom it is given not only to believe in him, but also to suffer 
‘for him: therefore your letter, and your friend’s visit, have been both 
‘very welcome to me. I shall follow their and your counsel, as far as 
‘God will afford me light and unction: remaining still 

Your loving friend, 
‘Hertfort, the 30th of ‘ELIZABETH. 
« August, 1677, 


Next day John Claus and I passed to Buyckslote, Purmerent, and Alk- 
maer, about thirty miles from Amsterdam. We went to a friend’s whose 
name was Willem Willems, where I had a meeting that night. I had 
another next day, which was larger: several professors came, and all 
was quiet and well. After the meeting I visited some friends; then, ta- 
king boat, passed to Hoorn, counted the chief city in North Holland. 
We lodged at an inn; and, taking waggon early next morning, we passed 
to Enckhuysen, where we took ship for Friesland; and, landing in the 
afternoon at Workum, took water,-and rode upon the high bank of the 
Friezen seas, till we met two friends coming with a waggon to meet us 
with whom we went to Harlingen, the chief sea-port town in Friesland 
We went to Hessel Jacobs’s, whither several friends came to visit us 
that night. Next day we visited the friends of the place; and I wrote 
a paper, directed, ‘ To all them that persecute friends for not observing 
‘ their fast-day.’ 

The day following being first-day, friends had a meeting there, to 
which we went, and many professors came to it. I declared the ever- 
lasting gospel amongst them, John Claus interpreting. They were all 
very civil, and heard attentively; and when the meeting was done, de- 
parted peaceably, without making any opposition. After meeting I went 
to Hessel Jacobs’s again, whither after awhile came a Calvinist, to ask 
me some questions, which I answered to his satisfaction; and he de- 


506 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1677 

‘thee how to live, and what to deny. It will establish thy heart, season - 
. 
. 


a 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 507 


parted friendly. Soon after he was gone, a preacher of the C: llegians 
came to discourse with me, who seemed well satisfied also, and we 
parted lovingly. That evening I had another meeting with the friends 
there, and next morning we passed to Leuwarden, the chief city in 
Friesland, and lodged that night at a friend’s house whose name was 
Sybrand Dowes. 

Next morning early we passed to Dockum, and, walking through the 
city, took boat again to Strobus, which is the utmost part of Friesland. 
There we baited at a commissary’s. Then taking boat, we passed ts 
Groningen, the chief city of the province of Groningland. One of the 
magistrates of that city came with us from Leuwarden, with whom ] 
had some discourse on the way; and he was very loving. We walked 
near three miles through the city ; then took boat for Delfziel; and pass- 
ing, in the evening, through Appingdalem, where had been a great horse- 
fair that day, there came many officers rushing into the boat, who, be- 
ing in drink, were very rude. I exhorted them to ‘fear the Lord, and 
‘beware of Solomon’s vanities.’ They were a sort of boisterous {fel- 
lows; yet somewhat more civil afterwards. We landed at Delfziel about 
the tenth hour at night, having travelled much about fifty English miles 
that day. We went to an inn to lodge; and as we passed through the 
guards, they examined John Claus, whether I was not a militia soldier? 
He told them I was not, and they let us pass peaceably. 

Delfziel stands on the river Eems, over which we passed next day to 
Embden, where friends had been cruelly persecuted, and from which 
they had been often banished. I went to an inn, where I dined with some 
_ men that understood English, with whom I had a fine time, and they 
_ were loving. Meanwhile John Claus went with his wife to her father’s 

in Embden; whither, after I had dined, I went also, understanding the 

old man was desirous to see me. In the afternoon John Claus and 1 
' walked through the city, to the place where the waggon was to meet us; 
and while we tarried for it, the friends that were in the city came to the 
' house where we were, and we had a little meeting. When the meeting 
Was over, and the waggon came not, we sent to know the reason. The 
’ 

. 
: 


i 


master of the waggon sent us word, he durst not let his waggon go; for 
the bishop of Munster’s soldiers were up in the country, and he was 
afraid they would take away his horses. Being disappointed of our pas- 
sage, we returned to John Claus’s father-in-law’s house, where I left him, 
and went to my inn at night. 
We took shipping next day, and passed about fifteen miles upon the 
river Eems, to a market-town in East Friesland, called Leer, where 
‘lived a friend that had been banished from Embden. When we had vis- 
ited him, we hired a waggon, and passed to a garrison-town called 
Strikehuysen, where the guards examined us; and then we went to De- 
teren, where hiring another waggon, we passed to another garrison-town, 
where we were very strictly examined. From thence we passed to 


Apre, in the king of Denmark’s country, where we lodged that night. 
Tn ow travelling this day, we met the earl of Oldenburgh, going to the 
treaty of peace at Lembachie. 3 
Next day we passed to Oldenburgh, lately a great and famous place, 
but then burnt down, and but few houses left standing in it. At this 


lace we hired another waggon, and went to Delmenhurst, where, after 
we had been examined by the guards, we went to a burgomaster’s to 
odge, whose house was at an inn. There being many people, I declared 


508 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. per 


the way of truth to him and them, warning them of the day of the Lord 
that was coming upon all evil-doers. 

We passed next day to Bremen, a stately city in Germany; and froa 
thence, after a double examination, we went to a water called Overde- 
land, and there took boat to Fisherholder; where, finding pretty many 
people together, I declared the way of God to them, and ‘exhorted them 
‘to fear fie Lord” There we took waggon again, and travelled in the 
lishop of Munster’s country, to Closter-Neveus Having no inclination 
to stay there, we got fresh horses, intending to travel all night. Accord 
ingly we went a little way; but it quickly grew so dark, and rained so 
hard, that we thought best to turn back again; for our waggon being 
open, we had no defence against the rain, and our clothes were already 
wet with the rain that had fallen for several days before. So we went 
to an inn, and got a little fresh straw; upon which we lay till about 
break of day, then set out and travelled to the city of Buxtehude. | 

The people in the bishop of Munster’s country were very dark. As 
we passed amongst them, I preached truth to them, warning them of the 
great and notable day of the Lord, exhorting them to soberness, and to” 
mind the good Spirit of God in themselves. 

It was on a first-day that we went through Buxtehude; and without. 
the walls was a great fair of sheep and geese that day. We staid a little 
to refresh ourselves, and went on as fast as we could to Hamburgh, 
partly by waggon, and partly by water. 

We got to ‘Hamburgh time enough to have a meeting there that even- 
ing. A “good and glorious meeting it was. There were, amongst others, 
a Baptist teacher and his wife, and a great man of Sweden with his 
wife; and all was quiet, blessed be the Lord, whose power was exalted 
over all! Yet a hard, dark place this is, and the people are much shut 
up from truth. 

At Hamburgh was a woman that had spoken against me in John Per- 

rot’s time, though she had never seen me till now. “She had been troubled 

for it ever since, and now was glad of an opportunity to acknowledge 
her fault; which she very readily did, and I as readily and freely for- 
gave her. 

We staid that night at Hamburgh, encouraging and strengthening the 
friends there in their testimony to ‘the truth; and betimes next morning 
we set forwards towards Frederickstadt, which is two long day’s jour- 
ney from Hamburgh. We went the first-day to Elmshoorn, where we 
baited, and then rode through a garrison-town of the king of Denmark’s ; 
and, passing by the monument of the earl of Rantzow, came to the city 
of lizeho, where we lodged that night. I had some service in the even- 
ing, among the people in the inn, whom I exhorted to soberness, and to 
live in the fear of the Lord. Next morning we travelled to Hoghen- 
horn, where we dined at an inn with one of the council of Frederick- 
stadt; to whom, and to the rest of the people present, 1 declared the 
truth, with which they seemed to be affected. Then travelling on, we 
came to a river called Evder, where we took boat and went to Freder- 
ickstadt. We went to William Paul’s, where several friends came to 
us, for there is a pretty company af friends in that city. We had a fine 
refreshing meeting together that evening, which made us forget our wea-— 
riness; for we were indeed very weary, ‘having travelled hard those twe 
duys, and were wet through our clothes, having had much rain in our. 


: 


i677) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 505 
1 


open waggons. But the Lord made all easy and good to us; aud we 
were well and glad to see friends ; blessed be his holy name for ever! 

This city is in the duke of Holstein’s country, who would have ban- 
ished friends out of the city and country, and sent to the magistrates of 
the city to do it; but they said, they would lay down their offices rather 
than do it; inasmuch as themselves came to that city to enjoy the lib- 
erty of their consciences. Friends still enjoy their liberty there, and 
truth and they are of good report amongst the people, both in city and 
country. 

On first-day I had a meeting here, to which many people came, and 
some rough spirits; but the power of the Lord bound them down, and 
the Seed of life was set over all. While I was here, I had a discourse 
with a Levite concerning the coming of the Messiah; and he was 
much confounded in what he said; yet he carried himself lovingly, and 
invited me to his house. I went, and there discoursed with a Jew, who 
shewed me their Talmud, and many other Jewish books: but they are 
very dark, and do not understand their own prophets. 

There was at this city a Baptist teacher, who had reproached and 
belied friends ; wherefore John Claus went, with two friends of the town, 
to the house where he lodged, cleared truth and friends from his re- 
proaches, and laid his lies and slanders upon his own head, to his shame. 

Before we left this place, I had another meeting with friends only, 
wherein I laid before them the usefulness of a monthly meeting, for look- 


_ ing after the poor, and taking care that marriages, and all other things 


relating to the church, were performed in an orderly manner. The thing 
answered the witness of God in their consciences, so they readily agreed 
to have monthly meetings thenceforward amongst themselves, that both 
men and women might take care of the vutward concerns of the church. 

Feeling my spirit clear of that place, we took leave of friends, whom 
we left in good order, and turned back for Hamburgh. When we had 
travelled one day’s journey, and came to an inn at night to lodge, I en- 
quired whether there were any tender people in the town that feared 
God, or that had a mind to discourse of the things of God? The inn- 
keeper told me, there were few such in that town. Next night we got 
to Hamburgh, and having passed the guards, went to a friend’s house, 
being very weary; for we had been up those two mornings before the 
third hour, and had travelled each day hard and late. Here we met with 
John Hill, an English friend,-who had been travelling in Germany; and 
being in a ship bound for Amsterdam that waited for a wind, he had lain 
sick on board about two weeks; and now hearing that I was in the 
country, got off from the ship, and came hither to meet me, and go along 
with me. 

We had a very good meeting here, and very peaceable. After which 
I had discourse with a Swede, an eminent man in his own country ; who 
having been banished from thence upon the account of his religion, was 
come to Hamburgh, and was at the meeting I had there before. Wher 
I had done with him, I had another discourse with a Baptist concerning 
the sacraments so callea: in both which I had good service, having op- 
portunity thereby to open truth unto them. 

Being clear of Hamburgh, we took leave of friends there, whom we 
left well; and taking John Hill with us, passed by boat to a city in the 
duke of Lunenburgh’s country; where, after we were examined by the 


_ guards, we were had to the main guard, and there examined more strictly, 


510 GEORGE FOX’'S JOURNAL. [1674 


but after they found we were not soldiers, they were civil to us, and lev 
us pass. In the afternoon we travelled by waggon, and the waters be- 
ng much out, by reason of the great rains that had fallen, when it drew 
towards night we hired a boy to guide us through a great water. When 
we came to it the water was so deep, before we could come at the bridge, 
that the waggoner was fain to wade, and I drove the waggon. When 


we were come upon the bridge, the horses broke part of it down, and — 


one of them fell into the water, the waggon standing upon that part of 
the bridge which remained unbroken. It was the Lord’s mercy to us, 
that the waggon did not run into the brook. When they had got the 
horse out, he lay awhile as if he had been dead; but at length they got 
him up, put him to the waggon again, laid the planks right, and then, 
through the goodness of the Lord to us, we got safe over. 

After this we came to another water, which finding to be very deep, 
and it being in the night, we hired two men to help us through. These 
men put cords to the waggon to hold it by, that the force of the water 
might not drive it beside the way. But when we came into it, the stream 
was so strong it took one of the horses off his legs, and was carrying 
him down the stream; which I seeing, called to the waggoner to pluck 
him to him by his reins, which he did. and the horse recovered his legs, 
and with much difficulty we got over the bridge, and went to Bormer- 


haven, the town where the waggoner lived. It was the last day of the © 
sixth month that we escaped these dangers, and being about the eleventh — 
hour in the night when we came in here, we got some fresh straw, and — 


lay upon it till about four in the morning. Then getting up, we set for- 
ward again towards Bremen, going part of the way by waggon, and 
part by boat. In the way I had good opportunities to publish truth, es- 
pecially at a market-town where we staid to change our passage; where 


I declared the truth to the people, warning them of the day of the Lord ~ 


that was coming upon all flesh; and exhorting them to righteousness, 
telling them, ‘ that God was come to teach his people himself,’ and that 


they should turn to the Lord, and hearken to the teachings of his Spirit — 


in their own hearts. 
At Bremen we were examined, and after went to an inn, and staid 
till another waggon was provided to carry us further. Though I felt 


the Lord’s power was over the city, and kept the wicked and unruly — 
spirits down, yet my spirit suffered much in this place for the people’s — 
sake. When our waggon was ready we left Bremen, and travelled to — 


Keby, where we lodged at an inn, and early next morning set out for 


Oldenburgh. It was a lamentable sight to see so great and brave a city — 


burnt down. We went to an inn, and though it was first-day the sol- 


diers were drinking, and playing at shovel-board, and at those few — 


houses that were left, the shops were open, and the people trading one 
with another. I was moved to declare the truth among them, and warn 
them of the judgments of God; and though they heard me quietly, and 


were civil towards me, yet I was burthened with their wickedness. — 


Many times in mornings, and at noons and nights, at the inns, and on 
the ways, as I travelled, I spoke to the people, preaching the truth to 
them, warning them of the day of the Lord, and exhorting them to turn 
to the light and Spirit of God in themselves, that thereby they might be 
led out of evil. 

Next day, passing through many great waters, we came to Leer, and 
tne day following to Embden, where John Claus’s wife’s father lived; at 


677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 51l 


_ whose house, when we went into Germany, ¥_. ta young man sick, 
_who travelled with me, and used to write for m. whom now we found 


pretty well recovered. John Claus went to his father-in-law’s, Jolin 
Hill and I to an inn, where we dined. After dinner we went also to 
John Claus’s father’s, and had a good meeting there in the evening. 
The day following we took shipping at Embden, and passed to Delf- 
ziel, and went to an inn, where a friend came to us that then lived in 
Delfziel, having been often banished from Embden: he was a goldsmith 
by trade, and had a house and shop in Embden, and still as they ban- 
ished him he went again. Then they imprisoned him, fed him with bread 
and water, and at length took his goods from him, and banished him, his 
wife and children, leaving them neither place to come to, nor any thing 
to subsist on. We comforted and encouraged him in the Lord, exhort- 
ing him to be faithful, and stand steadfast in the testimony committed to 
him. When we had taken leave of him, we passed the same day to 
Groningen, where we met with Cornelius Andries, a friend, that had 
also suffered much by imprisonment and banishment at Embden. We 
went with him to his house, and the next day we had a good meet- 
ing in that city, to which several professors came, who were very peace- 
able and attentive. After meeting we passed by boat to Strobus, and 
Dockum, where we lodged that night at an inn. Taking boat again next 
morning, we passed to Leuwarden, the chief city of Friesland, where | 
‘ound my daughter Yeomans, who was come from Amsterdam thither 
2 meet me. That day we had a precious meeting at Sybrand Dowes’s 
ouse. After the meeting I had discourse with some that were at the 
»eeting, who had been formerly convinced of truth; but were not come 
© obedience to it. We staid there that night; but John Hill left us, 
ad went that day to Harlingen, and so to Amsterdam. 

Next day we passed down the river to the lake of Hempen-Sarmer, 
ad thence by the lake Lugmer, and so to a town called Anderigo ; from 
Yence sailing through the lake Whispool, we came to Gardick within 
‘ght. We lodged at an inn; and the next day, being first-day, we were 

friends’ meeting there, which was very large, many of the town’s-peo- 
le coming in. I declared the truth in the power of the Lord, that was 

upon me; which tendered the people, and they were very sober. After 
the meeting we staid to refresh ourselves, and went to take boat again: 
but the people observing us, gathered together at a bridge we were to 
pass, and there I declared tlie way of life and salvation unto them, and 
hey were very attentive and civil. 

We went back that evening to Leuwarden, being twenty-seven miles ; 

put before we could reach it, the gates were shut and the bridges drawn 


up, so that we could not get into the city, but were fain to lie in the boat 


all night ; and a man being killed in the city that night, it was late before 
the gates were opened. When we could get in, we went to a friend’s 
house, where we staid awhile; then taking boat, we passed through 
Franeker to Harlingen, to Hassel Jacobs’s, where we found several Dutch 
friends come to be at the meeting there next day. William Penn, return 


_ing two or three days before out of Germany, had been at a large meet- 


ing at Amsterdam on first-day ; and after meeting, understanding I was 
at Harlingen, came thither to me. 
Next day was the monthly meeting for men and women, to which we 


Went. It was large and good. And there it was agreed, ‘a meeting 


512 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (167. 


‘should be held there once a month, both for the men and for the women 
‘to take care of the outward concerns of el church.’ 

In the afternoon we had a publick meeting, to which came people of 
several sorts, Socinians, Baptists, Lutherans, ‘&e. amongst whom was a 
doctor of physick and a priest. After I had declared the truth pretty 
largely, opening the happy state that man and woman were in whilst 
they kept under God’s teaching, and abode in paradise; and the wo and 
misery that came upon them when they went from God’s teaching, heark- 
ened to the serpent’s, transgressed God’s command, and were driven 
out of the paradise of God; and set forth the way whereby man and 
woman might come into that happy state again: the priest, an ancient 
grave man, stood up just as 1 had done speaking, and, putting off his hat, 
said, ‘I pray God to prosper and confirm that doctrine, for it is truth, 
‘and I have nothing against it. He would willingly have staid till the 
meeting had been ended, but being to preach that evening, he could not 
stay longer, the time for his own worship being come. Wherefore, when 
he had made confession of the truth, he hastened away, that he might 
come again; and did come, it seems, to the meeting-place, but the meet- 
ing was sued first. After which we went to Hassel Jacobs’s, where I. 
had a meeting with friends, and the doctor of physic came thither to dis- 
course with William Penn, who had a good opportunity to open truth to 
him. By this doctor the priest sent his love to me, wishing him to tell 
me, that he had left preaching that evening half an hour sooner than he 
used to do, that he might come to our meeting again to hear more of 
that good doctrine. I heard afterwards, that his hearers questioned him 
for what he had said in our meeting; and that, he standing by his 
words, they had complained of him for it to the other priests of the city, 
who called him to account about it; but the result I could not learn. 

Early next morning William Penn, taking John Claus with him, passed” 
from Harlingen for Leuwarden, where he “had appointed a meeting, in- 
tending to travel into some other parts of Germany to visit a tender - peo- 
ple there. I, with those friends that were with me, took ship the same 
day for Amsterdam, where we arrived a little after midnight; but the. 
gates being shut, we lay on board till morning: then went to Gertrude 
Dirick Nieson’ s, where many friends came to see us, being glad of our 
safe return. Next day, feeling a concern upon my mind, with relation to” 
those seducing spirits that made division among friends, and being sensible 
that they endeavoured to insinuate themselves into the affectionate part, I 
was moved to write a few lines to friends concerning them, as followeth: 


‘ Aut these that set themselves up in the affections of the people, set 
themselves up, and the affections of the people, and not Christ. But 
‘ friends, your peaceable habitation in the truth, which is everlasting, and 
‘ changes not, will outlast all the habitations of those that are out of the 
‘truth, although they be never so full of words. So those that are so 
‘keen for J. S. and J. W. let them take them, and the separation; and 
‘vou that have given your testimony against that spirit, stand in your 
‘ testimony, till they answer by condemnation. Do not strive, nor make 
‘bargains with that which is out of the truth; nor save that alive to be 2 
‘ sacrifice for God, which should be slain, lest you lose your kingdoms 
‘G. Be 
‘Amsterdam, the 14th of 
‘the 7th month, 1677.’ 


1677; GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 513 


The first-day following, I was at friends’ meeting at Amsterdam, tu 
which many people came, and were very civil and attentive, hearing 
truth declared several hours. John Roeloffs interpreted for me. 

Before this several of the friends that came over with me were return 

ed to England again, as Robert Barclay, George Keith’s wife, and 

others; and now my daughter Yeomans went back also: so that I was 
left alone at Amsterdam. While I was there, it came upon me to visit 
my suffering friends at Dantzick with a few lines, to encourage and 
strengthen them in their sufferings, as followeth ; 


‘ Dear friends, 
‘To whom is my love in the Lord’s truth, that is over all, and by 
‘which all God’s people are made free men and women, being thereby 
‘set free from him who is out of the truth; that walking in the truth 
‘they may answer the witness of God in ail people: which truth all must 
‘come to, if they be made free. Therefore be faithful unto what the 
‘Lord manifests unto you. Iam glad the Lord hath witnesses in that 
‘city, to stand for his glory and name, and for Christ Jesus, the great - 
‘prophet, whom God hath raised up, who is to be heard in all things; so 
‘that ye need none of the prophets which men have raised up. ‘There- 
‘fore stand faithful to Christ Jesus, your Shepherd, that he may feed you; 
thear his voice, and follow him, who has laid down his life for you; but 
‘follow none of the shepherds and hirelings that are made by men, though 
‘they may be angry because ye will not follow them to their dry and 
‘barren mountains, who have been and are the thieves, persecutors, and 
‘robbers, that climb up another way than by Christ. Set up Christ to 
‘be your counsellor and leader, and then ye will have no need of any 
‘of the counsellors and leaders of the world; for Christ is sufficient, 
‘whom God has given you. Set up Christ Jesus to be your bishop and 
_ overseer, who is sufficient to oversee you, that you go not astray from 
'*God; by which ye may see over all the hireling-overseers made by men, 
'* which keep the people, that they do not go from the rudiments, formali- 
‘ties, fashions, and customs of the world, which hath been and is their 
‘work. I am glad that ye are come to own Christ Jesus, your high 
‘priest, who is holy, harmless, separate from sinners, and made higher 
| “than the heavens, as the church and the apostle did own him in their * 
‘days, Heb. vii. who is the high priest over the household of faith ; which 
‘faith Christ Jesus is the author and finisher of: and this do all the chil 
dren of the new covenant witness, who walk in the new and living way. 
© Therefore my desire is, that ye all may be steadfast, whether in bonds 
or out, in the faith of Christ Jesus, which is the gift of God; by which 
‘faith the valiants overcame the devil and all their.enemies; in which 
‘faith they had victory and access to God, and in that was their unity: 
‘which mystery of faith is held in a pure conscience, hidden from the 
‘world. I do believe, that your imprisonments and sufferings in that 
‘place will be for good in the end (as it hath been in other places) ye 
“standing faithful to the Lord, who is all-sufficient. For your sufferings 

and trials will try their teachers and religions, churches and worships, 

and make manifest what birth they are of; even that which persecutes 
‘him that is born of the Spirit: for ye know that there is no salvation by 
‘any other name under the whole heaven, but by the name of Jesus; 
‘therefore it is time to leave them, when there s no salvation by or in 
“any of them. Now, friends, I eeu that you would take a list of the 
' 3 


al 


514 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. - ple" 


names of all those that belong to the king of Poland, where they live, 
and how ye may send books and epistles to them, and keep a corre- 
‘spondence with them; also the name of the bishop or cardinal that J 
‘heard was with you; and if ye can get any that belong to the king to 
‘come to visit the prisoners, that they may inform the king of their cruel 
‘sufferings. Also I desire you to get as many books of mine as you can 
dispose of, that set forth your sufferings, and the cruelty of the magis- 
trates of Dantzick; and give them to the king, his council, attendants, 
and bishops. And some of the women may speak to the queen, if they 
can, that she may signify to the king their cruel sufferings; and espe- 
‘cially some of the sufferers’ wives, if there be any of capacity to do it. 
‘You may likewise give his attendants any other friends’ books; what 
‘books ye lack, send for to Amsterdam, where ye may be furnished with 
them, to answer every tender desirer, and inquirmg mind after the 
Lord. So let all your minds be bended with the Lord’s power, to 
spread his truth abroad; and where ye hear of any, or have any cor- 
respondence in trading with any sober people, far or near, send them 
‘books, that their understandings may be opened after the Lord. The 
‘Lord God Almighty preserve you! To his protection, in his eternal 
‘power, do I commend you all, in bonds or at liberty, with my love to 
‘you in the everlasting seed of God Christ Jesus, who bruises the head 
‘of the serpent, that makes you to suffer. Christ is over him, and will 
‘be when he is gone, who is First and Last, over all, from everlasting to 
‘everlasting, in whom ye have life, knowledge, wisdom, and salvation, 
‘and through him live to the praise and glory of God, who is blessed for 
‘evermore, Amen. G. FY 
‘ Amsterdam, the 18th of the 7th 
‘month, 1677, English style.’ 


The next day, the fourth of the week and the nineteenth of the month, 
I had a large meeting at Amsterdam, many professors being at it, and 
truth was largely opened to them, in the demonstration of the heavenly 
power. The day following I went by boat, many friends going with 
me, to Landsmeer in Waterland. a town in which, they say, there are 
above an hundred bridges, where I had a very good meeting, to which 
several professors caine. After the meeting I returned with friends to 
Amsterdam again, where I staid till the first-day following, and went to 
their meeting which was large. Many professors of several sorts were 
at it, and heard the truth declared with great attention. 

I tarried next day, and the night following had a great exercise upon 
my spirit concerning that loose spirit that was run into strife and con- 
tention among friends, and had drawn some after it into division and 
separation; the way, work, and end whereof the Lord opened to me; 
wherefore, feeling the motion of life upon me, I got up in the morning 
and wrote the following epistle to friends. 


‘ My dear friends, 1 

‘Keep your first love im the truth, power, and seed of life in Chris‘. 

Jesus; for this last night, as I was lying in my bed at Amsterdam, I 
had a great travail in the holy seed of life and peace, and my spirit 

was troubled with that spirit of strife and separation. I saw it was a 

destroying spirit, and did seek not only to get over the seed, but to de- 

stroy it, and to eat out the minds of the people from it by strife and 

| contention; and under pretence of standing for the ancient truth, its 


. 


677) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 515 


work is te rout !t out and destroy the appearance of it, to set up itself 
‘It is a creeping spirit, seeking whom it can get into; and what it can- 
* not do itself it stirreth up others to do, and setteth their spirits on float, 
with the dark wisdom to destroy the simple. This spirit is managed 
“by the prince of the air, and leadeth some to do things they would 
‘have been ashamed to have done, as men, which doth unman them; 


{| ‘and they would not have suffered them, if they had kept to the tender 


‘principle of God, which leadeth to peace. It is a despising, backbiting, 
‘ secret-whispering spirit, a sower of dissension, and a taker of advan- 
‘tage of all prejudiced spirits that are disobedient to their first principle 
‘and love and truth, and begetteth into hatred ; so it begetteth all into that 
‘ spirit, whose work is to destroy both the good within and the good order 
‘without. Nay, it would, if it could, destroy the government of Christ and the 
‘ order of the gospel, to set up its own will and spirit, which is not of God ; 
‘and, under pretence of crying down man, is setting up man, and gather- 
‘ing into a separation of disobedient men, who float above their conditions. 
‘ This spirit, which neither liveth in the truth nor its order, but opposeth 
‘them that do, I cannot express it as I see it and its work, whose end 
‘will be accordingly. Therefore, friends, 1 am to warn you all that 
‘have not lost your simplicity, not to touch it, nor to have any unity 
‘ with it, lest you be defiled, lose your conditions of your eternal estate 
‘and your everlasting portion; and that your inward man, which is 
‘after God, may be preserved, and Christ may reign in all your hearts. 
* And they that are joined with them, it will be very hard for them 

ever to come down to truth in themselves, and to see their own condi- 
‘tions, and to have that spirit of strife and contention (which eateth as 
‘a canker) brought down in them: which is carnal, and slayeth the 
* tender babe, which was once begotten in themselves. ‘The Philistine 
‘is got up in them, that stoppeth the wells and springs, maketh a great 
‘bustle, and is crying up men, and pleading for them instead of Christ. 
‘ So, friends, strive not with them, but let those take them that cry them 
‘up. Keep you to the Lord Jesus Christ with his light, that cometh from 
‘him, that he may be your Lord, and ye in him may be all in unity, in 
‘one light, life, power, and dominion in Christ, your head. The God of 
‘Peace and Power preserve you all in Christ Jesus your Saviour, and 
‘out of and from that mischievous spirit which is idle and slothful, as to 
‘the work of the Power, Spirit, and Light of God and Christ. Its very 
‘act worketh strife and disturbance against the peace of the church of 
‘Christ. It thinks in its wilfulness, stubbornness, and unruliness to set up 
‘itself, and in that to have peace; but destruction will be the end of it: 
‘and it is sealed for the fire and eternal judgment. Therefore let Christ 
‘the Seed be the head and crown of every one of you, that nothing may 
“be between you and the Lord God. Be not deceived with vain, feign- 
‘ed, or rough words: for Satan is transforming himself as an Angel of 
‘ Light to deceive, but God’s foundation standeth sure, and God knoweth 
‘who are his and will preserve his upon the rock and foundation of life, 
‘in his peaceable truth and habitation, that in the same they may grow. 
‘ Keep out of strife and contention with it, after ye have borne your tes- 
‘timony in the Lord’s power and truth against it, then keep in the truth; 

for it hath a life in scribbling, strife, and _Jangling, because it would en- 


‘large its hell, and bring others into its misery with the airy power, and 


‘ would get power over “the good, and disjoin people from it, and so com- 


_ ‘mit rapes uron the simplicity by its subtilty. But I do believe the Lora 


f 


316 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. (1677 


will defend his , eople, though he may try them and exercise them with 
‘this spirit for a time, as he hath done in days past, in other vessels it 
‘hath made use of as it doth of these now, who have a more seeming 
‘fair outside, but foul, rough, and rugged enough within, against the Seed 
‘Christ, as ever were the Pharisees to destroy it. They, under a pre- 
‘tence of preaching Christ, are destroyers and crucifiers of him, and 
‘ killers of the just, not only in themselves, but are endeavouring with all 
‘their might to destroy it in others where it is born. Pharaoh and Herod 

slay the young Jews in the spirit as the old did: I feel it worrying of 


them. That is got up to be king, which knew not suffering Joseph. 


‘ But God will plague him, and the Seed will have more rest, and be bet- 
‘ter entertained in Egypt than under Herod, into whom old Pharaoh’s 


‘spirit is entered. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear, and an eye ~ 
‘to see, let him see how this spirit hath transformed in all ages against 


‘the just and righteous; but mark what hath been its end. The Seed 
‘reigneth; glory to the Lord God over all for ever! His truth spread- 
‘eth, and friends here are in unity and peace, and of good report, an- 
‘ swering the good or that of God in people. My desires are, that all 

God’s people may do the same in all places, that the Lord may he glo- 

rified in their bringing forth much fruit that is heavenly and spiritual. 

Amen. G. FY 

‘ Amsterdam, the 25th of the 
‘7th month, 1677.’ 


After I had given forth the foregoing epistle, whereby my spirit was 
in some measure eased of the weight that lay upon it, ] went in the af- 
ternoon to the monthly meeting of friends at Amsterdam ; where the Lord 
was present with us, and refreshed our spirits together in himself. 


Ee 


I thought to have gone next day to Harlem: but there being a fast ap- 


pointed to be kept that day, I was stopped in my spirit, and moved to 


stay at friends’ meeting at Amsterdam. We had a very large meeting, 


a great concourse of people coming to it, and amongst them many great 


persons. The Lord’s power was over the meeting, in the openings — 
whereof I was moved to declare to the people, ‘ That no man by all his — 


‘wit and study, nor by reading history in his own will, could declare or 
‘know the generation of Christ, who was not begotten by the will of 
‘man, but by the will of God. After I had largely opened this, I shew- 
“ed them the difference between the true fast and the false, manifesting 


‘that the professed Christians, Jews, and Turks, were out of the true 


‘fast, and fasted for strife and debate, being under the band and fists of 


‘iniquity and oppression, wherewith they were smiting one another; but — 


‘the pure hands were not lifted up to God. And though they did all ap- 
‘pear to men to fast, and did hang down their heads for a day like a 
‘bulrush, yet that was not the fast which God did accept; but in that 
‘ state all their bones were dry, and when they called upon the Lord he 


‘did not answer them, neither did their health grow; for they kept their — 


own fast, and not the Lord’s. I exhorted them to keep the Lord’s fast. 
which was to fast from sin and iniquity, strife and debate, violence and 


oppression, and to abstain from every appearance of evil.’ These things 
were opened to the astonishment of the fasters, and the meeting ended — 


peaceably and well. 


I went to Harlem the day following, having before appointed a meet — 


ing. Peter Hendricks and Gertrude Dirick Nieson went with me, and a 


- 
: 


GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 517? 


| blessed meeting we had. There were professors of several sorts, and a 
| priest of the Lutherans, who sat very attentively for several hours while 
| I declared the truth, Gertrude interpreting. When the meeting was 
done, the priest said, ‘ He had heard nothing but what was according to 
_*the word of God, and desired the blessing of the Lord might rest upon 
| fus and our assemblies.’ Others also confessed to the tr uth, saying, 
| * They had never heard things so plainly opened to their understandings 
before.’ 

We staid that night at Harlem at a friend’s house, whose name was 
_Dirick Klassen ; and returning next day to Amsterdam, went to Ger 
_ trude’s house ; where we had not been long before a priest of great note, 
} who had formerly belonged to the emperor of Germany, and another 
| German priest, came, desiring to have some conference with me. I took 

| the opportunity to declare the way of truth, opening unto them how they 
| might come to know God and Christ, and his law and gospel ; and shew- 
ing them, that they could never know it by study, nor philosophy. but by 
divine revelation through the Spirit of God, opening to them in the still 
ness of their minds. The men were tender, and went away well satisfied 

The first-day following I was’ at friends’ meeting at Amsterdam, 
where, amongst several sorts of professors, was a doctor of Poland, who 
for his religion was banished from the place he lived in, and being af- 
_ fected with the testimony of truth in the meeting, he came afterwards 

to have some discourse with me: and after we had been some time to- 
a. and | had opened things further to him, he went away very ten- 
| der and loving. 

While I was at Amsterdam, I spent much of my time in writing 
books, papers, or epistles on truth’s behalf. I wrote several epistles from 
Amsterdam to friends in England and elsewhere, on several occasions, 
as the Lord moved me by his Spirit thereunto. I wrote also from thence, 

* A warning to the inhabitants of the city of Oldenburgh, which was 
lately burned down ?’ also, ‘ A warning to the inhabitants of the city of 
aes Hamburgh. > I wrote also an epistle to the ambassadors that were 
treating about a peace at Nimeguen. ‘To the magistrates and priests of 
Embden I wrote, shew ing them ‘their unchristian practices in persecuting 
\ 
iF 


he 


friends. J wrote several other books there, in answer to priests and 
others, of Hamburgh, Dantzick, and other places, to clear the truth and 
friends from their false charges and slanders. 
i After some time George Keith and William Penn came back from 
Germany to Amsterdam, and had a dispute with one Galenus Abrahams 
¥ (one of the most noted Baptists in Holland) at which many professors 
_ were present; but not having time to finish the dispute then, they met 
_ again two. days after, and the Baptist was much confounded, and truth 
is gained ground. Between these two disputes we had a very great meet- 
i ing at friends’ meeting-place, at which many hundreds of ‘people were; 
some of high rank in the world’s account. An earl, a lord, and divers 
other eminent persons were present, who all behaved themselves very 
civilly. But, when the meeting was ended, some priests began to make 
opposition; which when William Penn understood, he stood up again, 
and answered them to the great satisfaction of the people, who were 
‘much affected with the several testimonies they had heard. After the 
‘Meeting several of them came to Gertrude’s, w here we were, with whom 
George Keith had mucn discourse in Latin. 
Hla ing now finished our service at Amsterdam, we took leave of 


518 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ; (s7? 


‘riends there, and passed by waggon to Leyden, about twenty-five miles; 
where we staid a day or two, seeking out and visiting some tender peo- 
ple that we heard of there. We met with a German, who was parily 
convinced. He informed us of an eminent man that was inquiring after 
truth. Some sought him out and visited him, and found him a serious 
man. I also spoke to him, and he owned the truth. William Penn and 
Benjamin Furly went to visit another great man, that lived a little out 

f Leyden, who, they said, had been general to the king of Denmark’s 
forces. He and his wife were very loving to them, and heard the truth 
with joy. 

From Leyden we went to the Hague, where the prince of Orange 
kept his court; and visited one of the judges of Holland, with whom we 
had much discourse. He was a wise tender man, and put many objec- 
tions and queries to us, which when we had answered, he was satisfied, 
and parted with us in much love. Leaving the Hague, we went to Delft, 
and from thence that night to Rotterdam, where we staid several days, 
and had several meetings. While I was here, I gave forth a book for 
the Jews, with whom, when I was at Amsterdam, I had a desire to have 
had some discourse; but they would not. Here also I reviewed several 
other books and papers, which I had given forth before, and were now 
transcribed. 

Finding our spirits clear of the service which the Lord had given us 
to do in Holland, we took leave of friends of Rotterdam, and passed by 
boat to the Briel, in order to take passage that day in the packet-boat for 


~. England, several friends of Rotterdam accompanying us, and some of 


Amsterdam, who were come to see us again before we left Holland. 
But the packet-boat not coming in till night, we were fain to lodge at the 
Briel; and next day, the one-and-twentieth of the eighth month, and the 
first-day of the week, we went on board, and set sail about the tenth 
hour, viz. William Penn, George Keith and I, and Gertrude Dirick Nie- 
son, with her children. 

We were in all about sixty passengers, and had a long and hazardous 
passage: for the winds were contrary, and the weather stormy ; the boat 
also very leaky, insomuch that we were fain to have two pumps contin- 
ually going day and night, so that it was thought there was twice as 
much water pumped out as the vessel would have held. But the Lord, 
who is able to make the stormy winds to cease and the raging waves oi 
_ the sea to be calm, yea, to raise them and stop them at his pleasure, he 
alone did preserve us; praised be his name fur ever! Though our pas- 
sage was hard, yet we had a fine time, and good service for truth on 
board among the passengers, some of whom were great folks, and were 
very kind and loving. We arrived at Harwich the 23d of the eighth 
month at night, having been two nights and almost three days at sea 
Next morning William Penn and George Keith took horse for Colches- 
ter; out [ staid, and had a meeting at Harwich; and there being no - 
cliester coach there, and the post-master’s wife being unreasonable in 
ber demands for a coach, and deceiving us of it also after we had hired 
t, we went to a friend’s house about a mile and an half in the country, 
and hired his waggon, which we bedded well with straw, and rode in i 
to Colchester. | 

I staid in Colchester till first-day, having a desire to be at friends’ 
meeting there that day; and a very large and weighty meeting it was 
‘or friends hearing of my return from Holland, flocked from several parts 


¥ 
e 


at a 


3£URGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 519 


of the country; and many of the town’s-people coming also, it was 


thought there were about a thousand people at the meeting, and all was 
peaceable. Having staid a day or two longer at Colchester, I travelled 
through Essex, visiting friends at Halsted, Braintree, Felsted, and Saling, 
and having meetings with them. At Chelmsford I had a meeting in the 
evening. There being many friends prisoners, they got liberty, and 


| came to the meeting, and we were well refreshed together in the Lord. 


Next day, the 9th of the ninth month, I got to London, where friends re- 
ceived me with great joy; and the first-day following went to Grace- 
church-street meeting, where the Lord visited us with his refreshing pres- 
ence, and the glory of the Lord surrounded the meeting; praised be 
the Lord! 

After I had been a little while in London, I wrote the following letter 
to my wife: 


‘ Dear heart, 

‘To whom is my love, and to the children, and to all the rest of friends 
‘in the Lord’s truth, power, and Seed, that is over all; glory to the Lord, 
‘and blessed be his name for ever beyond all words! who hath carried 
‘me through and over many trials and dangers in his eternal power! I 
‘have been twice at Gracechurch-street meeting; and though opposite 
‘spirits were there, yet all was quiet; the dew of heaven fell upon the 
‘people, and the glory of the Lord shined over all. Every day Iam 
‘fain to be at meetings about business, and sufferings, which are great 
‘abroad; and now many friends are concerned with many persons about 
‘them: so in haste, with my love to you all— GiB? 

‘ London, the 24th of the 

‘9th month, 1677.’ 


About this time I received letters from New England, which gave ac- 
count of the magistrates’ and rulers’ cruel and unchristian proceedings 
against friends there, whipping and abusing them very shamefully; for 
they whipped many women friends. One woman they tied to a cart, 
and dragged her along the street, she being stripped above the waist. 
Yea, they whipped some masters of ships, that were not friends, only for 
bringing friends thither. At that very time, while they were persecuting 
friends in this barbarous manner, the Indians slew threescore of their 
men, took one of their captains, and flayed the skin off his head while he 
was alive, and carried it away in triumph: so that the sober people said, 
« The judgments of God came upon them for persecuting the Quakers :” 
but the pad atk priests said, “Tt was because they did not persecute 
“them enough.” Great exercise I had in seeking relief here for poor 
suffering friends there, that they might not lie under the rod of the wicked. 

Upon this and other services for truth I staid in London a month or 
five weeks, visiting meetings, and helping and encouraging friends to la- 
bour for the deliverance of their suffering brethren in other parts. Af- 
terwards I went to Kingston, and visited friends there and thereaway. 
Having stad a little among friends there, overlooking a book which I 
had then ready to go to the press, I went into Buckinghamshire, visiting 
friends, and had several meetings amongst them at Amersham, Hunger- 
hill, Jordans, Hedgerly, Wickham. and Turvil-heath. In some of which, 
those that were gone out from the unity of friends in truth, into strife. 
opposition, and division, were very unruly and troublesome; particular- 

ly at the men’s meeting at Thomas Ellwood’s at Hungerhill, where the 


a 


520 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [167 


chief of them came from Wickham, endeavouring to make disturbance. 
and to hinder friends from proceeding in the business of the meeting 
When I saw their design, I admonished them to be sober and quiet, and 
not trouble the meeting, by interrupting the service thereof; but rather, 
if they were dissatisfied with friends’ proceedings, and had any thing to 
object, let a meeting be appointed on purpose some other day. So 
friends offered to give them a meeting another day; which at length 
was agreed to be at Thomas Ellwood’s the week following. According- 
ly friends met them there, and the meeting was in the barn; for there 
came so many, the house could not receive them. After we had sat 
awhile, they began their jangling. Most of their arrows were shot at 
me; but the Lord was with me, and gave me strength in his power to 
cast back their darts of envy and falsehood upon themselves. Their 
objections were answered; things were opened to the people;. and a 
good opportunity it was, and serviceable to the truth; many that before 
were weak, were now strengthened and confirmed; some that were 
doubting and wavering were satisfied and settled; and faithful friends 
were refreshed and comforted in the springing of life amongst us: for 
the power rose, and life sprung, and in the arisings thereof many living 
testimonies were borne against that wicked, dividing, rending spirit, 
which those opposers were joined to and acted by: and the meeting 
ended to the satisfaction of friends. That night I lodged, with other 
friends, at Thomas Ellwood’s; and the same week I had a meeting again 
with those opposers at Wickham, where they again shewed their envy, 
and were made manifest to the upright-hearted. 

After I had visited friends in that upper side of Buckinghamshire, I 
called at Henley in Oxfordshire, and went by Causham to Reading, where 
I was at meeting on first-day, and in the evening had a large meeting 
with friends. Next day there being another meeting about settling a 
women’s meeting, some of those that had let in the spirit of division fel. 
into jangling, and were disorderly for awhile, till the weight of truth 
brought them down. After this I passed on, visiting friends, and having 
meetings in several places, through Berkshire and Wiltshire, till I came 
to Bristol, which was on the 24th day of the 11th month, just before 
the fair. 

I staid at Bristol the time of the fair, and sometime after. Many 
sweet and precious meetings we had; many friends being there from 
several parts of the nation, some on account of trade, and some in the 
service of truth. Great was the love and unity of friends that abode 
faithful in the truth, though some who were gone out of the holy unity, 
and were run into strife, division, and enmity, were rude and abusive, 
and behaved themselves in a very unchristian manner towards me. But 
the Lord’s power was over all; by which being preserved in the heaven- 
ly patience, which can bear injuries for his name’s sake, I felt dominion 
therein over the rough, rude, and unruly spirits; and left them to the 
Lord, who knew my innocency, and would plead my cause. The more — 
tnese laboured to reproach and vilify me, the more did the love of friends, 
that were sincere and upright-hearted, abound towards me; and some, 
that had Leen betrayed by the adversaries, seeing their envy and rude 
behaviour, broke off from them; who have cause to bless the Lord for 
their deliverance. 

When I left Bristol, I went with Richard Snead to a house of his m_ 
the country, and from thence te Hezekiah Coale’s 2 Winterburn in 


! 
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| 


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iv 
i 


1678] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 5z 


Gloucestershire, whither came several friends that were under vreat 
suflerings for truth’s sake, whom I had invited to meet me there. Ste- 
phen Smith, Richard Snead, and I, drew up a breviate of their sufler- 
ings, setting forth the illegal proceedings against them ; which was deliv 
ered te the judges at the assizes at Gloucester; and they promised to put 
a sto, vo those illegal proceedings. Next day we passed to Sudbury, 
and had a large meeting in the meeting-house, which at that time was 
of very good service. We went next day to Nathaniel Crips’s at Ted- 
bury, and from thence to Nailsworth; where on first-day we had a brave 
mesting and large. From thence we went to the quarterly meeting at 
Finchcomb, where were several of the opposite spirit, who (it was 
thought) intended to have made disturbance amongst friends; but the 
Lord’s power was over, and kept them down, and good service for the 
Lord we had at that meeting. We returned from Finchcomb to Nails- 
worth, and had another very precious meeting there, to which friends 


|) came from the several meetings thereabouts; which made it very large 


also. 

We went from Nailsworth the first of the first month, 1677-8, and 
travelled, visiting friends, and having many meetings at Cirencester, 
Crown-Allins, Cheltenham, Stoke-Orchard, 'lewksbury, &c. so went to 
Worcester, where I had formerly suffered imprisonment above a year 
for the truth’s sake; and friends rejoiced greatly to see me there again. 
Here | staid several days, and had many very precious meetings in the 
city, and much service amongst friends. After which I had meetings at 
Pershore and Evesham; then struck to Ragley in Warwickshire, to visit 
the lady Conway, who I understood was very desirous to see me, and 
‘whom | found tender and loving, and willing to have detained me longer 
than I had freedom to stay. About two miles from hence I had two 
meetings at a friend’s house, whose name was John Stanley, whither 
William Dewsbury came and staid with me about half a day. I vis- 
ited friends in their meetings at Stratford, Lamcoat, and Armscott (from 
whence I was sent prisoner to Worcester in the year 1673) and thence 
passed into Oxfordshire, visiting friends, and having meetings at Sibbard, 
North-Newton, Banbury, Adderbury, &c. Then visiting friends through 
Buckinghamshire, at Long-Crendon, IImer, Mendle, Weston, Cholsberry, 
Chesham, &c. I came to Isaac Penington’s, where I staid a few days; 
then turning into Hertfordshire, visited friends at Charlewood, Watford, 
Hempstead, and Market-street, at which places I had meetings with 
friends. From Market-street I went in the morning to Luton in Bed- 
fordshire, to see John Crook, with whom I spent good part of the day, 
and went towards evening to Alban’s, where I lay that night at an inn. 
ind visiting triends at South-Mims, Barnet, and Hendon, where I had 
theetings, I came to London the eighth of the third month. It being the 
fourth-day, I went to Gracechurch-street meeting, which was peaceable 
and well; many friends, not knowing I was come to town, were very 
joyful to see me there, and the Lord was present with us, refreshing us 
with his living virtue; blessed be his holy name! 

The parliament was sitting when I came to town, and friends having 
laid their sufferings before them, were waiting on them for relief against 
the jaws made against Popish recusants, which they knew we were not: 
though some malicious magistrates took advantage to prosecute us in 


_ several parts of the nation upon those statutes. Friends being attending 


that service, when I came, I joined them therein; and some probability 


3Q 


522 »2SORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 1678 


there was that something might have been obtained towards friends’ ease 
and relief in that case, many of the parliament-men being tender and 
loving towards us, as believing we were much misrepresented by our 


adversaries. But when I went one morning with George Whitehead, to 


the parliament-house, to attend them on friends’ behalf, on a sudden they 
were prorogued though but for a short time. 


About two weeks after | came to London the yearly meeting <egan, — 


to which friends came out of most parts of the nation, and a giorious 
heavenly meeting we had. Oh the glory, majesty, love, life, wisdom and 
unity, that was amongst us! The power reigned over all, and many tes- 
timonies were borne therein against that ungodly spirit which sought to 
make rents and divisions amongst the Lord’s people; but not one mouth 
was opened amongst us in its defence, or on its behalf. Good and com- 
fortable accounts also we had, for the most part, from friends in other 
countries; of which I find a brief account in a letter which soon after I 
wrote to my wife, the copy whereof here follows: 


‘ Dear heart, 
‘To whom is my love in the everlasting Seed of life, that reigns over 


‘all. Great meetings here have been, and the Lord’s power hath been — 
‘ stirring through all, the like hath not been. The Lord hath in his power ~ 
‘knit friends wonderfully together, and his glorious presence did appear 


‘among friends. And now the meetings are over (blessed be the Lord !) 
‘in quietness and peace. From Holland | hear that things are well 
‘there. Some friends are gone that way, to be at the yearly meeting at 
‘Amsterdam. At Embden, friends that were banished are got into the 
‘city again. At Dantzick, friends are in prison, and the magistrates 
‘threatened them with harder imprisonment; but the next day the Lu- 
‘therans rose, and plucked down or defaced the Popish monastery, so 
‘they have work enough themselves. The king of Poland did receive 
‘my letter, and read it himself; and friends have since printed it in High 
‘Dutch. By letters from the half-yearly meeting in Ireland, I hear they 
‘are all in love there. At Barbadoes friends are in quietness, and their 


‘meetings settled in peace. At Antigua also and Nevis truth prospers, — 


‘and friends have their meetings orderly and well. Likewise in New- 
‘ England, and other places, things concerning truth and friends are well ; 
‘and in those places the men’s and women’s meetings are sett.ed ; blessed 
‘be the Lord! So keep in God’s-power and Seed, that is over all, in 
‘whom ye all have life and salvation; for the Lord reigns over all, in 
‘his glory, and in his kingdom; glory to his name for ever, Amen! So 
in haste, with my love to you all, and to all friends. GF 
‘ London, the 26th of the 
‘3d month, 1678.’ 


The letter to the king of Poland, before-mentioned, is as followeth: 


To Johannes III. king of Poland, &c. 
‘O king. 


‘We desire tk:y prosperity both in this life and that which is to come. - 


And we desire that we may have our Christian liberty to serve and 


worship God under thy dominion: for our principle leads us not to de 
any thing prejudicial to the king or his people. We are a people that 
exercise a good conscience towards God through his Holy Spirit, ane 


1678) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 523 


in it do serve, worship, and honour him; and towards men in the things 

that are equal and just, doing to them as we would have them do unte 
‘us; looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, 
‘ which faith purifies our hearts, and brings us to have access to God; 
‘without which we cannot please him: by which faith all the just live, 
‘as the scripture declares. That which we desire of thee, O king, is, 
‘that we may have the liberty of our consciences to serve and worship 
‘God and to pray unto him in our meetings together in the name of 
‘ Jesus, as he commands: with a promise that he will be in the midst uf 
‘them. The king, we hope, cannot but say that this duty and service is 
* due to God and Christ; and we give Czsar his due, and pay our tribute 
‘and custom equal with our neighbour, according to our proportion. 

We never read in all the scriptures of the New Testament, that ever 
‘ Christ or his disciples did banish or imprison any that were not of their 
‘faith or religion, and would not hear them, or gave any such command ; 
‘but, on the contrary, let the tares and the wheat grow together till the 
‘harvest, and the harvest is the end of the world. Then Christ will send 
‘his angels to sever the wheat from the tares. He rebuked such as would 
‘have had fire from heaven to consume those that would not receive 
‘Christ ; and told them they did not know what spirit they were of; he 
‘came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. 

‘We desire the king to consider how much persecution has been in 
‘Christendom, since the apostles’ days, concerning religion. Christ said, 
‘ They should go into everlasting punishment that did not visit him in 
‘prison; then what will become of them that imprison him in his mem- 
‘bers, where he is manifest. None can say the world is ended; there- 
‘fore how will Christendom answer the dreadful and terrible God at his 


‘day of judgment, that have persecuted one another about religion be- 


‘fore the end of the world, under a pretence of plucking up tares; which 
‘js not their work, but the angels’ at the end of the world? Christ com- 
‘mands men to love one another, and to love enemies; and by this they 
‘should be known to be his disciples. O that all Christendom had lived 
‘in peace and unity, that they might by their moderation have judged 
‘both Turks and Jews; and let all have their liberty, that own God and 
‘Christ Jesus, and walk as becomes the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus 
‘Christ. Our desires are, that the Lord God of heaven may soften the 
* king's heart to all tender consciences that fear the Lord, and are afraid 
Sof disobeyi ing him. 

‘We intreat the king to read some of the noble expressions of several 
‘kings, and others, concerning liberty of conscience; and especially 
; Stephanus king of Poland’s sayings, viz. “It belongeth not to me to 
“ reform the consciences; I have alw ays gladly given that over to God 
“ which belongeth to him; and so shall | do now, and also for the future. 
« | will suffer the weeds to grow till the time of harvest, for I know that 
“the number of believers are but small; therefore,” said he, when some 
‘were proceeding i in persecution, “I am king of the people, not of their 
© consciences.” He also affirmed, that “ religion was not to be planted 
“ with fire and sword.” Chron. Liberty of Religion, Part 2. 

‘ Also a book wrote in French by W. M. anno 1576, hath this sen-° 
‘tence, viz. “ Those princes that have ruled by gentleness and clemency 
“ added to justice, and have exercised moderation and meekness tow ards 
* their subjects, always prospered and reigned long; but, on the contra- 

“ry, those princes that have been cruel, unjust, prejudiced, and oppress- 


§24 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1678 


‘ors of their subjects, have soon fallen, they and their estates, 1.0 dan 
“ger or total ruin. 

‘ Veritus saith, “‘ Seeing Christ is a Lamb, whom you profess to be 
“ your head and captain, then it behoveth you to be sheep, and to use 
“the same weapons which he made use of; for he will not be a shepherd 
‘of wolves and wild beasts, but only of sheep. Wherefore, if you lose 
“the nature of sheep,” said he, “and be changed into wolves and wild 
“ beasts, and use fleshly weapons, then will you exclude yourselves out 

of his calling, and forsake his banner; and then will not he be your 

captain,” &c. 

‘ Also we find it asserted by king James, in his speech to the parlia- 
‘ment, in the year 1609, “ That sh is a pure rule in divinity, that God 
“ never planted his church with violence of blood.” And further he said, 
“It was usually the condition of Christians to be persecuted, but not to 
“ persecute.” 

‘King Charles, in his "Emév Baorixq, pag. 61, said in his prayer to 
«God, “Thou seest how much cruelty amongst Christians is acted under 
“ the colour of religion; as if we could not be Christians unless we cru- 
“ cified one another.” 

*‘ Pag. 28. “ Make them at length seriously to consider, that nothing 
“ violent nor injurious can be religious.” 

‘ Pag. 70. “ Nor is it so proper to hew out religious reformation by the 
“sword, as to polish them by fair and equal disputations, among those 
“ that are most concerned in the differences, whom not force but reason 
“ must convince.” 

‘Pag. 66. “ Take heed that outward circumstances and formalities in 
“religion devour not at all.” 

‘Pag. 91, 92. “In point of true conscientious tenderness I have so 
“ often declared, how little I desire my laws and sceptre should intrench 
“on God’s sovereignty, who is the only king of conscience.” 

‘ Pag. 123. “ Nor do I desire any man should be further subject unto 
“me, than all of us may be subject unto God.” 

‘ Pag. 200. “ O thou Sovereign of our souls, the only commander of 
“ our consciences |” 


‘Pag. 346. (In his Meditations on Death) “ It is indeed a sad estate, — 


“to have his enemies to be his accusers, parties, and judges.” 

‘The prince of Orange testified, Anno 1579, “ That it was impossible 
“the land should be kept in peace, except there was a free toleration in 
“ the exercise of religion.” 

“ Where hast thou read in thy day (said Menno) in the writings of 
“the apostles, that Christ or the apostles ever cried out to the magistrate 
“for their power against them that would not hear their doctrine, nor 
“obey their words? I know certainly (said he) that where a magis- 
“trate shall banish with the sword, there is not the right knowledge, 
“ spiritual word, nor church of Christ: it is, Invocare brachium seculare 
“(to invoke the secular arm).” 

“Jt is not Christian-like, but tyrannical (said D. Philipson) to banish 
“and persecute people, about faith and religion; and they that do so are 
‘certainly of the Pharisaical generation, who resisted the Holy Ghost.” 

‘ Erasmus said, “ Though they take our monies and goods, they can- 
“not therefore hurt our shivetions they afflict us much with prisons, but 


“they do not thereby separate us from God.” In de Krydges wrede, 


fol. 63. 


EE EE EE 


678] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 525 


*Lucernus said, “He that commandeth any thing wherewith he 
4 eeeeth the conscience, this is an antichrist.” In de Bemise Disp. 

* fol. 7 
my an afirmed, “ That all forcing of conscience, though it was but 
“a forbidding of the exercise which is esteemed by one or another to be 
“ necessary to salvation, is in nowise right nor fitting.” He also affirmed, 
«That through the diversity of religions the kingdom should not be 
“ brought into any disturbance.” 

‘Constantius the emperor said, “ It was enough that he preserved ‘he 
“unity of the faith, that he might be excusable before the judgment-seat 
“of God; and that he would leave every one to his own understanding, 
“according to the account he will give before the judgment-seat of 
“Christ. Hereto may we stir up people, (said he) not compel them; 
“beseech them to come into the unity of the Christians, but to do vio- 
“ence to them, we will not in any-wise.” Sebast. Frank. Chron. fol. 127. 

‘ Augustinus said, “Some disturbed the peace of the church, while 
“they went about to root out the tares before their time; and through 
“this error of blindness are they themselves separated so much the more 
“from being united unto Christ.” 

‘ Retnaldus testified, “ That he, who with imprisoning and persecuting 
“seeketh to spread the gospel, and greaseth his hands with blood, shall 
“ much rather be looked upon for a wild hunter, than a preacher or a 
“ defender of the Christian religion.” 

*T have for a long season determined (said Henry IV. king of France, 
| “in his speech to the parliament 1599) to reform the church, which 
* without peace I cannot do: and it is impossible to reform or convert 
“people by violence. I am king, as a shepherd, and will not shed the 
' “blood of my sheep: but will gather them through the mildness ane 
* goodness of a king, and not through the power of tyranny: and I wil 
* give them that are of the reformed religion, right liberty to live and 
__ “dwell free, without being examined, perplexed, molested, or compelled 
_ “to any thing, contrary to their consciences; for they shall have the free 
om * exercise of “their religion,” &c. [ Vid. Chron. Van de U nderg. 2 deel, p. 
£1514.) 

: ‘Ennius said, “ Wisdom is driven out, when the matter is acted by 
: ‘ force. And therefore the best of men, and most glorious of princes, 


“were always ready to give toleration.” 
| ‘ Eusebius, in his second book of the life of C onstantine, reports these 
_ ‘words of the emperor: “ Let them which err with joy receive the like 
_ fruition of peace and quietness with the faithful, sith the restoring of 
_ “communicatio: and society may bring them into the right way of 
“truth; let none give molestation to any; let every one do as he deter- 
_ “mines in his mind. And indeed there is great reason for princes to give 
“toleration to disagreeing persons, whose opinions cannot by fair means 
“be altered: for if the persons be confident, they will serve God accord- 
_ “ing to their persuasions; and if they be publickly prohibited, they will 
“ privately convene; and then all those inconveniences and mischiefs, 
“ which are arguments against the permission of conventicles, are argu- 
_ ©ments for the publick permiss on of differing religions, &c. they being 
i “restrained and made miserable, endears the discontented persons mu- 
_ “tually, and makes more hearty and dangerous confederations.” 
_ “The like counsel in the divisions of Germany, at the first reforma- 
| “tion, was thought reasonable by the emperor Ferdinand and his excel- 


526 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1678 


‘lent son Maximilian ; for they had observed, that violence did exasper- 
“ate, was unblest, unsuccessful, and unreasonable; and therefore they 
“made decrees of toleration.” 

‘The duke of Savoy, repenting of his war undertaken fcr religion 
‘against the Piedmontese, promised them toleration; and was as good as 
‘his word.’ 

_ ‘It is remarkable, that till the time of Justinian the emperor, Anno 
/ * Domini 525, “ the Catholicks and Novatians had churches indifferentiy 
, “permitted, even in Rome itself.” 

“And Paul preached the kingdom of God, teaching those things 

“which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, and no 


“man forbad him; and this he did for the space of two years in his own | 


“ hired house at Rome, and received all that came to him.” 

‘ Now, O king, seeing these noble testimonies concerning liberty of 
‘conscience of kings, emperors, and others, and the liberty that Paul had 
‘at Rome in the days of the heathen emperor, our desire is, that we 
‘may have the same liberty at Dantzick to meet together in our own 
‘hired houses, which cannot be any prejudice either to the king or the 
‘city of Dantzick, for us to meet together to wait upon the Lord, and 
‘pray unto him, and to serve and worship him in Spirit and truth in our 
‘own hired houses; seeing our principle leads us to hurt no man, but to 
‘love our enemies, and to pray for them, yea, them that persecute us. 
‘ Therefore, O king, consider, and the city of Dantzick, would you not 
‘think it hard for others to force you from your religion to another, con- 
‘trary to your consciences? And if it be so, that you would think it 
‘hard to you, then “do you unto others as you would have them do unto 
“you,” do not you that unto others which you would not have men do 
‘unto you; for that is the royal law, which ought to be obeyed. And 
“so in love to thy immortal soul, and for thy eternal good this is written. 

‘CRY 
‘POSTSCRIPT. 


“ Blessed be the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” And remem- 
‘ber, O king, Justin Martyr’s two apologies to the Roman emperors, in 
*the defence of the persecuted Christians, and that notable apology 
‘which was written by Tertullian upon the same subject; which are not 
‘only for the Christian religion, but against all persecution for religion.’ 


‘Dear Peter Hendricks, John Claus, J. Rawlins, and all the rest ot 


‘friends in Amsterdam, Friesland, and Rotterdam, to whom is my 


‘love in the Seed of life that is over all; 


__ ‘J recEIvep your letter, with a letter from Dantzick: I have written 

‘something directed to you, to the king of Poland, which you may trans- 
‘late into High Dutch, and send it to friends there, to give it to the king, 
‘or you may print it, after it be delivered in manuscript, which may be 
‘serviceable to other princes. So in haste, with my love. The Lord 


‘God Almighty over all give you dominion in his eternal power, and in — 


‘it over all preserve vou, and keep you to his glory, that you may answer 
‘that cf God in all people! Amen GeorcE Fox.’ 
‘London, the 13th of 
‘9th month, 1677.’ 


I continued yet in and about London some weeks, the parliament sit 
fing again, and friends attending to get some redress of our sufferings 


1678) GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 527 


_ which about this time were very great and heavy upon many friends in 
divers parts of the nation; they being very unduly prosecuted upon the 
_ statutes made against popish recusants; though our persecutors could 
_ not but know friends were utterly against popery, having borne testimony 
against it in word and writing, and suffered under it. But though many 
of the members of parliament in either house were kind to friends, and 
willing to have done something for their ease ; yet having much business, 
_ they were hindered from doing the good they would, so that the suffer- 
ings upon friends were continued. 

But that which added much to the grief and exercise of friends was, 
that some, who made profession of the same truth with us, being gone 
from the simplicity of the gospel into fleshly liberty, and labouring to 
draw others after them, did oppose the order and discipline which God 
by his power had set up-and established in his church; and made a great 
noise and clamour against prescriptions; whereby they easily drew after 
them such as were loosely inclined, and desired a broader way than the 
path of truth to walk in. Some also, that were more simple, but young 
in truth, or weak in judgment, were apt to be betrayed by them, not 
knowing the depths of Satan in these wiles: for whose sake I was moy- 
ed to write the following paper, for the undeceiving the deceived, and 
opening the understandings of the weak in this matter: 


‘ Att that deny prescriptions without distinction, may as well deny ali 
‘the scriptures, which were given forth by the power and Spirit of God. 
‘ For do they not prescribe how men should walk towards God and man, 
‘both in the Old Testament and in the New? Yea, from the very first 
* promise of Christ in Genesis, what people ought to believe and trust in; 
‘and all along, till ye come to the prophets? Did not the Lord prescribe 
‘to his people by the fathers, and then by his prophets? Did he not pre- 
‘scribe to the people how they should walk, though they turned against 
‘the prophets in the old covenant for declaring or prescribing to them 
‘the way how they might walk to please God, and keep in favour with 
*hini? In the days of Christ, did he not prescribe and teach how people 
‘should walk and believe? and after him, did not the apostles prescribe 
‘unto people how they might come to believe, and receive the gospel and 
‘the kingdom of God, directing unto that which would give them the 
* knowledge of God, and how they should walk in the new covenant in 
* the days of the gospel, and by what way they should come to the holy 
‘city? And did not the apostles send forth their decrees by faithful cho- 
‘sen men (that had hazarded their lives for Christ’s sake) to the churches, 
‘by which they were established? So you, that deny prescriptions given 
‘forth by the power and Spirit of God, do thereby oppose the Spirit that 
‘ gave them forth in all the holy men of God. Were there not some all 

along in the days of Moses, in the days of the prophets, in the days of 
‘Christ, and in the days of his apostles, who did withstand that which 
‘they gave forth from the Spirit of God? And hath there not been the 
_ ‘like since the days of the apostles? How many have risen, since truth 
appeared, to oppose the order which stands in the power and Spirit of 
‘God? who are but in the same spirit which hath opposed the Spirit of 
God all along from the beginning. See what names or titles the Spirit 
of God gave that opposing spirit in the old covenant, and also in the 
new; which is the same now;; for after the Lord had given forth the 
old covenant, there were some among themselves that did oppose 


528 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (le7s 


which were worse than publick enemies. And likewise in the days of — 
‘the new covenant, in the gospel-times, you may see what sort opposed 
‘Christ and the apostles after they came to some sight of the truth; and — 
‘how they turned against Christ and his apostles! See what liberty they 
‘ pleaded for and ran into in the apostles’ days, who could not abide the 
‘cross, the yoke of Jesus. We see the same rough and high spirit cries 
‘now for liberty (which the power and Spirit of Christ cannot give) and 
‘cries, “Imposition,” yet is imposing; cries, “ Liberty of conscien::e,” 
‘and yet is opposing liberty of conscience; cries against prescriptions 
‘and yet is prescribing both in words and writing. So with the ever 
‘lasting power and Spirit of God this spirit is fathomed, its rise, begin- 
‘ning, and end; and it is judged. This Spirit cries, “ We must not judge 
“conscience, we must not judge matters of faith, we must not judge 
“spirits, nor religions,” &c. Yes: they that are in the pure Spirit and 
‘power of God, which the apostles were in, judge of conscience, wheth- 
‘er it be a seared conscience, or a tender conscience; they judge of 
‘faith, whether it be a dead one, or a living one; they judge of religion, 
‘whether it be vain, or pure and undefiled; they judge of spirits, and 
‘try them, whether they be of God, or no; they judge of hope, whether 
‘it be that of hypocrites, or the true hope that purifies, even as God is 
‘pure; they judge of belief, whether it be that which is born of God 
‘and overcometh the world, or that which runs into the spirit of the 
‘world, which lusts to envy, and doth not overcome the world; they 
«judge of worships, whether they be will-worships, and the worship of 
‘the beast and dragon, or the worship of God in Spirit and in truth 
‘they judge of angels, whether they be fallen, or those that keep their 
‘habitation; they judge the world, that grieves and quenches the Spirit, 
‘ hates the light, turns the grace of God into wantonness, and resists the 
‘Holy Ghost. They judge of the hearts, ears and lips, which are cir- 
-feumcised, and which are uncircumcised. They judge of ministers, 
‘apostles, and messengers, whether they be of Satan or of Christ. Judge 
‘of differences in outward things, in the church or elsewhere; yea, the 
‘least member of the church hath power to judge of such things, having 
‘the one true measure and true weight to weigh things and measure 
‘ things withal, without respect to persons. This judgment is given, and 
‘all these things are done by the same power and Spirit the apostles 
‘were in. Such also can judge of election and reprobation, and who 
‘keep their habitation, and who not; who are Jews, and who are of the 
‘synagogue of Satan; who are in the doctrine of Christ, and who are 
‘in the doctrines of devils; who prescribes and declares things from the 
‘power and Spirit of God, to preserve all in the power and Spirit of 
‘God, and who prescribes and declares things from a loose spirit, to let 
all loose from under the yoke of Christ, the power of God, into loose- 
ness and liberty. These likewise can judge and discern who brings 
people into the possession of the gospel of light and life, over death and 
‘darkness, and into the truth where the devil cannot get in; and who 
‘brings them into the possession, of death and darkness, out of the glori- 
ous liberty of the gospel, and of Jesus Christ, his faith, truth, Spirit, 
‘light, and grace. For there is no true liberty but in that; and that lib- 
“erty answers the grace, the truth, the light, the Spirit, the faith, the 
‘gospel of Christ in every man and woman, and is the yoke to the con- 
trary in every man and woman. That makes it rage, and swell, and 
puff up; for that is restless, unruly out of patience, and ready to curse 


a 7:)) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 529 


his God, and that which reigns over him, because it hath not its will. 
‘Jt works with all subtilty and evasion with its restless spirit, to get in 
| ‘and defile the minds of the simple, and to make rapes upon the virgin 
‘minds. But as they receive the heavenly wisdom, by which all things 
‘were made (which wisdom is above that spirit) through this wisdom 
* they will be preserved over that spirit. And Christ hath given judgment 
* to his saints in his church, though he be judge of all; and the saints, in 
*the power and Spirit of God, had and have power to judge of words 
‘and manners, of lives and conversations, growths, and states, from 2 
‘child to a father in the truth; and to whom they are a savour of death, 
*and to whom they are a savour of life; and who serve the Lord Jesus 
‘Christ, and preach him, and who preach themselves, and serve them- 
‘selves; and who talk of the light, of faith, of the gospel, of hope, of 
‘ grace, and preach such things; yet in their works and lives deny them 
‘all, and God and Christ, and preach up liberty, from that in themselves 
‘to that in others, which should be under the yoke and cross of Christ, 
‘the power of God. So the saints in the-power-and Spirit of Christ 
‘can discern and distinguish who serves God and Christ, and who serves 
‘him not; and can put a distinction between the prophane and the holy. 
But such as have lost their eye-salve, and their sight is grown dim, lose 
‘this judgment, discerning, and distinction in the church of Christ; and 
‘such come to be spewed out of Christ’s mouth, except they repent: and 
‘if not, they come to corrupt the earth, and burden it, that it vomits 
‘them out of it. Therefore all are exhorted to keep in the power and 
‘ Spirit of Christ Jesus, in the word of life and the wisdom of God, which 
‘is above that which is below, in which they may keep their heavenly 
‘understandings and heavenly discernings; and so set the heavenly spir- 
‘itual judgment over that which is for judgment, which dishonours God, 
‘ which leads into loose and false liberty; out of the unity which stands 
‘in the heavenly Spirit, which brings to be conformable to the image of 
| ¢the Son of God, and his gospel, the power of God, which was before 
_ *the devil was, and his truth, which the devil is out of, in which all are 
_ fof one mind, heart, and soul, and come to drink into one Spirit, being 
_ ‘baptized into one Spirit, and so into one body, which Christ is the head 
_ fof; and so keep one fellowship in the Spirit, and unity in the Spirit, 
_ ‘which is the bond of peace, the Prince of Princes’ peace. And those 
‘that cry so much against judging, and are afraid of judgment, whether 
‘they be apostles. professors, or-prophane, are the most judging with the 
| ‘censorious false spirits and judgment; yet cannot bear the true judg- 
)‘ ment of the Spirit of God, nor stand in his judgment. This hath been 
‘manifest from the beginning, they having the false measures and the 
‘false weights: for none have the true measure and the true weight, but 
‘who keep in the light, power, and Spirit of Christ. There is a loose 
‘spirit that cries for liberty, and against prescriptions, yet is prescribing 
‘ways, both by words and writings. The same spirit cries against 
* judging, and would not be judged, yet is judging with a wrong spirit. 
* This is given forth in reproof to that spirit. Gee 
‘ London, the 9th of the 
‘4th month, 1678.’ 


When I had finished what service I had for the Lord at this time 

here, I went towards Hertford, visiting friends, and having several meet- 

' ings in the way. At Hertford J staid several days, having much service 
3 R 


530 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [167 


for the Lord there; both amongst friends :n their meetings, and in co 
ferences with such as, having let in evil surmisings and jealousies co 
cerning friends, stood in opposition to the order of truth; and in answer. 
ing some books written against truth and friends. While I was here, i 
came upon me to write a few lines, and send them abroad amongs 
friends, as followeth: 
: 
- 


‘ Dear friends, 

‘Let the holy Seed of life reign over death and the unholy seed in 
‘you all; that in the holy Seed of “the kingdom ye may all feel the ever- 
‘lasting holy peace with God, through Christ Jesus your Saviour, and 
‘sit deowutl in him, your life and glorious rest, the holy rock and founda- 
‘tion, that standeth sure over all from everlasting to everlasting, in 
‘whom all the fulness of blessedness is; so that ye may glory in him 
‘that liveth for evermore, Amen! who is your eternal joy, life and hap- 
‘piness, through whom you have peace with God. ‘This holy Seed 
‘bruiseth the head of the serpent, and will outlive all his wrath, malice, 
‘and envy; who was before he and it was, and remains when fie and it 
“is gone into the fire that burns with brimstone. The Seed Christ will 
‘reign; and so will ye, as ye live and walk in him, sit down in re 

‘and build up one another in the love of God. G. FY’ 


‘ Hertford, the 10th of the 
‘5th month, 1678.’ 


Next day a fresh exercise came upon me, with respect to those unruly 
and disorderly spirits which were gone out from us, and were labouring 
to draw others after them into a false liberty. In the sense I had af 
the hurt and mischief these might do, where they were given way to, 
] was moved to write a few lines to warn friends of them, as followeth: 


‘ All friends, 
‘ Keep in the tender life of the Lenk over that unruly, puffed up and 
- ‘swelling spirit, whose work is for strife, contention, and division, draw- 
‘ing into looseness and false liberty, under a pretence of conscience, 
‘and endangers the spoiling of youth. Those that encourage them 
‘will be guilty of their destruction, and set up a sturdy will, instead of 
‘ conscience, in their rage and passion; which will quench the universal 
‘ Spirit in themselves, adh in every man and woman; and so that Spirit 
‘shall not have liberty in themselves, nor in others; thus they shut up 
‘the kingdom of heaven in themselves, and also in others. So a loose 
‘spirit getting up under a pretence of liberty of conscience, or a stub- 
* born wil, making profession of the words of truth in a form without 
* power, all looseness and vileness will be sheltered and covered under 
this pretence, which is for eternal judgment: for that doth dishonour 
‘God. Therefore keep to the tender Spirit of God in all humility, that 
in it you may know that ye are all members of one another, and all 
have an office in the church of Christ. All these living members 
know one another in the Spirit, and not in the flesh. So here is no 
man ruling over the woman, as Adam did over Eve in the fall; but 
Christ, the spiritual man, among and over his spiritual members, which 
are edified in the heavenly love that is shed in their heart from God. 
where all strife ceases. G. F? 
‘ Hertford, the 11th of the 
‘5th month 1678.’ 


| 1678] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 531 


I went from Hertford to a meeting at Rabley Heath, and thence tc 
Edward Crouch’s of Stevenage. Next day I went to Baldock, where | 
had a meeting that evening , and after had meetings at Hitchin and Ash- 
well. Then passing through part of Bedfordshire, where I had a meet- 
ing or two, I went to Huntingdon, in which county I staid several days, 

having many meetings, and much service amongst friends ; labouring to 
convince gainsayers, and to confirm and strengthen friends in the way 
and work of the Lord. At Ives in Huntingdonshire George Whitehead 
came to me, and travelled with me in the ‘work of the Lord five or six 
days in that connty, and some part of Northamptonshire. Leaving me 
in Great Bowden in Leicestershire, he went towards Westmoreland. I 
staid in Leicestershire, visiting friends at Saddington, Wigston, Knight- 
on, Leicester, Sileby, Swanington, and divers other places; where I 
had very precious meetings, and good service amongst friends and 

| others: for there was great openness, and many weighty and excellent 
truths did the Lord give me to deliver amongst them. 

At Leicester I went to the gaol to visit the friends in prison for the 
testimony of Jesus, with whom | sj~nt some time, encouraging them in 

| the Lord to persevere steadfastly and faithfully in their testimony, and not 
to be weary of suffering for his sake. And when I had taken my leave 
of the friends, I spoke with the gaoler, desiring him to be kind to them, 
and let them have what liberty he could, to visit their families sometimes. 
| I had a meeting or two in Warwickshire, and then went into Stafford- 
shire, where I had several sweet and opening meetings, both for gather- 
ing into truth, and establishing therein. While I was in Staffordshire, I 
was moved to give forth the following paper: 


_ ‘Dear friends of the quarterly and monthly meetings every-where : 
My desire is, that you may all strive to be of one mind in the Lord’s 
‘power and truth, which is peaceable, into which strife and enmity cannot 
-fcome, and also in the wisdom of God, which is pure, peaceable, and 
‘easy to be intreated, which is above that which is below, that is earth- 
‘ly, devilish, and sensual, and that in this heavenly wisdom that is 
‘peaceable, and easy to be intreated, you may be all ordered, and do 
‘what ye do to God’s glory. And dear friends, if there should happen 
‘at any time any thing that tends to strife, dispute, or contention in your 
‘monthly or quarterly meetings, let it be referred to half a dozen, or 
‘such a like number to debate and end out of your meetings, as it was at 
‘first, that all your monthly and quarterly meetings may be kept peace 
fable. And then they may inform the meeting ‘what they have done 
*that the weak and youth amongst you may not be hurt, through hear 
‘ing of strife or contention in your meetings, where no strife or conter 
‘tion ought to be: but all to go on, and determine things in one mina, 
‘in the power of God, the gospel order; in which gospel of peace 
‘ye will preserve the peace of all your meetings. If any man or 
‘woman have any thing against any one, let them speak to one another, 
“and end it betwixt ihenieelves : if} they cannot so end it, let them take 
two or three to end it. In case these determine it not, let it be laid be- 
‘fore the church; and let half a dozen, or a.proper number out of your 
‘monthly or quarterly meeting hear it, and finally end it, without respect 
of persons. Let all prejudice be laid aside and buried; also all short- 
hess one towards another; and let love, which is not puffed up, envies 
‘not seeks not her own, but bears all things, have the dominion in all 


; 


‘ 


32 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. (167 


‘your meetings; for that doth edify the body which Christ is the neac 
‘of, and this will rule over all sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. This 
‘love will suffer long, and is kind; will keep down that which woulc 
‘ vaunt itself, be puffed up, behave itself unseemly, or is easily provoked 
‘it hath a sway over all such fruits which are not of the Spirit, the 
‘fruit of which is love, &c. And that with this Holy Spirit ye may al 
‘be baptized into one body, and be made to drink into one Spirit; il 
‘which Spirit ye will have unity, in which is the bond of the King of 
‘kings and the Lord of lords his peace. They that dwell in love, dwel 
‘in God, for God is love: therefore let every one keep his habitation 
* My love to you in Christ Jesus, the everlasting Seed, which is over all 
‘G, Eg 
‘ Staffordshire, the 20th of the 
‘6th month, 1678.’ 


Out of Staffordshire I went to visit John Gratton at Moniash in Der 
byshire, with whom | tarried one night, and went next day to Willian 
Shaw’s, of the Hill in Yorkshire, where I appointed a meeting to be o1 
first-day following. Many friends out of Derbyshire, and from severa 
meetings in Yorkshire came, and a precious, comfortable meeting it was 
wherein was opened the blessed estate that man was in before he fell 
the means by which he fell, the miserable condition into which he fell 


| and the right way of coming out of it into a happy state again by Christ 


the promised Seed. 

I spent about two weeks in Yorkshire, and many heavenly meetings | 
had in that county. Then visiting Robert Widders at Kellet in Lanea 
shire, I passed to Arnside in Westmoreland, where I had a precious liv 
ing meeting in the Lord’s blessed power, to the great satisfaction ant 
comfort of friends, who came from divers parts to it. The next day 
went to Swarthmore: and it being the meeting-day there, I had a swee 
opportunity with friends; our hearts being opened in the love of God 
and his blessed life flowing amongst us. | 

I had not been Jong at Swarthmore ere a concern came upon me te 
visit the churches of Christ, by an epistle as followeth: 


‘ Dear friends, 
‘To you is my love in the heavenly Seed, in whom all nations are 
‘blessed. Oh, keep all in this Seed, in which ye are blessed, and it 
‘which Abraham and all the faithful were blessed, without the deeds a 
‘the law: for the promise was and is to and with the Seed, and not witl 
‘the law of the first covenant. In this Seed all nations and ye are 
“blessed, which bruiseth the head of the seed that brought the curse, and 
‘separated man from God. This is the Seed which reconciles you t 
‘God; and this is the Seed in which ye are blessed both in tempora 
‘and spirituals; through which ye have an inheritance among the san 
‘ tified, that cannot be defiled, neither can any defiled thing enter into 4 
‘ possession; for all defilements are out of his Seed. This is that whic 
‘lcavens into a new lump, and bruiseth the head of the wicked seed that 
‘leavens into the old lump, upon whom the sun of righteousness go 
‘down and sets, but never goes down and sets to them that walk in the 
‘Seed in which all nations are blessed; by which Seed they are broug 
‘up to God, which puts down that seed which separated them from G 
‘ x that there comes to be nothing betwixt them and God. Now all m 
‘dear friends, my desires are, that ye may all be valiant in this heavenl 


Pl 


* 678) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 533 


Seed for God and his truth upon the earth, and spread :t abroad, answering 
that of God in all; that with it the minds of people may be turned towards 
the Lord, that he may come to be known, served, and worshipped, and 

‘that ye may all be as the salt of the earth, to make the unseasoned sa- 

*voury. And in the name of Jesus keep your meetings, who are gathered 

‘into it, in whose name ye have salvation; he being in the midst of you, 

‘whose name is above every name under the whole heaven. So ye 

* have a Prophet, Bishop, Shepherd, Priest, and Counsellor, above all the 


| ‘counsellors, priests, bishops, prophets, and shepherds under the whole 


‘heaven, to exercise his oifices among you, in your meetings, gathered 
‘in his name. For Christ’s meeting and gathering is above all the meet. 
* ings and gatherings under the whole heaven: and his body, his church, 
*and he the head of it, is above all the bodies, churches, and heads un- 


| -der the whole heaven. And the faith that Christ is the author of, and 


*the worship that he hath set up, and his fellowship in the gospel, is 
* above all historical faiths, and the faiths that men have made, together 


| “with their worships and fellowships under the whole heaven. And now, 


* dear friends, keep your men’s and women’s meetings in the power of 
“God, the gospel, the authority of them, which brings life and immor- 
‘tality to light in you; and this gospel, the power of God, will preserve 


| you in life and in immortality, which hath brought it to light in you, 


ihat ye may see over him that hath darkened and kept from the know- 
"ledge of the things of God: for it is he and his instruments, which hath 
‘darkened you from life and immortality, that would throw down your 
‘men’s and women’s meetings, which were set up in the power of God, 
*the gospel, and would darken you again from this life and immortality 
*which the gospel hath brought to light, and will preserve you therein, 
*as your faith stands in this power of God, the gospel, in which every 


| ‘one sees your work and service for God. Every heir in the power of 


* God, the gospel, hath right to this authority, which is not of man nor 
*by man: which gospel, the power of God, is everlasting, an everlasting 
* order, an everlasting fellowship: and in the gospel is everlasting joy, 
‘comfort, and peace, which will outlast all those joys, comforts, and 
*peaces that will have an end, and that spirit also that opposes its order 
*and glorious fellowship, peace and comfort in it. And, my dear friends, 
*my desire is, that ye may keep in the unity of the Spirit, that baptizes 
* you all into one body. which Christ is the heavenly and spiritual head 
‘of, so that ye may see and bear-witness to your heavenly and spiritual 
* head, and so all drink into the one Spirit, which all people on the earth 
*are not like to do, while they grieve, quench, and rebel against it, nor 
‘to be baptized into one body, and to keep the unity of the Spirit, which 
‘is the bond of peace, yea the King of kings and Lord of lords his peace ; 
‘ which is the duty of all true Christians to keep, who are inwardly united 
‘to Christ. My love to you all in the everlasting Seed. G. F 
‘Swarthmore, the 26th of 
‘the 7th month, 1678.’ 


There were about this time several friends in prison for bearing testi- 
mony tu the truth; to whom | was moved to write a few lines to com- 


fort, strengthen, and encourage them; having a true sense of their suf 
_ ferings upon niy spirit, and a sympathizing with them therein. That 
_whici I wrote was after this manner: 


< sale 


od4 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 6 


‘ My dea: triends, 
‘Wuo are suflcrers for the Lord Jesus’ sake, and for the tesumeny of 
‘his truth, the Lord God Almighty with his power uphold and support 
‘you in all your trials and suflerings, and give you patience and content 
‘in his will that ye may stand valiant for Christ and his truth upon the 
‘earth, over the persecuting destroying spirit, which makes to sufler in 
‘Christ (who bruises the head) in whom ye have both election and sal- 
‘vation. For his elect’s sake the Lord hath done much from the found ~ 
‘ation of the world, as may be seen throughout the scriptures of truth. 
‘ They that touch them touch the apple of God’s eye, they are so tender 
‘to him; and therefore it is good for his suffering children to trust in the 
‘ Lord, and to wait upon him; for they shall be as mount Sion, that can- 
‘not be removed from Christ their rock and salvation, the foundation of — 
‘all the elect of God, of the prophets and apostles, and of God’s people 
‘now and to the end; glory to the Lord and the Lamb over all! Re- 
‘member my dear love to all friends, and do not think the time long; 
‘for all time is in the Father’s hand, his power. Therefore keep the 
“word of patience, and exercise that gift. The Lord strengthen you in 
‘your sufferings, in his holy Spirit of faith. Amen. G. FS 
‘Swarthmore; the 5th of the 
‘12th month, 1678.’ 


I abode in the north above a year, having service for the Lord amongst 
friends there, and being much taken up in writing in answer to books 
published by adversaries; and for opening the principles and doctrines 
of truth to the world, that they might come to have a right understand- 
ing thereof, and be gathered thereunto. Several epistles also I wrote to 
friends in this time. One was to the yearly meeting held in London this 
year, 1679; a copy of which here follows: | 

‘ My dear friends and brethren, : 

‘Wuo are assembled together in the name and power of the Lord 
‘ Jesus Christ, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from | 
‘the Lord Jesus Christ, fill all your hearts, and establish you in his grace, — 
‘mercy, and peace upon Christ, the holy living Rock and Foundation, © 
‘who is the First and Last, and over all the foundations and rocks in the . 
‘whole world; a Rock and Foundation of life for all the living to build — 
‘upon, which stands sure in his heavenly, divine light, which is the life © 
‘in him: by whom all things were made, who is the precious Stone laid — 
‘in Sion, and not in the world, which all the wise master-builders re-— 
‘jected, who pretended to build people up to heaven with the words of — 
‘the prophets, and the law from mount Sinai, but out of the life of both: — 
‘therefore such builders could not receive the law of life from Christ ~ 
‘the precious Stone laid in Sion, nor the word from heavenly Jerusa- 

lem. But you, my dear friends, that have received this law from hea- 
venly Sion, and the word from heavenly Jerusalem, in the new cove- 
‘nant, where the life and substance is enjoyed, you see the end and abol- 
‘ishing of the Jews’ law and ceremonies from mount Sinai. And there- 
fore my desire is, that you may all keep in the law of life and love, — 
which ye have in Christ Jesus, by which love the body is edified, knit 
and.united together to Christ Jesus, the Head. .Which love doth bear 
all things, fulfils the law, will preserve all in humility, and in it to be of 
‘one mind, heart, and soul. So all may come to drink into that one Spirit | 


| 1679) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 535 


| that doth baptize them and circumcise them, plunging down and cut- 
‘ting off the body of the sins of the flesh, that is got up in man and wo- 
*man by their transgressing of God’s commands. So that in this holy 
‘pure Spirit all may serve and worship the pure God in spirit and in 
truth, which is over all the worships that are out of God’s Spirit and 
‘his truth. In this Spirit ye will all have a spiritual unity and fellowship 
over all the fellowships of the unclean spirits, which are out of truth in 
‘the world. By this holy Spirit all your hearts, minds, and souls may 
*be knit together to Christ, from whence it comes; and by the grace 
‘and truth, which is come by Jesus Christ, which all should be under the 
‘teachings of in the new covenant, and not under the law, as the out- 
‘ward Jews were in the old covenant. By this grace and truth in the 
|*new covenant, all may be made God’s free men and women, to serve 
/*God in the new life, the new and living way; shewing forth the fruits 
‘of the new heart and new Spirit, in the new covenant, over death and 
‘darkness. Glory be to the Lord for ever! In this grace and truth is 
‘heavenly, gracious, and true liberty to every spiritual mind, which makes 
* you free from him that is out of truth, where your bondage was. Also 
‘your liberty in the holy, divine, and precious faith, which gives you vic- 
‘tory over that which once separated you from God and Christ, by which 
‘faith ye have access to God again through Jesus Christ. So in this di- 
‘vine and holy faith, ye have divine, holy, and precious liberty, yea and 
‘victory over him that separated you from God; and this faith is held 
‘in a pure conscience. So the liberty in the Spirit of God is in that which 
*baptizes and plunges down sin and iniquity, and puts off the body of 
‘death and sins of the flesh, that are got up by transgressing God’s com- 
*mand. And also the liberty of the gospel, which is sent from heaven 
‘by the Holy Ghost, which is the power of God, which was and is again 
‘to be preached to all nations; in this gospel is the true liberty, and the 
‘gospel fellowship and order. So that the evil spirit or conscience, or 
*false dead faith, that which is ungracious, out of truth, and not in the 
‘Spirit of God, nor in his gospel, nor in the divine faith, its liberty is in 
‘*the darkness; for all true liberty is in the gospel, and in the truth that 
‘makes free; in the faith, in the grace, and in Christ Jesus, who destroys 
i. the devil and his works, that hath brought all mankind into bondage. 
'*So in this heavenly, peaceable Spirit, truth, and faith, which works by 
‘love, and in the gospel of peace, and in Christ Jesus is all the saints’ 
* peace, and pure, true, and holy liberty; in which they have salt, sense, 
‘feeling, discerning, and favour, yea and unity and fellowship one with 
‘another, and with the Son and the Father, that heavenly, eternal fel- 
‘‘lowship. So all being subject to the grace and truth, and to the faith 
‘and gospel (the power of God) and to his good Spirit, in this they dis- 
*tinguish all true, pure, and holy liberty from that which is false. This 
‘ will bring all to sit low; for patience runs the race, and the Lamb must 
“have the victory; and not the rough, unruly, and vain talkers, unbap- 
*tizea, uncircumcised, and unsanctified. Such travel not in the way of 
‘regeneration, but in the way of unregeneration: neither go they duwn 
‘into the death with Christ by baptism. Such are not like to reign with 
‘him in ais resurrection, who are not buried with him in baptism. There- 
‘fore all must go downward into the death of Christ, and be crucified 
‘with him, if they will arise and follow him in the regeneration before 
‘they come to reign with him. And, friends, many may have precious 


_ but I desire all may be comprehended in that which doth 


: 


536 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1679 


‘open. to them, and that they may all keep in the daily cross; then they 
keep in the power that kills and crucifies that which would lead them 
amongst the beasts and goats, to leaven them into their rough, upruly 
spirit; that through the cross, the power of God, that may be cruci- 
fied, and they in the power might follow the Lamb. For the power of 
God keeps all in order, subjection, and humility, in that which is lovely, 

* virtuous, decent, comely, temperate, and moderate; so that their mod- 

‘eration comes to appear to all men. My desire is. that all your lights 

‘may shine as from a city set upon a hill, that cannot be hid; and that 

‘ye may be the salt of the earth, to salt, season, and make it savoury te 

‘God, and you all seasoned with it. Then all your sacrifices will be a 

‘sweet savour to the Lord, and ye will be as the lilies and roses, and’ 

‘garden of God, which gives a sweet smell unto him: whose garden is 

‘preserved by his power, the hedge that hedges out all the unruly and 

‘unsavoury, the destroyers and hurters of the vines, buds, and plants, 

‘and God’s tender blade, which springs up from his seed of life, who 

‘ waters it with his heavenly water and word of life every moment, that 

‘they may grow and be fruitful; that so he may have a pleasant and 

‘fruitful garden. Here all are kept fresh and green, being watered 

‘every moment with the everlasting holy water of life from the Lord, 

* the fountain. My dear friends, my desire is, that this heavenly Seed, that 

‘bruises down the head of the. serpent both within and without, may be 
‘your crown and life, and ye in him one another’s crown and joy, to the 
‘praise of the Lord God over all, blessed for evermore. This holy Seed 

‘ will outlast and wéar out all that which the evil seed since the fall of 

‘man hath brought forth and set up. As every one hath received Christ 
Jesus the Lord, so walk in him in the humility which he teaches: and 

‘shun the occasions of strife, vain janglings, and disputings with men of 

‘corrupt minds, who are destitute of the truth; for the truth is péace- 

‘able, the gospel is a peaceable habitation in the power of God; his 

‘wisdom is peaceable and gentle, and his kingdom stands in peace. Oh! 

‘ his glory shines over all his works! in Christ Jesus ye will have peace, 
who is not of the world; yeaa peace that the world cannot take away: 
for the peace which ye have from him was before the world was, and 
will be when it is gone. This keeps all in that which is weighty and 
substantial over all chaff. Glory to the Lord God over all for ever andi 
ever! Amen. 

‘ And now, my dear friends, the Lord doth require more of you than 
he doth of other people, because he hath committed more to you. He 
requires the fruits of his Spirit, of the hght, of the gospel, of the grace, 
and of the truth; for herein is he glorified (as Christ said) in your 

‘bringing forth much fruit, fruits of righteousness, holiness, godliness, 

: virtue, truth, and purity; so that ye may answer that which is of God 

‘in all people. Be valiant for his everlasting, glorious gospel, in God’s 

‘holy Spirit and truth, keeping in the unity, and in the holy Spirit, light, 

‘and life, which is over death and darkness, and was before death and 
darkness were. In this Spirit we have the bond of peace, which can- 
not be broken except ye go from the Spirit, and then ye lose this unity 
and bond o; peace, which ye have from the Prince of peace. 

‘ The world also expects more from friends than from other people; 
because you profess more. Therefore you should be more just than 
others in your words and dealings, more righteous, holy and pure in 
your lives and :onversations, so that your lives and conversations may 


1679] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 537 


‘preach For the world’s tongues and mouths have preached long 
‘enough; but their lives and conversations have denied what their 
‘ tongues have professed and declared. 

« And, dear friends, strive to excel one another in virtue, that ye may 
‘ grow in love, that excellent way which unites all to Christ and God. 
‘Stand up for God’s glory, and mind that which concerns the Lord’s 
‘honour, that in no wise his power may be abused, nor his name evil 
‘spoken of by any evil talkers or walkers; but that in all things God 
‘may be honoured, and ye may glorify him in your bodies, souls, and 
‘spirits, the little time ye have to live. My love to you all in the holy 
‘Seed of Life, that refgns over all, and is the first and last, in whom ye 
‘all have life and salvation, and your election and peace with God, 
‘through Jesus Christ, who destroys him that hath been betwixt you 

and God; so that nothing may be betwixt you and the Lord but Christ 

‘Jesus. Amen. 

‘ My life and love is to you all, and amongst you all. The Lord God 
‘ Almighty by his mighty power, by which he hath preserved his people 
‘unto this day, preserve and keep you all in his power, and peaceable 
‘holy truth, in unity and fellowship one with another, and with the Son 
‘and the Father. “Amen. Gulls 

‘ The 24th of the 3d 

‘month, 1679.’ 


Divers other epistles and papers I wrote to friends during my stay in 
the north; one was ‘To encourage friends to be bold and valiant for 
‘the truth, which the Lord had called them to bear witness to.’ It was 
thus : 


‘ Dear friends, 

‘ Aut be valiant for the Lord’s truth upon the earth, which the ser- 
‘pent, satan, the devil is out of; and in the truth keep him out, in which 
‘you all have peace, life, and unity with God and his Son, and one with 
‘another. Let the love of God fill all your hearts, that in it ye may build 
‘up and edify one another in the light, life, holy Spirit, and power of 
‘God, the glorious comfortable gospel of Christ, the heavenly Man, your 
‘Lord and Saviour, who will fill all your vessels with his heavenly wine 
‘and water of life, clothe you with his heavenly clothing, his fine linen 
‘that never waxeth old; and arm you with his heavenly armour, that 
‘ye may stand faithful witnesses for God and his Son, who is come 
‘and hath given you an understanding to know him, and ye are in him. 

So walk in him, in whom ye all have life and salvation, and peace with 
“God. My love to you in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I have labour- 
‘ed; and God Almighty, in his eternal power and wisdom, preserve you 
“to his glory. Amen. G. F.’ 

‘Swarthmore, the 29th of the 

*10th month, 1679.’ 


The next day having a sense upon me that some who had received 
the truth, and had openings thereof, for want of keeping low had run out 
therefrom, I was moved to give forth the following epistle, as a ‘ warn- 

ing and exhortation to all to dwell in humility.’ 
‘My dear friends, 

‘Wuom the Lord in his tender mercies hath visited with the day- 
spring from on high, and hath opened you to confess and bow to his 
name; keep low in your minds, and learn of Christ who teacheth you 

38 


bo GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. (1679 


humility, tv keep in it; so that in no wise ye that ve yournzer be exalt 
‘ed, pufled up, or conceited through your openings, and by that means 
‘lose your conditions, by being carried up into presumption; then fall 
into despair, and so abuse the power of God. For it was the aposties’ 


‘care, that none should abuse the power of the Lord God; but in all’ 


things their faith was to stand therein, that they all might be compre- 
hended into the truth which they spoke to others, that they might not 
‘be preachers to others and themselves cast-aways. Therefore it doth 


‘concern you to be comprehended into that which ye preach to others, — 


‘and keep low in it; then the God of truth will exalt the humble in his 
‘ truth, light, grace, power, and Spirit, and in his*wisdom to his glory. 
‘ Here all are kept in their measures of grace, light, faith, and the Spirit 
‘of Christ, the heavenly and spiritual Man. So let none quench the 
‘ Spirit, nor its motions, nor grieve it, nor err from it; but be led by it, 
‘ which keeps every one in their tents; which Holy Spirit of God giveth 
‘them an understanding, how to serve, worship, and please the holy, 
‘ pure God, their Maker and Creator in Christ Jesus, and how to wait, 
‘speak, and answer the Spirit of God in his people: in which holy Spirit 
‘is the holy unity and fellowship. The holy Spirit teacheth the holy, 


* gentle, meek, and quiet lowly mind to answer the seed that Christ hath 


‘sown upon all grounds; and to answer the light, grace, and Spirit, and 
‘the gospel in every creature, though they are gone from the Spirit, 
‘ grace, light, and gospel in the heart. So by holy walking all may come 
‘to do it, as well as by holy preaching, that God in all things may be 
‘glorified by you, and that ye may bring forth fruits to his praise. 
‘ Amen. Goa 
‘Swarthmore, the 30th of the 
‘10th month, 1679.’ 


About the latter end of this year I was moved of the Lord to travel 
into the south again. I set forward the beginning of the first month, 
_ 1679-80, and passing through part of Westmoreland and Lancashire, I 
visited friends at several meetings, and came into Yorkshire. Divers 
large and weighty meetings I had in Yorkshire, before I came to York 
city. When I came there it was the assize-time, and there being many 
friends in prison for truth’s sake, I put those at liberty upon drawing up 
the sufferings of the friends in prison, that they might be laid before the 
judges; and J assisted them therein. The quarterly meeting of friends 
was also at that time, so I had a brave opportunity amongst them. 
Many weighty and serviceable things did the Lord open through me to 
the meeting, relating to the inward state of man; how man by faith in 
Christ comes to be grafted into him, and made a member of his spiritual 
body; and also the outward state of the church, how each member 
ought to walk and act, according to its place in the body. I spent sev- 
e1al days in York, having divers meetings; and all was peacealle and 
well. I went also to the castle, to visit the prisoners; with whom I 


spent some time, encouraging and strengthening them in their testimony 


Then leaving York, I travelled southward, having meetings amongst 
friends, till I came to Burton in Lincolnshire; where on first-day I had 
a large and precious meeting. Then turning into Nottinghamshire, I 
travelled through good part of that county, in which I had several very 
good meetings, and- then passed into Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and 
Warwickshire, having meetings all along as I went, till I came to War- 


i 


: 
| 
: 


1680] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 53¢ 


wick: there William Dewsbury came to me, and several otlier friends, 
and we had a little meeting in that town. Then passing through Southam 
and Radway, at each of which places I had a very good meeting, I 
came to Nathaniel Ball’s, of North-Newton, in Oxfordshire, and so to 
Banbury to a monthly meeting there. After I had visited friends at their 
meetings in the bordering parts of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and 
Northamptonshire, I passed to Richard Baker’s, of Biddlesden, in Buck- 
inghamshire ; and the next day, being first-day, 1 had a very large meet- 
ing in Biddlesden, at an old abbey-house, which a friend rented and 
dwelt in. Many friends and people came to this meeting out of Oxford- 
shire, Northamptonshire, and the parts adjacent; and of good service it 
was. After this, I visited friends in those parts, having meetings at Lil- 
lingstone, Lovel, and Bugbrook. Then going to Stony-stratford, [| went 
into some parts of Bedfordshire, till I came to Edward Chester’s of Dun- 
stable. Whence passing on by Market-street, I had a meeting at Albans; 
and calling on friends at Mims and Barnet, I came to the widow Haly’s, 


at Guttershedge, in Hendon, Middlesex, on a seventh-day night, and had 


a very large and good meeting there the day following. 

I passed from thence to London the third-day following, and went di- 
rectly to the Peel meeting at John Elson’s, and next morning to the 
meeting at Gracechurch-street, which was very large and quiet; and 
friends rejoiced in the Lord to see me. The yearly mecting was in the 
week following, to which many friends came out of most parts of the 
nation, and a blessed opportunity the Lord gave us together; wherein 
the ancient love was sweetly felt, and the heavenly life flowed abun- 
dantly over all. After the yearly meeting, I continued about a month or 
five weeks in and about London, labouring in the work of the Lord both 
in and out of meetings; for besides the publick testimony, which the 
Lord gave me to bear both to friends and to the world in meetings, I 
had much service lay upon me with respect to friends’ sufferings, in 
seeking to get ease and liberty for them in this and other nations. Much 
pains and time I spent while I was at London, in writing letters to 
friends in divers parts of England, and in Scotland, Holland, Barbadoes, 
and several other parts of America. 

After this I was moved of the Lord to visit friends in some parts of 
Surry and Sussex. I went to Kingston by water, and tarried certain 
days; for while I was there, the Lord laid it upon me to write both to 
the great Turk and the dey of Algiers severally, to warn them and the 
people under them to turn from their wickedness, and fear the Lord, 
and do justly, lest the judgments of God should come upon them, and 
destroy them without remedy. To the Algerines I wrote more particu- 
larly, concerning the cruelty they exercised towards friends and others, 
whom they held captives in Algiers. When I had finished that service, 


and visited friends in their meetings at Kingston, I went further into the 


country, and had meetings amongst friends at Worplesdon, Guildford, 
Esher, Capell, Patchgate, Worminghurst, Bletchington, Horsham, Ifield, 
Ryegate, Gatton, &c. and so came back to Kingston again, and from 
thence to Hammersmith. And having spent some days in the service 
o1 truth amongst friends at Hammersmith, Battersea, Wandsworth, and 
thereabouts, I crossed over, by Kensington, to Hendon, where I had a 
very good meeting on first-day ; and went from thence to London. 
When I had been about ten days in London, I was drawn again te 
visit friends in the country; and went to Edmonton to Christopher Tay 


—— 


. 


540 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1680 


lor’s, who kept a school for the education of friends’ children. I had 
some service amongst the youth, and then went towards Hertford, visit- 
ing friends in the way. At Hertford I met with John Story, and some 
others of his party; but the testimony of truth went over them, and kept 
them down, so that the meeting was quiet. It was on a first-day, and 
the next day being the men’s and women’s meeting for business, I visited 
them also; and the rather because some in that place had let in a dises- 
teem of them. Whereupon I was moved to open the service of those 
meetings, and the usefulness and benefit thereof to the church of Christ, 
as the Lord opened the thing in me; and it was of good service to 
friends. I had a meeting also with some of those that were gone into 
strife and contention, to shew them wherein they were wrong; and hav- 
ing cleared myself of them, I left them to the Lord. After another pub- 
lick meeting in the town, I returned towards London by Waltham-ab- 
bey, where I had a publick meeting the first-day following, and another 
with friends in the evening. Next day I went to Christopher Taylor’s 
at Edmonton, and staid a day or two, having some things upon me to 
write for the service of truth. When I had finished that service, I went 
to London by Shacklewell, where was a school kept by friends, for the 
breeding up young maidens that were friends’ daughters. 

I abode at London most part of this winter, having much service for 
the Lord there, both in and out of meetings; for as it wasa time of great 
sufierings among-friends, | was drawn in spirit to visit friends’ meetings 
more frequently, to encourage-and-strengthen them by exhortation and — 
example. ‘The parliament was also sitting, and friends were diligent to - 
wait upon them, to lay their grievances before them. We received fresh 
accounts almost every day of the sad sufferings friends underwent in 


{many parts of the nation. In seeking relief for my suffering brethren, | 


spent much time, together with other friends who were freely given up 
to that service, attending at the parliament-house many days together, 
and watching all opportunities to speak with such members of either 
house as would hear our just complaints. And indeed some of the mem- 
bers of each house were very courteous, and appeared willing to help us 
if they could; but the parliament being then earnest in examining the 
popish plot, and contriving ways to discover such as were popishly af- 
fected, our adversaries took advantages against us, because they knew 
we could not swear nor fight, to expose us to those penalties that were 
made against Papists; though they knew in their consciences we were 
no Papists, and had experience that we were no plotters. To clear our 
innocency and stop the mouths of our adversaries, I drew up a short pa- 
per to be delivered to the parliament; as followeth: 


‘Ir is our principle and testimony to deny and renounce all plots and 

‘ plotters against the king, or any of his subjects; for we have the Spirit 
‘of Christ, by which we have the mind of Christ, who came to save 
‘men's lives, and not to destroy them. We desire the safety of the king 
‘and all his subjects. Wherefore we do declare, that we will endeavour, 
‘to our power, to save and defend him and them, by discovering all 
‘plots and plotters, which shall come to our knowledge, that would de- 
stroy the king or his subjects. This we do sincerely offer unto you. 
But as to swearing and fighting, which in tenderness of conscience we 
cannot do, ye know that we have suffered these many years for our 
conscientious refusal thereof. And now that the Lord hath brought you’ 


1680] GEORGr rOX’S JOURNAL. ay | 


* together, we Jesire you to relieve and free us from those su.ferings, anc 
‘that ye will not put upon us to do those things which we have suf- 
‘fered so much and so long already for not doing; for if ye do, ye will 
‘make our sufferings and bonds stronger instead of relieving us. 


SG JBS 


About this time I received two very envious books written against 
truth and friends; one of them by a doctor (so called) of Bremen, in 
Germany, the other by a priest, of Dantzick, in Poland. They were both 
full of gross falsehoods and reproachful slanders. I found it upon me to 
answer them, and that I might not be over-much interrupted by other 
business and company, I went to Kingston upon Thames, where I wrote 
an answer to each of them, and also to some other scandalous papers 
which had been printed and scattered about to misrepresent friends. 

While I was there I wrote also the following paper, to persuade the 
magistrates to moderation towards dissenters, and take off their edge 
to persecution. Because it should have its full service, I directed it 


‘ To all the rulers, magistrates, and law-makers in England, Scotland, 
‘and Ireland, from the highest to the lowest, and to all other magis- 
‘trates every-where in that which is called Christendom; desiring 
‘their health, peace, tranquillity, life, and salvation in Christ Jesus, 
‘the Lord of Glory and Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of 
‘the world, and is the King of kings and Lord of lords, to whom all 
‘ power in heaven and in earth is given, and who will reward every 
‘man according to his words and works. 


‘ You that bear the name of Christian magistrates, my desire is that you 
‘may all be found in Christ, and not only have the name, but be made par- 
‘takers of his divine nature ; that ye may be not only sayers of the word, but 
‘ doers of the word, not only professors of Christ, and talkers of Christ, but 
‘Jet Christ rule in your hearts by faith, and be walkers in Christ. For as 
‘Christ’s great apostle saith, “ As every one hath received the Lord 
“ Jesus Christ, so let him walk in him; for in him there is peace.” If all 
‘that profess Christ did walk in Christ, they would walk in peace, and 
‘be in unity; for the apostle exhorted the Christians in his day to keep 
‘the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of peace, yea of Christ the 
‘ King of king’s peace. All Christians who have the scriptures, and are 
‘not in this Spirit of Christ, are not in unity one with another, and so 
‘have broken this bond of peace, which should knit and unite them to- 
‘gether. Likewise all that profess the truth of Christ should live in it: 
‘for it is peaceable, and the gospel is the gospel of peace; which if all 
‘Christians lived in, they would be at peace one with another, and in the 
‘ slorious fellowship of the gospel. And if all Christians kept in the fear’ 
‘of God, which is the beginning of the pure, heavenly, peaceable, and 
‘ gentle wisdom, which is easy to be intreated (above that wisdom which 
‘is earthly, sensual, devilish, and destroying) there would be no differ- 
“ence and destroying about matters of religion. 

‘] do declare the mighty day of the Lord is come and coming, and 
‘the Lord God is come to teach his people himself by his Son (Hebrews 

i.) who bruises the serpent’s head, that false teacher, that led Adam and 
‘Eve from God their Teacher. God will teach his people by his Son, 
the Teacher of Adam and Eve in paradise, before they fell, disobeyed 
the Lord and forsook him, and followed the serpent; whose head Christ 


442 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1680 


‘bruiseth, and renews man and woman up again into the image of God 
‘which Adam and Eve were in before they fell: glory and honour be to 
‘God through Jesus Christ, who hath called us by his Son into his glo- 
‘rious image, to serve and worship him in his Spirit and truth; which 
‘holy Spirit and truth the devil is out of, and cannot come into. 

‘I desire all Christian magistrates to take heed of persecuting any, 
‘though they differ from you in matters of faith, worship, and religion. 
‘For Christ saith, “ Let the tares and the wheat grow together till the 
“ harvest ;” and he forbad such as would be plucking up tares: the rea- 

son.was, “ Lest they should pluck up the wheat also;” ‘or Christ said, 
it should be his angels’ work to separate the tares from the wheat. 
‘Moreover Christ said, they should go into everlasting punishment that 
did not visit him in prison in his members; then what will become of 
them that cast him into prison, where he is made manifest in his mem- 
‘bers! Oh! Jay these things to heart! A day of judgment will come, 
‘vengeance and recompense upon every one according to their works. 
- ©To those disciples, who would have had fire to come down from 
«heaven to consume them that would not receive him, he turned about, 
“rebuked, and told them, “ They did not know what spirit they were of; 
* for he came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” 

‘Therefore let all magistrates and priests, in that which is called 
‘Christendom, consider who have destroyed men’s and women’s lives 
‘since the apostles’ days, because they could not receive the religions, 

ways, and worships, which they have made and set up; have they 
‘known what spirit they have been of? Are they not all reproved by, 

and come under the judgment of Christ? Therefore let all persecution 
‘be laid aside concerning religion; let love bear the sway, to overcome 
‘evil and enemies; let patience oversway passion in all, that all may re- 
‘tain the heavenly reason and the pure understanding, that your mod- 
‘eration in true Christianity may be known to all men. For have you 
‘not the Turks’, Jews’, Tartars’, Indians’, and Atheists’ eyes upon you? 
‘ Therefore be in unity, and let not the name of God and Christ be blas- 
*phemed amongst them by means of any that bear the name of Chris- 
*tians. So God may be glorified by all and in all through Jesus Christ, 

who is over all, who calls all to peace, and is blessed for ever. 

‘I would have you to be as noble as the Bereans, and search the scrip 
tures of Christ and the apostles. Where did he or they give any com- 
mand to imprison, banish, persecute, or put to death any that would not 
receive or conform to them, or that were contrary-minded to them in 
religion, or differed from them in matters of worship? 

‘ Again I desire all Christian magistrates to search both scriptures and 

‘ chronicles, and see what was the end of all persecutors, and what judg- 
‘ments came upon them. What fell upon Cain, who was the first per- 
-secutor for matters of faith and sacrifice? Did not he become a vaga- 
bond and a fugitive in the earth? What became of the old world that 
grieved God, and Noah, a preacher of righteousness? What became 
-of Soaom that vexed just Lot? What became of Pharaoh that perse- 
‘cuted God’s people in Egypt? (though the more he persecuted them the | 
more they grew.) What became of Ahab and Jezebel that persecuted 
the Lord’s prophets? And what became of Haman that would have 
destroyed the Jews? What became of the Jews and Jerusalem that per- 
secuted Christ and the apostles? What was the end of all these? Are 
they not become vagabonds in the earth, and driven away from their 


= 


| —«*1681) GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 543 


‘native country? Therefore I beseech you in the love and fezr of God. 
‘be so noble as to search both scripture and history, and let not your 
‘divine understanding be clouded. What will become of the beast and 
‘whore spoken of in the Revelations, with their false prophets, that have 
‘drunk the blood of the saints, martyrs, and prophets of Jesus? Must 
‘they not all go with the devil, who is a murderer, destroyer, and adver- 
‘sary of mankind, into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone? Ye 
‘may be sure that spirit that stirs you up to persecution, let it be in 
‘whemsoever it will, is not of Cnarist, and of his lamb-like nature, whe 
‘takes away the sins of the world, not the tives of men. 

‘ Paul was a persecutor, a haler to prison, before he was converted to 
‘ Christianity, but never after. And therefore are not all in Saul’s nature, 
‘Jet them be of what name or profession soever, that are persecutors, 
‘and unconverted into Paul’s life of Christianity? He said the life that 
‘he lived after he was converted, was by faith in the Son of God; and 
‘that he lived, yet not he, but “Christ lived in him,” who came to save 
‘men’s lives, and not to destroy them. This life should be the life of all 
‘Christians now, which Paul in his converted state lived in. And the 
‘apostle saith, “The law is good, if a man use it lawfully ; knowing this, 
“that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless, for 
“the ungodly and sinners, for unholy and prophane, for murderers of 
“fathers and mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, and for them 
_/ that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, liars, and per- 
|» “jured persons,” 1 Tim. i. So the law in its place is good against such. 
‘ Again the apostle says, “ The law was added because of transgression,” 
‘Gal. iii. 19. Here al] magistrates may see what the law in its place is 
' ‘good against, and what it was made for and against, and what evils, 
_ ‘the apostle says, it takes hold upon. He does not say, the law should 
_ *be laid upon men that differed from them in their religion and judgment, 
_ ‘nor upon righteous men. So you may see in what condition the law is 
_ ‘good, and what it was made against; not against righteous men, against 
' ‘whom they have nothing, only because they differ from them in mat- 
_ ‘ters of religion; letting ‘manslayers, whoremongers, perjured persons, 
_ ‘ungodly, prophane persons, liars, &c. go unpunished ; so do not use, nor 
“execute the law lawfully, as the apostle says; “ The law is good, if a 
“ man use it lawfully.” ‘Therefore it ought to be used lawfully; which 
‘law, the apostle says, is for the punishment of evil-doers, and a praise 
‘to them that do well, as may-be seen, Rom. xiii. So, as the apostle 
\* said, “ We do not break the law, nor make it void; but we establish 
— “the law,” Rom. iii. 31. 


‘ This is from him who desires the eternal good and salvation of you 


“all in Christ Jesus, Amen. G. FY 


‘Kingston upon Thames, the 
‘fourth of the first month, 
‘1680-1.’ 


After I had finished these services, I returned to London, where I 
staid about a month, labouring amongst friends in the work of the Lord, 
both in publick meetings for worship, and in those relating to the out- 
ward affairs of the Church. Then feeling my spirit drawn to visit 
friends about Enfield, I went to Waltham Abbey, where I had a very 
precious meeting, and another at Flamstead Heath. Having spent some 
time amongst friends thereabouts, and had divers good meetings at Kd 


544 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (168) 


monton, Enfield, Winchmore-hill, and other places, I came back to Lon- 
don a little before the yearly meeting, which was in the third month 
1681. It was a very precious meeting, in which the glorious presence 
and power of the Lord was eminently” felt and enjoyed. 

Some time after it came upon me to write the following epistle : 


‘To the quarterly men’s and women’s meetings that are gathered in 
‘the name and power of Jesus: 


‘ Curist, the second Adam, who is both head and husband of his church, 
the Redeemer, Purchaser, Saviour, Sanctifier, and Reconciler of his 
‘sons and daughters to God, I say his presence (to wit Christ’s) feel 
“among you, to exercise his prophetical office, in opening you with his 
‘light, grace, truth, power, and spirit; and to exercise his office, as he is 
‘a bishop, to oversee you with his light, grace, power, and Spirit, that ye 
‘do not go astray from God. As Christ is a shepherd, feel, see, and 
‘hear bin exercising that office, who has laid down his life for his sheep, 
‘is feeding them in his living pastures of life, and makes them to dr‘nk 
‘of his living, eternal springs. Let him rule and govern in your hearts, 
‘as he is king, that his heavenly and spiritual government all may live 
‘under, as true subjects of his righteous, peaceable kingdom, which 
‘stands in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, over Satan 
‘and his power, the unclean, unholy ghost, and all unrighteousness. So 
‘all ye subjects to Christ’s kingdom of peace, if ye want wisdom, know- 
‘ledge, life, or salvation, Christ is the treasure; feel him the treasure 
‘among you. And every one, as ye have received Christ, walk in him 
‘in whom ye have peace; who bruises the head of the serpent, the au- 
‘thor of all strife, distraction, and confusion: yea, you have peace with 
* God, and one with another, though the trouble be from the world and 
*the world’s spirit. Therefore, my dear friends, brethren, and sisters, 
‘love one another with the love that is of God shed in your hearts, that 
‘ye may bear the marks of Christ’s disciples, and it may appear that 
‘Christ is in you, and ye in him, so that God Almighty may be glorified 
‘among you. Whatever ye do, let it be done in the name of Jesus, to 
‘ the praise of God the Father, keeping in unity in the Holy Spirit of 
‘God, which was before the unholy spirit was: which Holy Spirit is 
‘vour bond of peace, yea, the holy King of Kings and Lord of Lords 
‘his peace. And in this holy, pure Spirit is your eternal unity and fel- 
‘lowship; in which Spirit of truth ye serve and worship the God of 
‘truth, who is God over all, blessed for ever, Amen. So the Lord guide 
‘you all with his Word of patience, Word of life, power, and wisdom, 
‘in all your actions lives, conversations, and meetings to God’s glory. 
‘ My love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom all things were 
‘made, who is over all, the First and the Last. GF? a 


‘London, the 9th of the 
‘4th month, 1681.’ 


About this time I had occasion to go to several of the judges’ cham 
bers, upon a suit about tythes. For my wife and J, with several other 
friends, were sued in Cartmel Wapentake Court in Lancashire, for small 
tythes, and we had demurred to the jurisdiction of that court. Where- 
upon the plaintiff prosecuted us in the exchequer court at Westminster; — 
where they run us up to a writ of rebellion, for not answering the bill” 
upon oath, and got an order of court to the serjeant to take me and my — 


: 


1681] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 545 


wife into custody. This was a little before the yearly meeting, at which 
time it was thought they would have taken me up; and according to 
outward appearance it was likely, and very easy for him to have done 
it, | lodging at the same, places where | used to lodge, and beiug very 
publick in meetings. But the Lord’s power was over them, and restrain- 
ed them, so that they did not take me. Yet understanding a warrant 
was out against me, as soon as the yearly meeting was well over, I took 
William Mead with me, and went to several of the judges’ chambers, to 
let them understand both the state of the case, and the ground and rea- 
son of our refusing to pay tythes. The first we went to was judge 
_ Gregory, to whom | tendered mine and my wife’s answer to the plain- 
- tiff’s bill; in which was set forth, That my wife had lived three-and- 
forty years at Swarthmore, and in all that time there had been no tythe 
paid nor demanded: and an old man, who had long been a tythe-gath- 
erer, had made affidavit that he never gathered tythe at Swarthmore 
Hall in judge Fell’s time, nor since. There were many particulars in 
our answer, but it would not be accepted without an oath. I told the 
_, judge, that both tythe_and swearing among Christians came from the 
/ pope; and it was matter of conscience to us not to pay tythes, nor 
| to-swear; for Christ bid his disciples, who had freely received, give 
freely ; and he commanded them, ‘ Not to swear at all.’ The judge said, 
| There was tythe paid in England before popery was. I asked him by 
_/what law or statute they were paid then? but he was silent. Then I 
told him, there were eight poor men brought up to London out of the 
north about two hundred miles, for small tythes; one of them had no 
family, but himself and his wife, and kept no living creature but a cat. 
I asked him also, Whether they could take a man and his wife, and im- 
prison them both for small tythes, and so destroy a family ? If they could, 
| I desired to know by what law? He did not answer me; but only said, 
That was an hard case. When | found there was no help to be had 
' there, we left him, and went to judge Montague’s chamber. With him 
I had a great deal of discourse concerning tythes. Whereupon he sent 
| for our adversary’s attorney; and when he came, J offered him our an- 
_ swer. He said, If we would pay the charges of the court, and be bound 
_ to stand trial, and abide the judgment of the court, we should not have 
the oath tendered to us. I told him, they had brought those charges 
_ upon us, by requiring us to put in our answer upon oath; which they 
knew before we could not do for.conscience-sake; and as we could not 
pay any tythe, nor swear, so neither should we pay any of their charges. 
Upon this he would not receive our answer. So we went from thence 
to judge Atkyns’s chamber; and he being busy, we gave our answers 
and our reasons against tythes and swearing to his clerk; but neither 
~ could we find any encouragement from him to expect redress. Where- 
fore leaving him, we went to one of the most noted counsellors, and 
shewed him the state of our case, and our answers: he was very civil 
to us, and said, ‘ This way of proceeding against us was somewhat like 
‘an inquisition.’ A few days after, those eight poor friends, that were 
broneht tp so far out of the north, appeared before the judges; and the 
_ Lord was with them, and his power was over the court, so that the 
friends were not committed to the Fleet. Our cause was put off till the 
_ next term (called Michaelmas term) and then it was brought before the 
_ four judges again. William Mead told the judges, that I had engaged 
myself never to meddle with my wife’s estate. The judges could hardly 
| a. 


| 
| 
l 


546 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. . 1168. 


believe that any man would do so; whereupon he shewed them the 
writing under my hand and seal; at which they wondered. Then two 
of the judges and some of the lawyers stood up and pleaded for me, that 
I was not liable to the tythes; but the other two judges and divers law- 
yers ‘pressed earnestly to have me sequestered, alleging that I was a 
‘publick man.’ At length they prevailed with one of the other two judges 
to join with them, and then granted a sequestration against me and my 
wife together. Thereupon, by advice of counsel, we moved for a limi 
tation, which was granted; and that much defeated our adversary’s de- 
sign in suing out the sequestration; for this limited the plaintiff to take 
no more than was proved. One of the judges, baron Weston, was very 
bitter, and broke forth in a great rage against me in the open court: but 
in a little time after he died. 

After the yearly meeting I tarried about a month in London; then 
went into Sussex to visit friends there, amongst whom I had many 
large and very precious meetings in divers parts of that county. Yet 
I spent not much time in Sussex, but returned pretty soon to London, 
whither [ felt drawings in my spirit; and had very good service for the 
Lord there, both in publick meetings and amongst friends. When | haa 
tarried some time in London, I went to Edmonton; and from thence 
into Buckinghamshire, where I visited friends at several meetings in the 
upper side of that county; and then went by Henley to Reading, where 
I tarried several meetings. I went no farther westward at this time than 
Ore, where I had a very large meeting; after which, striking through 
ihe edge of Oxfordshire, I had a large and very precious meeting at 
W arborough, in which the glory of the Lord shined over all. Many 
friends came to this meeting out of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and 
Hampshire. From thence I passed to Ilmore in the Vale of Bucking- 
hamshire, where we had a glorious meeting. The day following I re- 
turned to Mary Penington’s. From whence I visited the men’s and wo- ~ 
men’s monthly meetings at Hungerhill, and some other meetings there- 
abouts; then passed to Watford, where was a marriagé of two friends, © 
at which I was present. A very large meeting we had on that occasion, 
and the Lord’s power was over all. I went from Watford to Longford ~ 
in Middlesex, visiting friends at Uxbridge in the way. At Longford we 
had a large meeting, it being on first-day, and the presence of the Lord ~ 
was preciously felt amongst us; blessed be his name! I passed from 
Longford to Kingston, visiting friends as I went, at Staines and Sunbury. ~ 
At Kingston I abode with friends two meetings, wherein we were sweet- 
ly refreshed together in the Lord. Passing from thence towards Lon- 
don, I had a very precious meeting at Wandsworth: then crossing over 
to Hammersmith, I had a good meeting there; which was the larger by © 
reason of a burial, and there being a pretty openness in the people on — 
that occasion, I had a fine opportunity to open the way of truth amongst © 
them. . 

After I was come to London, I was moved to write the following — 
paper, concerning that spirit which had led some who professed truth, — 
into strife and division, and to oppose the way and work of the Lord: 

‘ Friends, t 
‘You that keep your habitation in the truth that is over all, do see that" 
it is the same spirit which leads the backsliders and apostates now 
‘from the spiritual fellowship and unity of the church of Christ, that led 
Adam and Eve from God. This spirit was the same that was in the 


» 681) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL BAG 


}* world, which got into the Jews when they were gone from the Spirit 
/*of God; and then turned against God and his prophets, and against 
| * Christ and his apostles. That spirit led them to be as bad as Pilate, or 
| worse. The enmity or adversary was got within them against the 
| ‘truth, and those that walked in it, and the Spirit of the Lord: so that 
‘they killed and destroyed the Just. This was the spirit of the devil, the 
| ‘ destroyer, who sought not only to destroy the truth, but the order of it, 
| “and those that walked in it, when true Christianity was planted among 
“the possessors of the light, grace, and truth, the holy gospel faith and 
| ‘Spirit, who enjoyed Christ in their heart. But when some began to 
‘err from the Spirit and faith, to hate the light, disobey the gospel, turn 
| «the grace of God into wantonness, walk despitefully against the Spirit 
‘of grace, turn from the truth, crucify to themselves Christ afresh, and 
*put him to open shame; these were they that let in the spirit of the 
‘world, who held the form of godliness, but denied the power thereof; 
‘and troubled the churches in the apostles’ days. When the Spirit of 
‘Satan had got into such, they were more troublesome to the church 
\‘ than the open persecutors without. These got into the assemblies to 
‘deceive the hearts of the simple; having the good words and fair 
* speeches, the sheep’s clothing. Paul, Peter, John, Jude, and James had 
“much to do with such, to keep them from troubling the church of Christ ; 
| ‘for they are out of the light, power, and Spirit; therefore the aposiles 
| * of Christ exhorted the saints to keep to the Word of life within: to the 
* Anointing: to the grace, truth, and Holy Spirit in their hearts. This 
‘foul spirit will profess all the scriptures in words; but by the Spirit of 
* God, which is holy, that spirit is tried, and its fruits. So the apostates 
‘went from the power and Spirit of God, and turned against the prophets 
‘and martyrs of Jesus; and became the whore, whose cup all nations 
‘drank of. The dragon with his tail threw down many of the stars, and 
‘would have devoured the woman with his flood: but the woman, the 
‘true church, was preserved, for the gates of hell cannot prevail against 

her; and then the dragon made war with her Seed. So the dragon, 
‘the whore, beast, and false prophets, all made war against the Lamb 
‘and the saints, but the Lamb and the saints will overcome them, and 
‘have the victory. And now the everlasting gospel is preached again 
*to all nations, tongues, and people; and many are gathered into the 
* gospel, the power of God, turned to the light, which is the life in Christ, 

grafted into him, and are come to walk in the order of the new cove- 
“nant of light and life, in the gospe! of peace and salvation. The same 
‘spirit that opposed the aposties and the churches in their days, opposes 
“now; yea, it is the same that opposed Christ and disdained him, that 
* disdaineth God’s servants now. The same that opposed the prophets, 
“and rebelled against Moses, opposes and rebels against God’s servants 
‘and people now. It is the same dark, blind, disobedient, faithless, wil- 
‘ful, jealous spirit, that persecutes some with the hands, and others with 
“the tongue. It is the same spirit that is now going about sometimes 

like a roaring lion, sometimes like a twisting serpent to tempt, to de- 
“ceive, and to devour, in those that have fair speeches and good words, 
‘the sheep’s clothing, in a form of godliness, under pretence of light and 

liberty, but deny the power thereof, and inwardly are ravening wolves. 

If it were possible they -would-deceive the very elect. But the elect 

are in the covenant of light and life, in the power of God over them. 
‘and in Christ, who will grind them to pieces, and slay all his enemies 


248 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 168 


‘with his spiritual sword, who will not have him to rule over or in them, 
‘In Christ all his people have rest and peace, who is their sanctuary 
‘over all storms and tempests. In Christ, the sanctuary, no deceiver no 
‘destroyer can come; for he is a place of sweet rest and safety. Hal- 
‘lelujah! praise the Lord for his sanctuary, Amen. G. F? = 


Sufferings continuing severe upon friends at London, I found my ser- 
vice lay mostly there: wherefore I went but little out of town, and not 
far; being frequent at the most publick meetings, to encourage friends 
both by word and example, to stand fast in the | testimony to which God 
had called them. At other times I went from house to house, visiting 
those friends that had their goods taken away for their testimony to truth 
And because the wicked informers were grown very audacious, by rea . 
son they had much countenance and encouragement from some justices — 
who, trusting wholly to their information, proceeded against friends with 
out hearing them: whereby many were made to sufler, not only con 
trary to right, but even contrary to law also. I advised with some friends 
about it; and we drew up a paper, which was delivered to most of the 
magistrates in and about the city, as followeth: 


‘ Wuereas informers have obtained warrants of some justices of peace 
‘who have convicted many of us without hearing us, or once summon- 
‘ing us to appear before them; by which proceedings many have had 
‘their goods seized and taken away, being generally fined ten pounds 
‘ apiece for an unknown speaker: and some of those persons so fined have 
‘not been at the meetings they were fined for; and the speaker notwith- 
‘ standing hath himself been fined for the same meeting, the same day the 
‘ others were fined for the unknown speaker. The justices may see the 
‘ wickedness of these informers, by whose false oaths we have been con- 
‘victed for an unknown preacher, when the preacher hath been both 
‘known and fined. Also in their swearing such persons to have been at 
‘such a meeting such a day, when indeed those so sworn against have 
‘not been at that meeting. By which proceedings several families of the 
‘king’s peaceable subjects are like to be ruined, if a speedy stop be not 
‘put thereunto. Therefore we hope and desire that you, the king’s jus- 
‘tices, for the time to come, when any informers shall come to any of 
‘you with an information against any of us, will summon such as are 
‘accused to appear before you, and hear us and our accusers face to 
‘face; that none may suffer for what they are not guilty of. For Pilate 
‘the governor heard Christ and his accusers face to face before he con- 
‘demned him, John xix. The council and chief priests heard Stephen 
‘and his accusers, with the witnesses that were brought against him 
‘face to face, before they condemned him, Acts vii. The Roman cap- 
‘tain heard Paul and his accusers face to face, Acts xxiii. Felix the 
‘ governor heard Paul and Ananias the high-priest, and the elders that 
“accused Paul, face to face, Acts xxiv. And when the high-priests 

and chief of the Jews accused Paul to Festus, he heard Paul and his 
‘accusers, and them that witnessed against him, face to face, Acts xxv. 
‘ Doth the law of God, or did the Roman law, or doth the law of the land 
‘ judge any man before he and his accusers, and they that witness against 
‘him, be heard face to face?’ 


This somewhat moderated the justices: and after this several frienas 
who had been illegally prosecuted and fined, entered their appeals; upon 


| 682] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. » 51S 


‘rial whereof they were acquitted, and the informers cast: whick was a 
| zreat discour agement to the informers, and some relief to friends. 

A little before the time for choosing new’sherifls for the city, those 
[who put up to be chosen desiring our “friends to give their voices for 
them, I wrote a few lines, tending to discover what spirit they were of, 
and how they stood affected to true liberty; it was by way of inquiry, 
| thus : 
| 
| «Do any here in Lendon, who stand to be chosen sheriffs, own that 

Crist, who was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem, to be the light 
‘ of the world, that “enlightens every man that cometh into the world,” w vho 
* saith, “ Believe in the light, that ye may become children of the light?” Is 
|“ any of you against persecuting people for their religion and worship of 
‘Ged in Spirit and truth, as Christ commandeth! For Christ said, “1 am 
“ not of this world nor my kingdom :” therefore he doth not uphold his spir- 
‘jtual worship and pure religion with worldly and carnal weapons. Christ 
* said, “ Swear not at all;” and his apostie James saith the same: but 
* will not you force us to swear, and break Christ’s and his apostle’s com- 
*mands, in putting oaths to us? Christ saith to his apostles, “ Freely ye 
“have received, freely give:” Will not you force us to give tythes and 
‘maintenance to such teachers as we know God hath not sent? Shall 
‘we be free to serve and worship God, and keep his and his Son’s com- 
‘mands, if we give our voices freely for you? for we are unwilling to 
* give our voices for such as will imprison and persecute ns, and spoil our 
* goods.’ 


| But whatever the candidates were, I observed heat and strife in the 
spirits of the people that were to choose; wherefore I wrote a few lines 
to be spread amongst them, directed, 


‘ To the people who are choosing sheriffs in London: 


« People, 

_ ‘Att keep in the gentle and peaceable wisdom of God, which is above 

'* that which is earthly, sensual, and devilish; and live in that love of God 

*that is not puffed up, nor is unseemly; which envieth not, but beareth 

‘and endureth all things. In this love ye will seek the good and peace 
‘of all men, and the hurt of no man. Keep out of all heats, be not hot- 
‘headed: but be cool and gentle, that your Christian moderation may 

‘appear to all men; for the Lord is at hand, who beholds all men’s words, 
‘thoughts, and actions, and will reward every one according to their 
‘work: what every man soweth, that shall he reap.’ 


I had some inclination to go into the country to a. meeting: but hear- 
mg there would be a bustle at our meetings, and feeling great disquiet- 
fess in people’s spirits in the city about choosing sheriffs, it was upon 
me to go to the meeting in Gracechurch-street, on first-day. William 
Penn went with me, and spoke in the meeting. While he was declaring 
the truth, a constable came in with his great staff, and bid him give over, 
and come down: but William Penn held on, declaring truth in the power 
of God. After awhile the constable drew back: and when William 
Penn had done, I stood up, and declared to the people ‘ the everlasting 

gospel which was preached in the apostles’ days, and to Abraham; 
which the church in the apostles’ days did receive, and came to be heirs 
of. This gospel, I declared, was sent from heaven by the Holy Ghost 


550 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1 


‘in the apostles’ days, and is so now; and was not of nan, neither b 
*man, but by the revelation of the Holy Ghost. And now this gospel 
‘ preached again (as John saw, and said it should be) to all nations 
* tongues, and peeples and all people now are to hear Christ the Prophe 
in this his gospel of the new covenant. For as Moses said, “ Like unt 
‘me will God raise up a prophet, and him shall ye hear in all things: 
‘so, said I, this prophet Christ is come, and all the Jews in Spirit, th 
‘true believing Christians in the light, who have the law of God writte 
in their hearts, and put into their minds, are to hear Christ in his gos. 
‘pel, new testament, and new covenant, which is the law of the Spirit 
‘of life in Christ Jesus, who bruises the serpent’s head (which is the hea 
‘of enmity) and makes free from the law of sin and death. I shewed, 
‘that all whom Christ quickens and makes alive, he makes to sit togethel 
‘in the heavenly places in himself. So that they do not wander up and 
‘down, like the fool’s eye in the corners of the earth; nor are their eye: 
‘abroad in the world, to sit down in the world’s invented seats of reli. 
‘gion; but they sit together in him, as the saints did in the apostles’ days, 
‘So Christ was and is their treasure of wisdom, life, knowledge, and 
‘salvation.’ As I] was thus speaking, two constables came in with theit 
great staves, and bid me, ‘give over speaking and come down.’ But I 
feeling the power of the Lord with me, spoke on therein, both to the 
constables, and to the people. To the constables I declared, ‘That we 
‘were a peaceable people, who meet to wait upon God, and worship hin 
‘in Spirit and in truth; and therefore they needed not to have come with 
‘their staves against us, who were met in a peaceable manner, desiring 
‘and seeking the good and salvation of all people.’ Then turning my 
speech to the people again, I declared what further was upon me te 
them. While I was speaking, the constables drew towards the door 
and the soldiers stood with ee muskets in the yard. When I had done 
speaking, I kneeled down, and prayed, desiring the Lord to open the eye: 
. and hearts of all people, high and low, that their minds might be turned 
to God by his Holy Spirit: that he might be glorified in all and over all 
After prayer the meeting rose, and friends passed away, the constables 
being come in again without the soldiers; and indeed both they and the 
soldiers carried themselves civilly. William Penn and I went into a room 
hard by, as we used to do, and many friends went with us; and lest the 
constables should think we would shun them, a friend went down and 
told them, if they would have any thing with us, they might come where 
we were, if they pleased. One of them came to us soon after, but with. 
out his staff; which he chose to do, that he might not be observed ; for 
he said, ‘ The people told him, he busied himself more than he needed. 
We desired to see his warrant; and we therein found the informer 1 was 
one Hilton, a north country man, reputed a Papist. The constable was 
asked, Whether he would arrest us by his warrant on that day, it being 
first- day, which in their law was called the Lord’s day? He said, ‘He 
‘thought he could not.’ He told us also, ‘He had charged the informer 
‘to come along with him to the meeting, but he had run away from him. 
We shewed the constable; that both he and we were clear; yet to free 
him from all fear of danger, we were free to go to the alderman that 
granted the warrant. ‘A friend present said, He would go with the con- 
stable to speak with the alderman; which they did, and came presently 
back again, the alderman being gone from home. We seeing the con- 
stable int a strait, and finding him a tender man, bid him set an hour t 


1682] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 551 


come to us again, or send for us, and we would come to him. So he 
appointed the fifth hour in the afternoon, but neither came nor sent for 
us and a friend meeting him afterwards in the evening, the constable 
told him, ‘ He thought it would come to nothing, and therefore did not 
‘look after us.’ So the Lord’s power was over all; to him be the glory! 
The fourth-day following, it was upon me to go to Gracechurch- 
street meeting again; for I had heard they would come to break up the 
meeting that day. The neighbours, it seems, were informed so, a justice 
hac granted a warrant for that purpose, and the constable told a friend 
that Hilton the informer had been with him about it. The constable 
would have had the informer to have gone with him to the meeting, but 
he would not; and would have the constable go without him: whether 
that put the constable by I know not; but he did not come. I was in a 
travail of spirit in the power of God, and was moved in it to go to the 
meeting ; and the Lord’s power did chain all down. Though they threat- 
ened to bring the red coats, none of them came, nor was there any dis- 
turbance; but a glorious, powerful meeting it was, and very peaceable: 
glory, honour, and praises be to the Lord over all for ever, Amen! 
During the time I abode at London, as I had leisure between meet- 
ings, and from other publick services, | wrote divers books and papers ; 
some of which were painted; and others spread about in manuscript. Of 
hese, one was directed, ‘ To the bishops and others, that stirred up per- 
*secution; to shew them from the holy scriptures, that they did not walk 
therein according to the royal law, “ To love their neighbour as them- 
“ selves, and to ale to others as they would be done unto.” Another was, 
To al! the several sorts of professed Christians, as well Protestants as 
‘ Papists, whose religion and worship stands in outward observances and 
‘ceremonies; pressing them, from those words of the apostle Paul to the 
* Galatians, chap. v. ver. 2, 3, 4. “ Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if 
“ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again 
“to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to the whole law. 
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified 


( “by the law: ye are fallen from grace,” to consider, whether they, being 
“ gone back into legal observations and shadowy ceremonies, in uphold. 


‘ing tythes, offerings, first-fruits, priests’ garments, outward altars, tem- 
‘ples, lamps, lights, &c. and in observing days, months, times, years, 
‘with many other things commanded by the law, were not gone into the 
‘same state that the Galatians were running into; and so were fallen 
‘from grace, and become debtors to the whole law.’ Another was, ‘To 
‘direct and turn all people to the Spirit of God, that they might thereby 
‘receive a right understanding, and be able to distinguish between right 
‘and wrong, truth and error ; ‘that under pretence of, punishing evil- doers, 
‘they might not themselves do evil in persecuting the righteous. Which 
‘*s here inserted : 


Tue Spirit of God, which he hath poured upon all, giveth an under- 
‘standing to all that are led by it; and to those who do not quench the 


m6 motions of it, it giveth knowledge and understanding to distinguish gooa 


‘from evil, light from darkness, Christ from Antichr ist, the old testament 
‘or covenant from the new, the old way from the new and living way; 
‘the sheep and lambs from the goats and wolves; the worship of God, 
which Christ set up above sixteen hundred years ago, from the dragon’ s 
and beast’s worship; and all those that worship “the works of men’s 


352 GLORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1682 


‘hands, and the will-worshippers, from them that worship God in his 
‘Spirit and in his truth, in wi.ich God’s people worship him ; which wor- 
* ship is over all false worships and worshippers. ‘Those who believe in 
the light, which is the life in Christ, become the children of light, and 
‘are the lambs of Jesus. These lambs follow the Lamb of God, that 
‘taketh away the sins of the world; they will not follow the hirvlings, 
‘nor the strangers, to be led into strange ways, doctrines, religions, and 
‘churches: for the lambs of Christ follow Christ the Lamb of God, and 
* xnow his heavenly voice. They know also, that those who are without 
‘Christ are dogs and wolves, adulterers, idolaters, liars, and unbelievers, 
‘who would devour the lambs: but these are in the hand of the Lord, 
‘which is his power, that is over all; such do good in his power unto 
‘all; for they have the mind of Christ, who would have all come to the 
‘knowledge of the truth, and be saved. Those that do good to all, do 
‘hurt to none: for that spirit, that doth hurt to any, is not of God; but 
‘that Spirit, which doth good to all, and especially to the household of 
‘faith, is of God. Christ came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save 
‘them: it is the devil that is the destroyer of men’s lives about religion, 
‘who corrupts men and women, makes them deaf and blind to the things 
‘of God, and to halt out of God’s way. Those that obey the evil one, 
‘and forsake the Lord, such the destroyer doth destroy: but Christ 
‘destroys that destroyer, and in Christ all have life. G. FY 


I wrote also concerning ‘meditation, delight, exercise, and study; 
shewing from the scriptures of truth what true Christians ought to medi- 
tate upon, exercise their minds and take delight in, and what they should 
study todo. For in these things not prophane and loose people only, 
but even great professors of religion, are very much mistaken: taking 
delight in earthly, fading, perishing things; whereas they ought to medi- 
tate on heavenly things, delight in the law of God after the inward man, 
and exercise themselves to have always a ‘ conscience void of offence 
‘towards God and towards men,’ as the apostle Paul did. 

As sufferings continued very sore and heavy upon friends not only in 
the city, but in most parts of the nation, I drew up a paper to be pre- 
sented to the king; setting forth our grievances, and desiring redress 
from him in those particular cases which I understood were in his power. 
But not having relief from him, it came upon me to write an epistle to 
friends, to encourage them in their sufferings, that they might bear witl 
patience the many exercises brought upon them, both by magistrates and 
false brethren and apostates; whose wicked books and filthy slanders 
grieved the upright-hearted. This epistle I wrote at Dalston, whither I 
went to visit an ancient friend that lay sick. 


‘Frienps and brethren in Christ Jesus, whom the Lord hath called 
‘and gathered into himself, in him abide; for without him ye can do 
‘nothing, and through him ye can do all things. He is your strength 
‘and support in all your trials, temptations, imprisonments, and suffer- 
‘ings, who for Christ’s sake are accounted as sheep for the slaughter: 
‘in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Christ who 
‘hath loved us. Th2refore, friends, though ye suffer by the outward 
‘ powers, ve know that the prophets, Christ, and the apostles, suffered by 
‘the unconverted. And though ye suffer by false brethren and apos- 
‘tates for a time, and by their filthy books and tongues, whose tongues 

indeed are become no slander, let them speak, write, or print what thev 


1682] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. » 3558 


‘ will: for the sober people even of the world hardly regard it. It 1s well 
they have manifested themselves to the world, that their folly may pro- 
‘ceed no farther; though to the utmost of their power they have shewed 
‘their wicked intent to stir up the magistrates, professors, and prophane 
‘against us, and to speak evil of the way of truth. God’s judgments will 
“overtake them, as sure as they have come upon those that are gone be- 
‘fore them. Let their pretence be ever so high, mark their end; for they 
‘ will fall like untimely figs, and wither like the grass on the top ot the 
‘house. Though they may seem to flourish, and make a boast and a 
‘noise for a time, yet the Seed is on the head of such, which will grind 
‘them to powder; which seed bruiseth the serpent’s head. Therefore in 
‘this Seed, Christ, who is your sanctuary, rest, peace, and quiet habita- 
‘tion, who is the First and the Last, and over all, in him walk; for the 
‘Lord taketh pleasure in his faithful people, that serve and worship him. 
‘ Therefore let the saints be joyful in glory; and the God of Peace, the 
‘God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Jesus 
‘Christ, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, 
‘strengthen, and settle you. Cast all your care upon the Lord, for he 
‘careth for you. And dearly beloved, think it not strange concerning 
‘the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing had 
‘happened to you; for it-is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer 
‘for well-doing than for evil-doing; and rejoice, inasmuch as ye are 
‘made partakers of Christ’s sufferings. Wherefore let them that suffer 
‘according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him 
‘ir well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator: for unto you is given, in the 
‘behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his 
‘sake. So it is given, or is a gift from Christ to suffer for his name; and 
‘therefore rejoice, inasmuch as ye are made partakers of Christ’s suffer- 
‘ings. If ye be reproached or evil-spoken of for the name of Christ, 
‘happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on 
‘their part he is evil-spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. There- 
‘fore if any suffer as Christians, let them not be ashamed, but glorify 
‘God on this behalf. Though now for a season ye are in sufferings, 
‘trials, and temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more 
‘precious than that of gold which perishes, though it be tried with fire, 
‘may be found unto praise, honour, and glory, who are kept by the 
‘power of God, through faith, unto salvation. Therefore mind your 
‘keeper, where-ever ye are, or what sufferings soever ye be in; and 
‘mind the example of the apostle, how he suffered trouble as an evil- 
‘doer, unto bonds. But the Word of God is not bound, which is ever- 
‘Jasting and endures for ever: and they who are in that which is not 
‘everlasting, and doth not endure for ever, cannot bind the Word. The 
‘apostle said, “I endure all things for the elect’s sake; that they may 
“also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory 
“ (mark, with eternal glory.) And if we suffer with Christ, we shall reign 
“with Christ, who abide faithful.” Therefore strive not about words 
‘to no profit; but shun prophane and vain babblings, for they will in- 
‘crease unto more ungodliness; that ye may be vessels of honour, sanc- 
‘tified and meet for Christ your master’s use, and prepared unto every 
‘good work. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, 
‘and meekness. Fight the good fight of faith with your heavenly wea- 
‘pons; which faith is victory (or gives victory) by which ye lay hold on 
eternal life, and have access unto God, “ who will render to every man 


3U 


554 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1682 


“according to his deeds: to them, who by patient continuing in well- — 
‘doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life; but — 


‘unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the trutn, but obey 
“ unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon 
“ every soul of man that doth evil; but glory, honour, and peace to every 


“man that worketh good.” Christ said to his disciples, “ If the worlo © 


“hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were 
“ of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of 
“the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world 
“hateth you.” And, “ If they have persecuted me, they will also perse- 
“cute you.” And John in his general epistle to the church saith, “ Mar 
“vel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have 
“passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.” . And Christ 
‘in his prayer to his Father saith of his followers, “ As thou hast sent 
“me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world; and 
“the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be 
“one, even as we are one.” Therefore all ye that know God and Jesus 
‘Christ (whom to know is eternal life) and are partakers of his glory, 
“keep the testimony of Jesus, and be valiant for his truth upon earth, 
‘that ye may be all settled upon Christ, the rock and foundation. 
.Giuibs 
‘Dalston, the 3d of the 
‘8th month, 1682.’ 


I made but little stay at Dalston, but returned to London, where I con- 
tinued most part of the winter ; labouring in the service of truth amongst 
friends: save that I was a little while at Kingston, in the tenth month of 
this year, where I wrote a book, setting forth ‘The state of the birth 
‘temporal, and the birth spiritual: and the duty and state of a child, 
‘youth, young men, aged men and fathers in the truth, &c. But I staid 
not long at Kingston neither ; for the heat of persecution still continuing, 
I felt my service to be most at London, where our meetings were for the 
most part disturbed and broken up, or friends were forced to meet with- 
out doors, being kept out of their meeting-houses by the officers. Yet 
sometimes, beyond expectation, we got a quiet and peaceable meeting in 
the houses. One time ] was minded to have gone a mile or two out of 
town, to visit a friend that was not well: but hearing that the king had 


sent to the mayor to put the laws in execution against dissenters, and — 


that the. magistrates thereupon intended to nail up the meeting-house 


doors, I had not freedom to go out of town, but was moved to go to the © 


meeting at Gracechurch-street; and, notwithstanding all their threats, a 
great meeting it was, and very quiet; and the glory of the Lord shone 
over all. 

The same week I went to the meeting at the Peel in John’s-street, and 
the sessions were holden the same day at Hicks’s-hall. I went in the 
morning; and William Mead being to appear at the sessions for not go- 
‘ng to the steeple-house worship, came once or twice from Hicks’s-hall 
to me at the Peel; which some ill-minded people observing, went and 
informed the justices at the bench, that he was gone to a meeting at the 
Peel. Whereupon they sent a messenger to see if there was a meeting ; 
but this being in the forenoon, there was no meeting, so the messenger 
went back and told them. Then others informed the justices that there 
would be a meeting there in the afternoon: whereupon they sent for the 


* 


1682] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 555 


chief constabiv, and asked him, ‘ Why he suffered a meeting to be at the 
‘ Peel. so. nigh him” He told them, ‘He did not know of any meeting 
‘ there.’ They asked him, ‘ How he could but know it, and live su nigh 

‘it? He said, ‘He was never there in his life, and did not know there 
‘was a meeting there.’ They would have persuaded him that be must 
needs know of it; but he standing steadfast in the denial of it, they said, 
‘ They should take order to have it looked after in the afternoon. But 
a multitude of business coming before them at the sessions, when dmner- 
time came, they hastened to their dinner, without giving order; ana when 
they came to the bench again after dinner, the Lord put it out of their 
minds, so the meeting was quiet, beginning and ending in peace; and a 
blessed meeting we had, the Lord’s presence being preciously amongst 
us. Many friends had a concern upon their minds, when they saw me 
come into the meeting, lest ] should have been taken; but I was freely 
given up to suffer, if it was the Lord’s will, before I went, and had no- 
thing in my mind concerning it but the Lord’s glory. Ido believe that 
the Lord put it out of their minds, that they should not send to break up 
our meeting that day. Yet the first-day after, three or four justices (as 
I heard) came to the Peel, and put friends out of their meeting-house, 
and kept them out: and inquired for William Mead, but he was not 
there. : 

That day I was moved to go to Gracechurch-street meeting; and it 
was expected that the officers would come to break up the meeting, or 
keep friends out ; and many hundreds of people came to see what w vould 
be done to us. But the officers came not; so we were in peace and 
quietness; and many of the people that came to look on, staid all the 
time; and a glorious, precious meeting we had, for the Lord’s presence 
was plentifully amongst us, and his power came over all; glory to his 
name for ever, who is over all! 

I had seen the mayor’s printed speech for putting the laws in execution 
against dissenters: and it was much in my mind that we should draw up 
a paper to send to the mayor and aldermen, to clear ourselves from be- 
ing such as those laws were made against; and to set forth our peace- 
able behaviour both towards the king and the government. Accordingly 
a paper was drawn up, signed, and delivered to the mayor; and copies 
thereof delivered to the aldermen, and the bishop of London, who gene- 
rally took it kindly, and were civil to the friends that delivered it. 

About this time J was moved to write the few lines following to friends: 


‘ Dear friends, 

‘Feet the power of God in you all, and over all, and by it let you 
‘hearts be united to one another, and to the Lord God, who hath gath 
‘ere] you by himself by his power and Spirit, to be a people to serv 
‘ana worship him. So you may all strive to excel one another in virtue, 
‘and in that love that beareth all things, and edifieth the body of Christ, 
‘the body of the second Adam. For the body of old Adam in the fall 
‘is full of malice, envy and vice. Therefore you that are called out of 
‘old Adam in the fail, and have put on Christ the second Adam that 
‘never fell, walk in ee the treasure of life, wisdom, and knowledge, in 

whom ye have peace with God, who is the First and Last, the Begin- 
‘ning and the Ending. So let all be gathered up to God, into him who 

‘reconcileth all things i in one, both things i in heaven and things on earth 

who is the faithful and true witness in male and female. In him sif 


556 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1683 


down, who is above the subtil foxes in their holes, and the fowl: of the 

air in their nests; I say, sit down in Christ, who hath no place among 

them to lay his head; he is your rest. So in him is my love to you all 

‘Gs Fo 

‘ London, the 20th of the 
‘11th month, 1682.’ 


Not long after, I received an account by letter, from some friends that 
were prisoners at Denbigh in Wales, that many friends there were under 


great sufferings for the testimony of a good conscience. In the tendet ~ 


sense whereof I was moved in the love ‘of God to visit them with a few 
lines, as a word of consolation to them in their sufferings ; and of exhor- 
tation, to stand fast in the testimony committed to them, after this manner: 


‘Dear suffering lambs for the name and command of Jesus! be val- 
‘iant for his truth, and faithful, and ye will feel the presence of Christ 
‘with you. Look at him who suffered for you, hath bought you, and 
‘will feed you, who saith, “ Be of good comfort, I have overcome the 
“ world :” who destroys the devil and his works, and bruises the serpent’s 
‘head. I say, look at Christ your sanctuary, in whom ye have rest and 
‘peace. To you it is given not only to believe, but to suffer for his 
‘name’s sake. They that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer per- 
‘secution by the ungodly professors of Christ Jesus who live out of him. 
‘ Therefore be valiant for God’s truth upon the earth, and look above 
‘that spirit that makes you suffer, up to Christ, who was before it was, 
‘and will be when it is gone. Consider all the prophets, Christ, and the 
‘apostles, who suffered and were persecuted; but they were never per- 
‘secuted as true men, but as deceivers, and yet true. Christ is the same 

to-day as yesterday, a rock and foundation for your age and genera- 
‘ tion, for you to build upon. I have written concerning you (after I 
‘heard your letter) to friends in Cheshire to visit you, understanding 
sata you belong to their quarterly meeting: I desire some friends of 

‘your county would go, and lay your suffering condition before the 
‘monthly or quarterly meeting in Cheshire. I have written likewise to 
‘Richard Davis, that some of that side may go and visit you, and see 
‘how your condition is. My love is to you in the Lord! who is your 
‘alone support. Gs EY 

‘London, the 27th of the 
‘11th month, 1682.’ 


Because the magistrates were many of them unwilling to have fines 
laid upon meeting-houses, they kept friends out in many places, setting 
officers and guards of soldiers at the doors and passages; yet sometimes 
friends were fined for speaking or praying, though it were abroad. One 
first-day it was upon me to go to Devonshire- house meeting in the after- 
noon ; and because IJ had heard friends were kept out there that morning 
(as they were that day at most meetings about the city) I went some- 
what the sooner, and got into the yard, before the soldiers came to guara 
the passages: but the ‘constables were got there before me, and stood in 
-he door-way with their staves. I asked them to let me go in: they said, 

They could not, nor durst not; for they were commanded the contra- 
ty, and were sorry for it’ I told them, I would not press upon them; 
so I stood by, and they were very civil. I stood till I was weary; then 
ene gave me a stool to sit down on and after awhile the power of the 


] 
; 


SO . 
1683) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 557 


Lord began to spring up among friends, and one began to speak. The 
constables soon forbad him, and said, he should not speak; and he not 
stopping, they began to be wroth. But I gently laid my hand upon one 
of the constables, and wished him to let him alone. The constable did 
so, and was quiet; and the man did not speak long. After he had done, 
I was moved to stand up and speak: and in my declaration said, ‘ They 
‘need not come against us with swords, and staves; for we were a 
*peaceable people, and had nothing in our hearts but good-will to the 
‘king and magistrates, and to all people 'upon the earth. We did not 
“ meet under pretence of religion to plot and contrive against the gov- 


“ernment, or to raise insurrections ;” but to worship God in Spirit and 


‘in truth. We had Christ to be our Bishop, Priest, and Shepherd, to 
‘ feed us and oversee us, and he ruled in our hearts; so we could all sit 


) fin silence, enjoying our teacher. So to Christ, their Bishop and Shep- 


‘herd, I recommended them all.’ I sat down, and after awhile was 


- moved to pray, and the power of the Lord was over all; and the peo- 


ple, with the constables and soldiers, put off their hats. When the meet- 
ing was done, and friends began to pass away, the constable put off his 
hat, and desired the Lord to bless us: for the power of the Lord was 
over him and the people. 

After this 1 went up and down, visiting friends at their houses, who 
had their goods taken from them for worshipping God. We took an ac- 
count of what had been taken from them: and some friends met to- 
gether about it, and drew up the case of the sufferings of our friends in 
writing, and gave it to the justices at their petty sessions. Whereupon 
they made an order, ‘ That the officers should not sell the goods of 

friends which they had in their hands, but keep them till the next ses- 
‘sions ;’ which gaVe some discouragement to the informers, and put a 
little stop to their proceedings. 

The next first-day it was upon me to go to the meeting at the Savoy ; 
and by that time it was gathered, the beadle came in; and after him the 
wild people, like a sea, but the Lord’s power chained them all. The 
Spirit of the Lord went through and over all, and they were quiet, and 
we had a glorious, peaceable meeting; blessed be the Lord for his un- 
speakable goodness! This was in the twelfth month 1682. 

In the first month 1683 I went to Kingston upon Thames. As I went 
to the meeting, I met the chief constable who had been at the meeting- 
place, and had set, watchmen to keep us out; yet he was pretty civil, 
and the watchmen let friends have a couple of forms out, to sit upon in 
the highway: so friends met together there, and a very precious mect- 
ing we had; for the refreshing presence of the Lord was with us, in 
which we parted in peace. 

Having visited and encouraged friends there, I returned to London, 
and went to the meeting at Bull and Mouth, where the constables with 
their watchmen kept a guard, to keep friends out of the house. So we 
met in the street ; and when any friend spoke, the officers and watch- 
men made a great bustle to pull him down, and take him into custody 
After some other friends had spoken, it was upon me to speak. I said 
‘ Heaven is God’s throne, and earth is his footstool: and will ye not let 
‘us stand upon God’s footstool to worship and serve the living God” 
While I spoke they were quiet; and after I had cleared myself, we 
broke up our meeting in peace. This was on the sixth day of the week. 


558 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ’ [1683 


On the first-day following I was moved to go to the meeting at Grace 
church-street. When I came there, I found a guard set at the entrance 
in Lombard-street, and another at the gate in Gracechurch-street, to 
keep friends out of the meeting-place; so we were fain’ to meet in the 
street. After some time I got a chair, stood up in it, and spoke largely 
to the people, ‘Opening the principles of truth to them, and declaring 
‘many weighty truths concerning magistracy, and the Lord’s prayer.’ 


There was, besides friends, a great multitude of people, and all was very 


quiet; for the Lord’s power was over all, and in his time we broke up 
our meeting, and departed in peace. . 

Next day I went to Guildford in Surry; and having visited friends 
there, passed to Worminghurst in Sussex, where I had a very blessed 
meeting among friends, free from disturbance. While I was there, James 
Claypole of London (who with his wife was there also) was suddenly 
taken very ill with so violent a fit of the stone, that he could neither 
stand nor lie; but through the extremity of pain cried out like a woman 
in travail. When I heard it, I was much exercised in spirit for him, 
and went to him. After I had spoken a few words to him, to turn his 
mind inward, I was moved te lay my hand upon him, and prayed the 
Lord to rebuke his infirmity. As I laid my hand on him, the Lord’s 
power went through him; and by faith in that power he had speedy, 


ease, so that he quickly fell into a sleep. When he awaked, the stone 
came from him like dirt; and he was so well, that the next day he rode — 


with me five-and-twenty miles in a coach, though he used formerly (as 
he said) to lie sometimes two weeks, sometimes a month, with one of 
those fits of the stone.. But the Lord was intreated for him, and by his 
power soon gave him ease at this time: blessed and praised be his holy 
name therefore ! 

After I had had some meetings in Sussex and Surry, and visited 
friends thereaway, I returned to London by Kingston, where I had a 
meeting on the first day of the second month, being first-day. We were 
kept out of the meeting-house by a constabie and watchmen, so were 
fain to meet in the highway. But it being the monthly meeting day, and 
many people being there, the meeting was pretty large, and very quiet; 
and the Lord’s blessed presence was amongst us; blessed be his name 
for ever! 

Being come to London, I went to the meeting at Wheeler-street near 
Spitalfields, which that day proved very large, and a glorious, blessed 
meeting it was: for the Lord’s power and truth was over all, and many 
deep and weighty things were opened to the people to their great satis- 
faction. 

I tarried in and near London, visiting meetings, and labouring in the 
service of the gospel, till the yearly meeting came on, which began the 
28th of the third month. It was a time of great sufferings; and much 
concerned I was, lest friends, that came up out of the country on the 
church’s service, should be taken and imprisoned at London. But the 
Lord was with us, his power preserved us; and gave us a sweet and 
blessed opportunity to wait upon him, and be refreshed together in him, 
and to perform those services for his truth and people, for which we 
met. As it was a time of great persecution, and we understood that in 
most counties friends were under great sufferings either by imprison- 
ments or spoiling of goods, or both, a concern was weightily upon me, 


a 


4 683] e GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 559 


lest any friends, especially traders and dealers in the world, should haz- 
ard the losing of other men’s goods or estates through thei sufferings. 
Wherefore, as the thing opened in me, I drew an epistle of caution to 
friends in that case, which I communicated to the yearly meeting; and 
from thence it was sent among friends throughout the nation; a copy of 
which here followeth: 


‘ Dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ, 


Who is your only sanctuary in this day of storm and persecution, 
spoiling of goods and imprisonments! Let every one’s eye be unto 
him, who has all power in heaven and earth given unto him; so that 
‘none can touch an hair of your head, nor you, nor any thing ye have, 

‘except it be permitted or suffered in this day to try his people, whether 
‘their minds be with the Lord or in outward things. Dear friends, take 
‘care that all your offerings be free, and of your ow n, that has cost you 
‘something; so that ve may not offer of that which is another man’s, or 
‘that which ye are intrusted withal (and not your own) or fatherless or 
‘ widows’ estates; but all such things settle and establish in their places. 
‘You may remember many years ago, in a time of great persecution, 
‘divers friends, who were traders, shop-keepers, and others, had the 
‘concerns of widows and fatherless, and other people’s estates in their 
‘hands. And when a great suffering, persecution, and spoiling of goods 
‘came upon friends, especial care was taken that all might offer up to 
the Lord in their sufferings what was really their own, and not any 
oiner people’s estates or goods which they had in their hands; and that 
they :night not offer up another body’s, but that which they had bought 
and paid fur, or were able to pay for. Afterwards several letters came 
out ot the country to the meeting at London, from friends that had 
goods of the shop-keepers at London upon credit, which they had not 
paid for; wno wrote to their creditors, intreating them to take their 
goods again. dad some friends came to London themselves, and treat- 
ed with their cieditors, letting them understand “they lay liable to 
have all they had taken from them ;” and told them, « they would not 
have any man to suffer by them; fewhee would they by suffering offer 
up any thing but what was really their own, or what they were able 
| to pay for.” Upon which several took their goods again. This wrought 
*a very good savour in il.e hearts of many people, when they saw such 
‘a righteous, just, and honest principle in friends, that would not make 
‘any “suffer for their testimuay ; but what they did suffer for the testimo- 
‘ny of Jesus should be really ‘and truly their own, not other peopie’s. 
‘In this they owed nothing to any but love. So in this every man and 
‘woman stands in the free offering, a free people, whether it be spiritual 
‘or temporal which is their own; and in that they wrong no man, nei- 
‘ther inwardly nor outwardly. Ornan said unto David, “I give thee 
“the threshing-floor, &c. and the oxen for burnt-offerings: and the 
- threshing- instruments for wocd, and the wheat for the meat- offering, I 
« give it all.” But king David said unto Ornan, “ nay, but I will verily 
“buy it for the full price ; for 1 will not take that which is thine for the 
“ Lord, nor offer burnt-offerings without cost,” 1 Chron. xxi. 22, &c. So 
it Blioiild be his own, and so snould it be ev ery man’s that oflers. You 
may see here, that David would not accept of another man’s gift for an 
offering to the Lord; he would not offer up that which cost him ne 


560 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1685 


‘thing, but what should be really his own, Psal. exii. 5. “A good man 
: will guide his affairs with discretion.” 


‘ Let this be read in your monthly and quarterly men’s and women’s 
‘ meetings. Gr, 
‘London, the 2d of the 
‘4th month, 1683.’ 


Some time after the yearly meeting I went to Kingston upon Thames 
to visit friends; and while | was there, it came upon me to write the 
following epistle to friends in general, as a salutation of love, and to stir 
up the pure mind in them. 


‘ Dear friends and brethren, 

‘Wuo are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan 
‘to God, who are believers in the light, which is the life in Christ, and 
‘are become children of the light ‘and of the day, grafted into Christ, 
‘the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, and are gathered in the name 
‘of Jesus, in whom ye have salvation, and not in any other name under 
‘the whole heaven. For Christ Jesus saith, “ Where two or three are 
“ gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matth. 
‘xvili. 20. So you being gathered in the name of Jesus, he is in the midst 
‘of you, a Saviour, a a iedcren a Prophet, a Shepherd, a Bishop, a 
‘Leader, a Counsellor, the Captain of your Salvation, who bruises the 
‘Serpent’s head, and destroys the devil and his works. Therefore, breth- 
‘ren in Christ leans, exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, 
‘lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For you 
‘are made partakers of Christ, if ye hold fast the beginning of your con- 
‘ fidence steadfast to the end, Hebr. iii. 14. Therefore | hear Christ’s voice ; 
‘for he is in the midst of you a teacher. Take heed lest there be in any 
‘of you an evil heart of unbelief, in. departing from the living God, .as 
‘there is in too many in this day of provocation and temptation. While 
‘it is to-day hear his voice, and let us consider one another, to provoke 
‘unto love and to good works. Let us hold fast the profession of our 
‘faith without wavering, for he is faithful that hath promised, and hath 
‘called you, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the 
‘manner of some is: mark, “as the manner of some is,” that did and 
‘do forsake the assembling of themselves together; but exhorting one 
‘another, and so much the more as you see the day of light appearing. 
‘For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the 
‘truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful 
‘looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the 
‘adversaries, Heb. x. Therefore it is good not to forsake the assembling 
‘of ourselves together, but exhort one another daily; for Christ is in the 

midst of his people a teacher and a prophet, who saith, “ Learn of me, 
“the way, the truth, and the life’ We being many are one body in 
‘Christ, gathered in his name, and every one members one of another. 
Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given us, 
whether they be prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion 
of faith; and let those that minister wait on their ministry; those that 
‘be (eee on their teaching; and he that exhorteth on exhortation ; 
‘he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; and he that ruleth, with 
‘diligence; and he that sheweth mercy is to do it with cheerfulness. 
- Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be kindly af 


1683] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 561 


‘fectioned one towards another, with brotherly love, in honour prefer- 
‘ring one another. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulations, “be not 
“ overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good ;” and, if it be possi- 
‘ble, as much as lieth in you, “live peaceably with all men;” Rom. xii. 
‘This is and was the practice of the church of Christ. And now the 
‘God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may 
‘abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. I myself also 
“am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, 
‘filled with all knowledge, and are able also to admonish one another, 
“Rom. xv. 18, 14. Here the church of Christ, in which he was in the 
‘midst, a teacher and the head of the church, were and are able through 
‘him to admonish one another. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 
‘to which ye are also called into one body, to wit, of Christ. Let the 
‘word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admon- 
‘ishing one another, &c. Col. iii. “ Whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, 
“do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God 
“and the Father by him;” and above all things put on charity, which is 
‘the bond of perfectness. The apostle saith to Timothy, “Be not thou 
“ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but 
“be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power 
“ of God, who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling; not ac- 
“cording to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, 
“which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” 2 Tim. i. 
‘8,9. It concerns every one not to be ashamed of the testimony of our 
‘Lord, who hath called them by his grace; and not to be ashamed of 
‘any of Christ’s prisoners, and afflicted ones for Christ’s and his gospel’s 
‘sake, who abolishes death, and brings life and immortality to light 
‘through his gospel; you that believe in the light, know it. Peter saith 

‘in his “general epistle to the church of Christ, “As every man,” mark 
‘every man, “hath received the gift, so minister the same one to an- 
“other, as good stewards of the “manifold grace of God. If any man 
“speak, let him speak as the oracles of God,” so not of men. “If any 
“man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives,” so not 
‘of the ability of men’s arts and sciences, “that God in all things may 
“be glorified through Jesus Christ,” &c. For these gifts and grace come 
‘from Jesus into the hearts of the members of his church, whom he is 
‘in the midst of. And if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be 


' ‘ashamed, but let him glorify God, &c. Every true Christian hath the 


‘presence of Christ, who hath all power in heaven and in earth given 
‘him, to support them with his power, light, and life. Christ saith to his 
‘believers, “ Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the coun- 
“cils, and they will scourge you in the synagogues, and you shall be 
“brought before governors and kings for my name’s sake, for a testi- 
‘ mony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, 
“take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you 
“in the same hour what ve shail speak: for it is not you that speak, but 
“the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. And ye shall be hated 
“of all men for my name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall 
“be saved. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above 
“his lord; it is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the 
“servant as his lord; for if they have called the master of the house 
“ Beelzebub, what will they do to his servant? Fear not them which kill the 
3V 


562 ‘ GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1582 


“body, but are not able to kill the soul, &c. A spairow shall not fall te 
“the ground without your heavenly Father, &c. The hairs of your head 
“are all numbered, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whoso- 


“ever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also be- — 
“ fore my Father which is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me before © 


men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. And who- 
“ soever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son 
‘‘of Man be ashamed,” &c. Matth. x. Again Christ saith, “ Whosoever 
“shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful 
“ generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he 
“comes in the glory of his Father with his holy angels,” Mark viii. 38. 
‘ And Christ saith to his disciples, ‘‘ He that receiveth you receiveth me, 
“and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me; he that receiveth 
“a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward ; 
“and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, 
“shall receive a righteous man’s reward. Whosoever shall give to drink 
“unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of 
“a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward,” 
‘Matth. x. 40, 41, 42. Here ye may see how Christ encourages his dis- 
‘ciples, and them that receive them. And John saith, “ Among the chief 
“rulers of the Jews many believed in Christ; but because of the Phari- 
“sees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the syna- 
“ gogue,” John xii. 42. Too many such believers are now-a-days, who 
‘dare not confess Christ, lest they should lose the favour of men. But 
‘Christ encourages the faithful disciples, and told them, they would put 
‘them out of their synagogues; yea, that the time should come, that who- 
‘soever killed them would think they did God service. ‘“ These things,” 
‘said he, “ will they do unto you, because they have not known the Fe- 
“ther, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time 
“shall come ye may remember that I told you of them,” John xvi. 2, 3, 4. 
‘Here ye may see what Christ told his Disciples should come to pass to 
‘them. And Saul, before he was converted, did compel the Christians 
‘to blaspheme, and make havock of the Church of Christ, Acts viii. and 
‘chap. 22 and 26. Did not the beast in the Revelations compel both small 
‘and great to worship him and his image? And did not all worship it, 
‘but those who had their names written in the Lamb’s book of life? Did 
‘not Nebuchadnezzar set up an image of sixty cubits high, and six cu- 
‘bits broad? And did not he cause a herald to ery aloud, “It is com- 
“ manded that all people, and nations, and languages fall down and wor- 
“ship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar hath set up; and whoso 
“falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the 
“midst of the fiery furnace?” And were not Shadrach, Meshach, and 
‘Abednego cast into the furnace? Dan. iii. But God delivered them, 
‘Therefore it is good to be faithful to God and his worship in spirit and 
truth. The Jews agreed, that if any man should confess Christ he 


should be put out of their synagogue, John ix. 22. So it was for Christ’s - 


sake they were excommunicated out of their synagogues. But, as it 
is written, “Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone, and a rock of of- 
fence; and whoso believes on him shall not be ashamed.” ‘So Christ is 
a stumbling-stone and a rock of offence to all the unbelievers in the 
light, which is the life in Christ, whether they be Jews, Christians, or 
Gentiles. The Jews did believe Christ was to come, from the scriptures, 
and the Christians believe he is come, by the scriptures, but do not be- 


1683) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 565 


‘lieve in the light as Christ commands, and so do not become children 
‘of the light. Therefore ye that are believers in the light, and are be- 
‘come the children of light, walk in Christ, your way, “life, and salva 
* tion. G. F’’ 
‘Kingston, the fifth month, 
‘1683.’ 


Before I left Kingston something further opened in me, which I was 
| moved to write and send amongst friends; as followeth. 


‘ Dear friends, 

‘ My love is to you all in the holy seed that reigns over all. And my 

‘ desire is that every one, both male and female, may feel the seed Christ 
| fin you, which is heir of the promise of life eternal, that ye may all grow 
| up in Christ Jesus, your head, and be built upon him the rock and foun- 
‘dation that God hath laid, which stands sure over all rocks and founda- 
| ‘tions in the world. ‘That ye may eat and drink of this spiritual rock, 
‘the spiritual water and food; so that ye may truly and inwardly say, 
‘your rock and foundation, your bread and water of life is from heaven, 

| ‘and your bread and water is sure; also that ve know his voice that 
‘feeds, and leads you into the pastures of life, which are always fresh 
| ‘and green. In this your affections are set on ‘things above, seeking that 
| ‘which comes down from above more than that eohicn is from below, 
| ‘where Christ sits at the right hand of God, making intercession for you; 
‘ who is your mediator, making peace betwixt God and you: and your 
| ‘heavenly bishop to oversee you, that ye keep in his light, life, and 
power, and do not go astray from his heavenly fold and pasture, that 
| *he your shepherd may feed you therein. He is your prophet, to open 
_ *to you the fulfilling of the promises and prophecies, himself being the 
‘substance; that ye may live in him, and he in you, yea, and reign in 
* your hearts; there to exercise his offices, his prophetical, priestly, and 
_ ‘kingly office, who is heavenly and spiritual. ‘That ye may know the 
‘three that bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, the Water, and the 
_* Blood, which is the Life of Christ, wie cleanseth from all sin; the 
_* Water that washes and refreshes you, the Spirit that baptizes, circum- 
_ ‘cises, and leads you into all truth; that ye may come all to drink into 
one Spirit, and keep the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of the 
heavenly peace. So being led by the Spirit of God, ye are his sons and 
‘daughters, and by his Spirit will come to know the three that bear wit- 
_ ‘ness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. These are 
‘the three witnesses that are in heaven, that bear record of all things; 
‘for he is God in the heaven, and God in the earth. Therefore I desire 
‘that ye may all feel his love shed in your hearts, and in it live, above 
the love of the world, which is enmity, and in that you will keep in the 
‘exellent way. For love edifies the body of Christ, builds his church 
‘up, and keeps out of the enmity; for it is above it, and brings and keeps 
‘all in true humanity, and in the true divinity ; and to be courteous, kind, 
‘and tender one towards another. And shew forth the nature of Christ 
‘and true christianity, in all your lives and conversations, that the bless 
‘ings of the Lord may rest upon you, as ye all live in the seed of the gos. 
: "pel, the seed of the kingdom of God, in which all nations are blessed. In 
that ve will all have a care of God’s glory. There is the hill or moun- 
tain where the light shines to the answering the witness of God in all, 
and the salt that is a good savour to the witness of God in the hearts of 


564 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL {i 


‘all; which savour and salt being kept i in, it doth not come under the feet 
‘of men. So my love to you all i in Christ Jesus, whom God hath give 
*to be a sanctuary for all his people, who is from above, and not of this 
‘world, in whom ye have life, peace, and salvation. In him God Al 
‘ mighty keep and preserve you all to his glory, Amen. As you live in 
the peaceable truth of God, it keeps you under and within his protection ; 
but they that make profession of the scriptures of truth, and yet live out 
of the truth, in the spirit of strife, unquietness, and discontent, in a con- 
triving, plotting, ravenous, destroying spirit, which is of the devil, and 
not of God, that spirit is judged out of the truth, and to be of him in 
‘whom there is no truth, whose portion is in the lake, and in the fire that 
burns. G. F? 7 
‘ Kingston, the 27th of the 
‘5th month, 1683.” 


Having visited friends at and about Kingston I returned to London; 
for it being a suffering time with friends there, I had not freedom to be 
long from the city. I went to the meeting at the Peel; which but a little 
before the justices and constables had broken up, and had carried them- 
selves very roughly; but that day the meeting was in the house, and 
quiet, and a glorious meeting it was, blessed be the Lord. 

On first-day following I “went to the meeting at Gracechurch-street, 
where I found three constables in the meeting-house, who kept friends 
out; so we met in the court. After I had been some time in the meet- 
ing, I stood up, and spoke to the people, and continued speaking a pretty 
while. Then one of the constables came, took hold of my hand, and said, 
‘I must come down.’ I desired him to be patient, and went on speaking 
to the people; but after a little time he plucked me down, and had me 
into the meeting-house. I asked them, if they were not weary of this 
work? One of them said, ‘ Indeed they were.’ They let me go into the 
widow Foster’s house, which joined to the meeting- -house, where I staid, 
being hot. When the meeting was ended, for one prayed after I was 
taken away, the constables asked some friends, ‘ Which of them would 
pass their words that ‘1 should appear, if they should be questioned abou 

me! But the friends telling them, ‘ They need not require that, for 

‘was a man well known in the city to be one that would neither fly nor 

‘shrink;’ they came not to me, but went their way, and I[ heard no 
further of it.’ The same week I was at the meeting at the Savoy, whic 
used to be kept out and disturbed; but that day it was within doors an 
peaceable, and a precious meeting it was. The first-day after it was upo 
me to go to the meeting at Wee minster. where used to be great disturb- 
ances: but there also the meeting was within doors that day, and was 
very large. The Lord’s power was over all, and kept all quiet and still 
for ‘though many loose spirits were there, yet they were bound down b 
the power and Spirit of the Lord, that they could not get up to mak 
disturbance. 

About this time I was moved to write the following epistle: 


‘Friends and brethren, 

‘ Wuo have received the peaceable truth, let the fruits of its peacea. 
bleness, and of your quiet spirit appear in all your meetings and in a 
your words and actions; for he that inhabits ‘eternity dwells with a 
‘humble heart, and he gives grace to the humble, and resisteth the prou 
Ueaven is his throne, and the earth ye walk upon is his footstool: happ 


1683] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 565 


’ 


are ye that see and know him that is invisible. And now, friends, let 
‘all things be done in your meetings and otherwise, in love, without 
“strife, or vain-glory. For love fulfils the law, love overe »mes and edi- 
‘fies the body of Christ. There is neither self, nor envy in love, neither 
‘is it puffed up; but abides and bears all things. See that this love of 
‘God have the sway in you all, and over you all. Christ saith, “ Blessed 
“are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are 
“they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek 
“for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst 
“after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful 
“for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they 
“ shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called 
“the children of God. Blessed are they that are persecuted for right- 
“eousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye 
“when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner 
“of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad: 
“for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the proph- 
“ets that were before you.” Now friends, here is a great deal in these 
‘words. All must be in these states and conditions, if they have these 
‘blessings. The children of God are peace-makers, and strive to make 
‘peace in the truth; and to live in peace with all men, if it be possible 
‘So live in the peace and the good-will to all men; which good-will is 
‘both for their sanctification and salvation. And friends, consider, the 
‘wisdom of God, which is from above, is pure, peaceable, gentle, ane 
‘easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality 
‘and without hypocrisy. Dear friends, let this pure, peaceable, gentle 
‘wisdom that is from above, that is easy to be intreated, and is full of 
‘mercy and good fruits, be exercised and practised in all the true 
‘churches of Christ; that wisdom may be justified of her children. For 
‘the works of the flesh, or fleshly spirit, are hatred, variance, wrath 
‘strife, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, adultery, fornication, lascivi- 
‘ousness, uncleanness, &c. and they which do such things, shall not in 
“herit the kingdom of God. But the fruits of the Spirit of God are love 
‘joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temper- 
“ance, &c. So, dear friends and brethren, strive to exceed one another 
‘and all people upon the earth in humility, in meekness, in gentleness, in 
‘temperance, in love, in patience, in pureness, and in mercy; then ye 
‘ will shew forth the fruits of the Spirit of God, and of his heavenly wis- 
‘dom that is from above. In this, wisdom will be justified of her chil- 
‘dren; and ye will be the salt of the earth, and a light to the world set 
“on an hill, that cannot be hid: and your moderation will appear to al, 
‘men. Be ye just and righteous, faithful and true in all your words, deal- 
‘ings, and conversations; that ye may answer the truth in all people: for 
‘Christ saith, his father is glorified by such as bring forth fruits, when 
‘men see their good works; for he that doth righteousness, is accepted 
“with God. And he that dwells in love, dwells in God; for love is his 
‘habitation. Let that be the habitation of every one that hath received 
‘the truth: for if it be not, such do not dwell in God, let them profess what 
‘they will. Therefore my desire is, that all you, who have received 
‘Christ the seed, which bruises the serpent’s head, may walk in him yorr 
‘sanctuary, life, and salvation, your rest and peace, Amen. G. F’ 

London, the 14th of the 
‘6th month, 1683.’ 


566 GEORGE FOX’S JUURNAL. (1683 


I continued yet at London, labouring in the work and service of the 
Lord both in and out of meetings ; sometimes visiting friends in prison 
for the testimony of Jesus, encouraging them in their sufferings, and ex- 


horting them to stand faithful and steadfast in the testimony which the 


Lord had committed to them to bear: sometimes also visiting those that 
were sick and weak in body, or troubled in mind, helping to bear ‘heir 
spirits up from sinking under their infirmities. Sometimes our meetings 
were quiet and peaceable, sometimes they were disturbed and broken up 
by the officers. One first-day it was upon me to go to the meeting at 
the Savoy, which was large: for many professors and sober people were 
there. The Lord opened many precious weighty things in me to the 
people, which I declared amongst them, and ‘ directed them to the Spirit 
‘of God in themselves, which the Lord had given them a measure of; 
‘that all by the Spirit might understand the Scriptures, which were giv- 
‘en forth from the Spirit of God; and that by the Spirit of God they 
‘might know God, and Christ whom God hath sent, whom to know is 
‘eternal life; and that by the Spirit they might all come into Christ, and 
‘know him to be their sanctuary, who destroys the devil, the destroyer, 
‘and his works, and bruises the serpent’s head. For Christ was a sanc- 
‘tuary to them to whom ne was a Saviour, whom he saved from the 
‘destroyer. And Christ did baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with 
‘fire, and did thoroughly purge his floor, and burn up their chaff with 
‘unquenchable fire; that is, sim and corruption, which is got into man 
‘and woman by their transgression: but Christ gathereth his wheat into 
‘his garner. So all that are baptized with Christ’s baptism, their wheat 
‘is in God's garner; and no spoiler can get into God’s garner to meddle 
‘with the wheat there, though they may be permitted to meddle with the 
‘outward goods,’ &c. As I was speaking in the power of the Lord, and 


the people were greatly affected therewith, on a sudden the constables, — 


with the rude people, came in like a sea. One of the constables said, 


‘Come down,’ and laid hands on me. I asked him, ‘ Art thou a chris- — 
‘tian! We are christians.’ He had hold on my hand, and was very 
fierce to pluck me down; but J stood still. and spoke a few words to the ~ 
people; desiring of the Lord, that the blessings of God might rest upon ~ 


them all. The constable still called upon me to come down, and at 


length plucked me down, and bid another man with a staff, ‘Take and — 
gin p 


* carry me to prison.’ That man had me to another officer’s house, who 
was more civil; and after awhile they brought in four friends more, 
whom they had taken. I was very weary, and in a great sweat; and 
several friends hearing where I was, came to me in the constable’s 
house: but I bid them all go their ways, lest the constables and inform- 
ers should stop them. After awhile the constables had us almost a mile 
to a justice, who was a fierce, passionate man: who, after he had asked 
me my name, and his clerk had taken it in writing, upon the constable’s 
informing him, ‘ That I preached in the meeting,’ said in an angry man- 
ner, ‘Do not you know that it is contrary to the king’s laws to preach 
‘in such conventicles, contrary to the liturgy of the church of England? 
There was present one Shad, a wicked informer, who was said to have 
broken gaol at Coventry, and to have been burnt in the hand at London, 
who hearing the justice speak so to me, stepped up to him, and told him, 

That he had convicted them on the act of the 22d of king Charles the 

Second.’ ‘What! you convict them” said the justice. * Yes,’ said 
Shad, ‘I have convicted them, and you must convict them too upon that 


‘ 


1683] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 567 
‘act.’ With that the justice was angry with him, and sail, ‘ You teach 


*me! What are you? I'll convict them of a riot’ The informer hear- 


ing that, and seeing the justice angry, went away in a fret; so he was 
disappointed of his purpose. I thought he would have sworn somebody 
against me: whereupon I said, ‘ Let no man swear against me, for it is 
“my principle, ‘ Not to swear ;’ and therefore 1 would not have any man 
“swear against me.’ The justice thereupon asked me, ‘If I did not 
‘preach in the meeting” I told him, ‘I did confess what God and Christ 
‘had done for my soul; and did praise God. I thought I might have 
‘done that in the streets, and in all places, viz. praise God, and confess 
‘Christ Jesus; which I was not ashamed to confess. Neither was this 
‘contrary to the liturgy of the church of England.’ The justice said, 
‘The laws were against such meetings as were contrary to the liturgy 
‘of the church of England.’ I said, ‘1 knew no such laws against our 
‘meetings; but if he did mean that act that was made against such as 
‘did meet to plot, contrive, and raise insurrections against the king, we 
‘were no such people, but did abhor all such actions; and did bear true 
‘love and good-will to the king, and to all men upon the earth.’ The 
justice then asked me, ‘If I had been in orders” I told him, No. Then 
he took his law-books, and searched for laws against us, bidding his clerk 
take the names of the rest the mean time. But when he could find no 
other law against us, the clerk swore the constable against us. Some 
of the friends bid the constable ‘take heed what he swore, lest he were 
‘perjured ; for he took them in the entry, and not in the meeting.’ Yet 
the constable, being an ill man, swore, ‘ That they were in the meeting.’ 
However, the justice said, ‘Seeing there was but one witness, he would 
‘discharge the rest; but he would send me to Newgate, and I might 
‘preach there.’ I asked him, ‘If it stood with his conscience to send me 
‘to Newgate for praising God, and for confessing Christ Jesus?” He 
cried, ‘Conscience! conscience!’ but I felt. my words touched his con- 
science. He bid the constable ‘take me away, and he would make a 
‘ mittimus to send me to prison when he had dined.’ I told him, ‘I de- 
‘sired his peace, and the good of his family; and that they might be kept 
‘in the fear of the Lord.’ So I passed away, and as I went the consta- 
ble took some friends’ word that I should come to his house the next 
morning by the eighth hour. Accordingly I did go with those friends, 
and the constable told us he went to the justice for the mittimus after he 
had dined; and the justice bid him, «Come again after the evening ser- 
‘vice ;’ which he did; and then the justice told him, ‘He might let me 
‘go.’ So, said the constable, you are discharged. I blamed him for 
turning informer, and swearing against us. He said, ‘He would do so 
‘no.more.’ Next day, the justice meeting with Gilbert Laty, asked him, ° 
‘If he would pay twenty pounds for George Fox’s fine” He said, 
«No.’ ‘Then,’ said the justice, ‘I am disappointed; for, being but a 
lodger, I cannot come by his fine; and he having been brought before 
me and being of ability himself, I cannot lay his fine on any other.’ 
After I was discharged, I went into the city. The same week the 
sessions coming on, where many friends were concerned, some as pris- 
oners, and some on trials of appeals upon the conventicle act, I went to 
a friend’s house not far off, that I might be in readiness to assist those 
friends with counsel, or otherwise, as occasion should offer; and I found 
service in it. But as my spirit was concerned on behalf of friends, with 
respect to their outward sufferings by the persecutors without; so an 


568 GFORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. "683 


exercise also came weightily upon me at this time, in the sense I had of 
ne mischievous working of that adulterated spirit, which, being gone 
out from the heavenly unity, and having drawn out some that professed 
truth into enmity and opposition against friends, endeavoured to trouble 
the church of Christ with their janglings and contention. And as a fur 
ther discovery of the working of that seducing spirit, and a warning to 
all friends to beware of it, I was moved to write the following epistle : 


‘To all the elect, faithful, called, and chosen of God, the flock and 
‘heritage of God, who have been acquainted with the dealings 
‘of the Lord, and have kept your habitations in his life, power, 
‘and truth, being built upon the holy heavenly Rock and Founda- 
‘tion Christ Jesus, who was the foundation of the prophets and 
‘apostles; which foundation stands sure : 


‘ Many foundations have been laid since the apostles’ days, by such as 
‘have gone from Christ the true and sure foundation: and their founda- 
‘tions have proved rotten, and come to nought, and themselves haye come’ 
‘to loss. Many since the day of Christ, and the truth hath appeared in 
‘ this nation, have had some openings and sights, and come among us for 
‘a time, and then gone from us again; who have been the comers and 
‘ goers, like those in the apostles’ days. Such had an outward profession 
‘of the truth, and have gone from the true foundation Christ Jesus, and 
‘so from the heavenly society and unity of the saints in light. Then 
‘they set up foundations of their own, and having a form of godliness, 
‘but out of the power thereof, out of the order thereof, such have turned 
‘to janglings and vain disputings. This spirit you have been acquainted 

with, who have kept your habitations in Christ Jesus, the First and the 
‘Last. And you are not insensible of the scurrilous and filthy books of 
‘lies and defamations which have been spread abroad in this nation and 
‘beyond sea against the faithful. It is very well that the Lord hath 
‘suffered them to publish their own shame in print, that truth’s enemies 
‘may be discovered; their fruits and spirits have appeared, and mani- 
‘fested themselves both in print and otherwise. And I believe the Lord 
‘ will yet suffer this spirit so to publish its fruits, its shame and nakedness, 
‘to professor and prophane, and to all sober, moderate and innocent peo- 
‘ple, that its shame and nakedness may more fully appear. Though for 
‘a time it hath been hid and covered with the fig-leaves of an outward 
‘ profession, and sometimes with fawning and flattering words, as at 
‘other times it hath discovered itself by rough, lying, and defaming 
‘words, yet the Lord God will blast all such vain talkers, that do not 
‘walk in the order of life, truth, and the gospel. Therefore, ye that are 
‘ faithful, stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free 
‘in his government. It is upon his shoulders: he bears it up: of the in- 
crease of it and of its peace there is no end. For all quarrellers against 
‘his order and government are not in him, nor in his heavenly, spi tua] 
‘government and peace. Therefore, ve faithful ones, who have stood 
the trial through many persecutions, imprisonments, spoilings of goods, 
you know there is a crown of glory laid up for you. You that suffer 
‘with Christ, shall reign with him in his kingdom of glory; ye that die 
with Christ, shall live with him in eternal life, in the world that hath no 
end, who have gone through the sufferings without, and within by false 
brethren, by comers and goers, that have caused the way of truth to be 
evil spoken of, and have been persecutors of the faithful with their — 


1683) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 569 


tongues; and by printing and publishing their lying, defaming books 

against the faithful. These have stirred up magistrates and priests, 
‘who were willing to get any occasion to speak evil of the right way 
“and precious truth of Christ, by which his people are made free: such 
‘had better never have been born. But God hath brought them to light, 
‘and their fruits and ravenous spirit are seen, savoured, and known; who 
‘are become Judas’s and sons of perdition, to betray Christ now within 
* (where he is made manifest) to the priests, magistrates, and prophane, as 

Judas betrayed Christ without to the priests and Pilate. Though some 

of the magistrates and sober people see their envy and folly, and that 
‘they have more malice than matter against the faithful. The Lord will 
‘consume this Judas, or son of perdition! The Lord will consume him 
‘with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy him with the brightness of his 
‘coming! So let all the faithful look unto the Lord. And let that wicked 
*son of perdition know, though he may be got as high as Judas, who was 

*partaker of the ministry with the apostles, “the Lord will consume 
“him with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy him with the brightness 
“of his coming.” That is his portion. The brightness of the Lord will 
‘destroy him, and the Spirit of his mouth will consume him. And when 
‘he is destroyed and consumed, there will not be a son of perdition to 
‘betray Christ in his people, and his’ people that live and walk in Christ, 
‘who hath all power in heaven (mark, in heaven) and in earth given to 
‘him; and with his holy and glorious power he limits and orders; so 
‘ that ‘nothing shall be done against his people, but what is suffered for 
‘their trial and their good, “neither by apostates, persecutors with the 
‘tongue, Jndas's, sons of perdition to betray, or the outward powers to 
‘imprison, or spoil goods; all these are limited by Christ who hath all 
* power in heaven and earth given to him. Every one’s faith is to stand 
‘in him and his power. Such rejoice in his power, and see the increase 
‘of his righteous, holy, heavenly, spiritual, peaceable gov ernment, in 
‘which the glorious, holy order of life is lived and walked in by all 
‘his sons and daughters; and in his Spirit is the holy unity and bond of 

‘peace. Though ye be absent in body one from another, yet all joying 
‘and rejoicing, ‘being present in his Spirit, and beholding in the same 
‘Spirit your spiritual order, unity, fellowship, and the steadfastness of 
‘your faith in Christ Jesus, who is steadfast for ev er, the First and the 
‘ Last, whose presence is among his people, and who is their head. Here 
‘is heavenly Sion known, and heavenly Jerusalem, and the innumerable 
‘ company of angels (which are spirits) and the spirits of the just men made 
‘perfect. Here is the general assembly, or general meeting, and a gene- 
‘ral heavenly, holy, and spiritual joy and rejoicing, lauding and praising 
‘the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb that lives for evermore. Amen. 

‘Go? 


‘ London, the 14th of the 
‘8th month, 1683.’ 


‘Read this in your assemblies amongst the faithful.’ 


I tarried a little in London, “isiting friends and meetings, and labour- 
ing in the work of the Lord. And being ona first-day at the Bull and 
Mouth, where the meeting had long been kept without, it was that day 
in the house, peaceable and large: “the people were so affected with the 
truth, and refreshed with the powerful presence of the,Lord, that when 


the n-eeting ended, they were loth to go away 
3 W 


AYAU GEORGE FOX’'S JOURNAL. 


After some time, having several things upon me ‘to write, I went to 
Kingston, that I might be free from interruptions. When I came there 
1 understood the otticers had been very rude at the meeting, abusing 
friends, and had driven them out of the meeting-place, and very abusive 
they continued to be for some time. Whilst I was there, I wrote a little 
book (printed soon after) the title whereof was: ‘ The saints’ heavenly 
‘and spiritual worship, unity, and communion, &c. wherein is set fo 
‘what the true gospel-worship is, and in what the true unity and com- 
‘mun‘on of the saints stands; with a discovery of those that were gone 
‘from, this holy unity and communion, and were turned against the saints 
that abode therein.’ : 

When I had finished the services for which I went thither, and had 
visited the friends, I returned to London, and visited most of the meet- 
ings in and about the city. Afterwards I went to visit a friend in Essex; 
and returning by Dalston, I made some stay at the widow Stot’s, where 
I wrote an epistle to friends, which may be read amongst my other 
printed books. 

I came from Dalston to London, and the next day was sent for in haste — 
to my son Rouse’s at Kingston; whose daughter Margaret lay very sick, 
and had a desire to see me. I tarried at Kingston about a week, and 
then returned to London; where I continued most part of the winter and 
the spring following, until the general meeting in 1684, save that I went 
once as far as Enfield, to visit friends thereabouts. In this time I ceased 
not to labour in the work of the Lord, being frequent at meetings, and 
visiting friends that were prisoners, or that were sick, and in writing 
books for the spreading of truth, and opening the understandings of peo- 
ple to receive it. 

The vearly meeting was in the third month. A blessed, weighty meet- 
ing it was, wherein friends were sweetly refreshed together; for the — 
Lord was with us, and opened his heavenly treasures amongst us. And 
though it was a time of great difficulty and danger, by reason of in- 
formers and persecuting magistrates, yet the Lord was a defence and — 
place of safety to his people. 

Now I had drawings in Spirit to go into Holland, to visit the seed of 
God in those provinces. And as soon as the yearly meeting was over, 
I prepared for my journey. There went with me from London Alexan 
der Parker, George Watts, and Nathaniel Brassey, who also had draw- 
ings into that country. We took coach the 31st of the third month 1684, 
and got to Colchester that night. Next day, being first-day, we went to— 
the meeting there; and though there was no notice given of my coming, 
our being there was preseutly spread over the town, and in several 
places in the country, at seven and ten miles distance ; so that abundance 
ot friends came in double-horsed, which made the meeting very large. — 
I had a concern and travail in my mind, lest this great gathering should 
have stirred up the town, and been more than the magistrates could well 
bear; but it was very quiet and peaceable, and a glorious meeting we 
had, to the settling and stablishing of friends both in the town and coun- 
try: for the Lord’s power was over all; blessed be his name for ever! 
Truly, the Lord’s power and presence was beyond words; for I was but 
weak to go into a meeting, and my face (by reason of a cold) was sore: 
but God manifested his strength in us and with us, and all was well; the 
Lord have the glory for evermore for his supporting power. After the 
meeting, came I think, above an hundred friends cf the town and coun- 


i 


1684) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 57. 


try to see me at John Furley’s. Very glad we were to set »ne anther 
and greatly refreshed we were together, being filled with the love and 
riches of the Lord; blessed be his name for ever! 

We tarried at Colchester two days more; which we spent in visiting 
friends, both at their meetings for business, and at their houses. Early 
in the morning on fourth-day we took coach for Harwich, where we 
met William Bingley and Samuel Waldenfield, who went over with us. 
About the eighth hour at night we went on board the packet-boat, Rich- 
ard Gray, master; but by reason of contrary winds it was the first hour 
in the morning before we sailed. We had a very good passage; and 
about the fifth hour in the afternoon next day we landed at the Brill in 
Holland, where we staid that night. Early next morning we went to 
Rotterdam, where we abode some days. ‘The next day after we came 
to Rotterdam, one Wilbert Frouzen, a burgomaster, and kinsman of 
Aarent Sunneman’s, hearing I was there, invited me to his country- 
house, having a desire to speak with me about some business relating to 
Aarent Sunneman’s daughters. I took George Watts with me, and a 
brother of Aarent Sunneman’s had us thither. The burgomaster re- 
ceived us very kindly, was glad to see me, and entering into discourse 
about his kinsman’s daughters, I found he was apprehensive that, their 
father being dead, and having left them considerable portions, they might 
be stolen, and married to their disadvantage. Wherefore I told him, ‘It 
‘was our principle and practice, that none should marry amongst us, 
‘unless they had a certificate of the consent of their relations-or guar- 
‘dians; for it was our Christian care to watch over and look after all 
‘young people that came among us, especially those whose relations 
‘were dead. And as for his kinsman’s daughters, we should take care 
‘that nothing should be offered to them but what should be agreeable to 
‘truth and righteousness, and that they might be preserved in the fear 
‘of God, according to their father’s mind.’ This seemed to give him 
great satisfaction. While I was with him, there came many great peo- 
ple to me; and ‘I exhorted them all to keep in the fear of God, and to 
‘mind his good Spirit in them, to keep their minds to the Lord.’ After 
I had staid two or three hours, and discoursed with them of severa: 
things, I took my leave, and he very kindly sent me to Rotterdam in his 
chariot. 

Next day, being first-day, we were at the meeting at Rotterdam, 
which was pretty large, and declared to the people by an interpreter. 
The day following alderman Gaul came to speak with me, with whom 
we had much discourse about religious matters; wherewith he seemed 
to be well satisfied, and was very tender. Several other persons of ac- 
count intended to have come to speak with me, but being hindered by 
extraordinary business (as I understood) they came not. 

We wert next day from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, where we had a 
arge and very precious meeting. In the afternoon I was at another 
meeting wit! friends there, about business. 

There is a yearly meeting at Amsterdam for the friends of Holland 
and Germany, &c. which begun now the eighth of the fourth month, 
and ended the twelfth. Here we had a fine opportunity of seeing friends 
from divers parts, and of being refreshed together in the love of God. 
After this meeting, before those that came out of the several provinces 
were gone, we had a meeting with some particular friends, about the 
places and countries into which we, who came out of England in the 


— 


572 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1684 


work of the ministry, were to travel; and to inquire who among them — 
were suitable persons to go along with us as interpreters. This con- 
cluded on, William Bingley and Samuel Waldenfield took shipping for 
Friesland, with Jacob Claus their interpreter. 

Alexander Parker and George Watts remained with me. We tarried 
a few days longer at Amsterdam, where I had further service. Before 
I left Amsterdam, I went to visit Galenus Abrahams, a teacher of chief 
note among the Mennonites, or Baptists. J had been with him when 1 
was in Holland about seven years before; and William Penn and George 
Keith had disputes with him. He was then very high and very shy, so 
that he would not let me touch him, nor look upon him (by his good- 
will) but bid me “ Keep my eyes off him; for,” he said, “ they pierced 
“him.” But now he was very loving and tender, and confessed in some 
measure to truth: his wife also and daughter were tender and kind, and 
we parted from them very lovingly. Feeling our spirits drawn towards 
Friesland, Alexander Parker, George Watts, and I, having John Claus 
of Amsterdam with us for our interpreter, took shipping at Amsterdam 
for Friesland, and having sailed nine or ten leagues, we left the ship and 
travelled through Friesland, visiting friends and tender people in the 
towns and villages, having commonly one, sometimes two meetings in a 
day. After we had been at Leuwarden, we passed by Franeker te 
Harlingen in West-Friesland, which was the furthest place we went te 
that way. And having been out six days from Amsterdam, and had 
very good service in that time, in visiting friends and publishing truth 
amongst the people, we took ship at Harlingen for Amsterdam the 26th 
of the fourth month, and arrived there that night. The first-day follow- 
ing we were at the meeting at Amsterdam, which was very large and 
precious. Many of the people were there, and some of their teachers, 
some great persons also. They seemed very attentive, and a good op- 
portunity we all had, one after another, to declare the word of the Lord 
and open the way of truth amongst them, John Claus interpreting for 
us. I tarried the next day at Amsterdam; but George Watts went to 
a burial at Harlem, where many hundreds of people were; amongst 
whom he had a good opportunity, and came back at night to us. 

The day following we went by boat to Osanoverton in Waterland, 
and from thence in another small boat about a league over a small river, 
where we passed over and by an hundred bridges, and so to Lansmeer 
to a friend’s, whose name was Timon Peters; where we had a very 
good meeting. We returned to Amsterdam at night, and were at the 
meeting there next day. Many were at this meeting besides friends, 
among the rest the great Baptist-teacher Galenus, who was very atten- 
tive to the testimony of the truth, and when the meeting was done came 
and got me by the hand very lovingly. 

We went next day by boat to Alkmaer, about eight leagues from Am- 
sterdam, passing through Sardam, the great town of ship-carpenters, 
and several other towns in the way. At Alkmaer, which is a pretty 
city, we staid and had a meeting next day at William Williams’s. There 
were, besides friends, many very sober people at this meeting, who were 
very attentive to the testimonies of truth that were borne by Alexander 
Parker, George Watts,. and myself, John Claus being our interpreter 
This was on a sixth-day, and on the seventh we returned to Amste dam, 
being willing to be at the meeting on first-day, because it was like to. be 


ed 


1684] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 573 


the last meeting we should have there. Accordingly we were at t, and 
a very large and open meeting it was. Many great persons were pres- 
ent, some earls, we were told, with their attendants, out of Germany 
who were very grave and sober; and the everlasting gospel was preach 
ed unto them. 

After this meeting we took leave of the friends of Amsterdam, and 
next morning departed to Harlem, where we had a meeting ata friend’s, 
whose name is Abraham Frondenberg. Great numbers of people were 
at this meeting, and of great service it was. After the meeting, a watch- 
maker of Amsterdam, who with his wife was at the meeting, desired to 
speak with me concerning religion. I had pretty much discourse with 
him, and both he and she were very low and tender, received with glad- 
ness what I spoke to them, and seemed to depart well satisfied. 

We went next day to Rotterdam, where we tarried two meetings, 
and the sixteenth of the fifth month went to the Brill, to take ship for 
England. 

About four in the afternoon, we went on board the packet-boat, Wil- 
liam Sherman, master, and set sail from the Brill. When we had gone 
over the Mase about a league, we cast anchor at a place called the Pit, 
because it is near the sands, where we tarried till about four next morn- 
ing; when having a pretty fair wind, and the tide with us, we weighed 
anchor, and by four next day were within five leagues of Heeeiell over 
against Alborough castle; but the wind falling short, and the tide being 
weak, it was the first pane in the afternoon before we came so near 
Harwich that boats could come to receive the passengers and goods. 
There were on board about forty passengers in all. of which some were 
English, some Scots, some Dutch, some French, some Spanish, some 
Flemish, and some Jews. 

I spent a day with friends at Harwich, while Alexander Parker and 
George Watts went to visit friends at Ipswich, and returned at night. 
Next morning early we all took coach for Colchester, and were at the 
meeting there, which was large and peaceable: after the meeting we 
travelled to Witham and lodged there that night. Next day, W illiam 
Mead meeting us on the way at Harestreet, T went with him to his 
house, and the other friends went for London. 

Here, being weak with travel and continual exercise, I spent some 
time to rest myself and recover my health; visiting in the meantime 
friends in that part of the country as I was able to cet abroad. When 
I was a little recovered I went to Enfield, visiting friends there and 
thereabouts, so to Dalston to see the widow Stot, and from thence to 
London; some friends being come over from New-Jersey in America 
about business which I was desired to be present at. 

It was the latter end of the summer when I came to London, where 
I staia the winter following; save once or twice, my wife being in town 
with ne: I went with her to her son Rouse’s at Kingston. And though 
my body was very weak, yet | was in continual service either in publick 
meetings, when I was able to bear them, or in particular businesses among 
friends, and visiting those that were sufferers for truth, either by impris- 
onment or loss of goods. Many things also in this time I wrote, some 
for the press and some for particular. service; as letters to the king of 
Denmark, and one to the duke of Helstein, on behalf of friends that 
wele sufferers in his dominions; whereof the following is a copy : 


574 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. O84 


‘For the duke of Holstein; 


‘Whom I do intreat in the love of God to read over this wnien is sent 
‘in love to him. 


‘I unperstanD that formerly, by some evil-minded persons, it was re- 
‘ported to thee, when Elizabeth Hendricks came to Frederickstadt to 
visit the people called Quakers, “that it was a scandal to the christian 
‘religion that a woman should be suffered to preach ina publick assem- 
‘¢ bly religiously gathered together,” &c. Upon which thou gavest forth 
‘an order to the rulers of Frederickstadt, “ to make the said people leave 
“that place forthwith, or to send them away.” But the said rulers be- 
‘ing Arminians, and they or their fathers being come to live there as a 
‘people persecuted in Holland, not much above threescore years ago, 
‘made answer to the duke, “they were not willing to persecute others 
“ for conscience-sake, who had looked upon persecution on that account 
“in their own case as antichristian,” &c. But after that, the people of 
‘God, in scorn called Quakers, did write to thee, from Frederickstadt ; 
‘and since that time they have had their liberty, and their meetings 
‘peaceable, to serve and worship God almost these twenty years at 
‘Frederickstadt and thereabouts, freely without molestation; which lib- 
‘erty they have acknowledged asa great favour and kindness from thee. 
‘And now, O duke, thou professing christianity from the great and 
‘mighty name of Christ Jesus, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, 
‘and the holy scriptures of truth of the Old and New Testament, do not 
‘ you use many women’s words in your service and worship out of the 
‘Old and New Testament? The apostle saith, “ Let your women keep 
“silence in the churches;” and that he “did not permit a woman to 
“speak, but to be under obedience; and if she will learn any thing, to 
“ask her husband at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in 
“the church.” And 1 Tim. ii. 11, 12. “ Women are to learn in silence, 
“and not suffered to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to 
“be in silence,” 1 Cor. xiv. 34. Here the duke may see what sort of 
‘women were to be in silence and subjection, whom the law commands 
‘to be silent, and net to usurp authority over the man, nor to speak in 
‘the church; these were unruly women. In the same chapter he com- 
‘mands “not to plait nor broider their hair, nor to wear gold, pearls, or 
“ costly array.” These things were forbidden by the apostle, and women 
‘that wear such things are to learn in silence and to be subject, and not 
‘to usurp authority over the men; for it is a shame for such to speak in 
‘the church. But do not such women as these that wear gold and sil- 
‘ver, pearls and gaudy apparel, or costly array, and plait and broider 
‘their hair, speak in your church, when your priest sets them to sing 
‘psalms? Don’t they speak when they sing psalms? Consider this, O 
‘duke! Yet you say, “ Your women must keep silence in the church, 
“and must not speak in the church ;” but when they sing psalms in your 
‘churches, are they silent? Though the apostle forbids such women as 
‘before-mentioned to speak in the church, vet in another place he en- 
‘courages the good or holy women to be teachers of good things, Tit. 
ii. 8,4. The apostle also said, “I intreat thee, true yoke-fellow, help 
‘those women which laboured with me in the gospel, and with other my 
‘ fellow-labourers, whose names are written in the book of life.” Here 
he owns these holy women, and encourages them which laboured with 
nim in the gospel, and did not forbid them, Phil. iv. 2.3. He likewise 


1684] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 575 


commends Pheebe unto the church of the Romans, calls het a “ servant 
“unto the church of Cenchrea,” sends his epistle by her to the Romans 
‘from Corinth, and desires the church at Rome to “receive her in the 
«“ Lord, as becometh saints ;” and to assist her, “ in whatsoever business 
“she had need of; for she had been a succourer of many, and of him 
“ also:” And he said, “ Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ 
« Jesus, who have for my life laid down their necks; unto whom not 
“only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Now 
‘here the duke may see, these were good holy women, whom the apos- 
‘tle did not forbid speaking, Rom. xvi. 1, 2, 3, 4. but commended them. 
‘ And Priscilla and Aquila “ instructed and expounded unto Apollos the 
“ way of God more perfectly,” Acts xvilil. 26. So here Priscilla was an 
‘instructor as well as Aquila, which holy women the apostle doth not 
‘forbid. Neither did he forbid Philip’s four daughters, who were virgins, 
‘to prophesy. Women might pray and prophesy in the church, 1 Cor. 
‘xi. 5. The apostles shewed to the Jews the fulfilling of Joel’s prophecy: 
“ That in the last days God would pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh, 
‘and their sons and daughters, servants and handmaids, should prophesy 
“with the Spirit or God.” ‘So the apostle encourages daughters and 
‘ handmaids to prophesy, as well as sons: and if they do prophesy, they 
* must speak to the church or people, Joel ii. 28. Acts xvii. 18. Did not 
‘ Miriam the prophetess sing unto the Lord, and all the women with her, 
‘ when the Lord had delivered the children of Isracl from Pharaoh? Did 
‘not she praise the Lord, and prophesy in the congregation of ‘the chil- 
‘dren of Israel? Was not this in the church? Exod. xv. 21. Moses and 
‘ Aaron did not forbid her prophesying or speaking; but Moses said, 
* Would God all the Lord’s people were prophets!” And the Lord’s 
‘people are women as well as men. Deborah was a judge and a pro- 
phetess ; and do not you make use of Deborah’s and Miriam’s words in 
your service and worship? See Jud. v. 1 to 31. Deborah’s large speech 
‘or song. Barak did not forbid her, nor none of the Jewish priests. Did 
‘not she make this speech or song in the congregation or church of 
‘Israel? In the book of Ruth there are good speeches of those good 
‘women, which were not forbidden. Hannah prayed in the temple be- 
* fore Eli, and the Lord answered her prayer. See what a speech Han- 
‘nah makes, and a praising of God before Eli the high-priest, who did 
‘not forbid her, 1 Sam. ii. 1 to 10. Josiah the king sent his priest, with 
* several others, to ask counsel of Huldah the prophetess, who dwelt at 
‘ Jerusalem in the college, 2 King. xxii. 14. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 22. So here 
‘the king and his priests did not despise the counsel of this prophetess ; 
‘and she prophesied to the congregation of Israel, as may be seen in 
‘these chapters. In Luke i. 41 to 55. see what a godly speech Elizabeth 
‘made to Mary, and what a large godly speech Mary made also. Mary 
‘said, “that the Lord did regard the low estate of his handmaid.” &e. 
‘And don’t you make use in your worship and service of Mary’s and 


_ Elizabeth’s words from Luke ii. 41 to 55. in your churches, and yet 


‘forbid women’s speaking in your churches, and but to be in silence? 
Yet all sorts of women speak in your churches when they sing, and 
say Amen. In Luke ii. there was Anna the prophetess, a widow, of 
about fourscore and four years, who departed not from the temple, but 

‘served God with fasting and prayer night and day. Did not she con- 
‘fess Christ Jesus in the temple, and give thanks to the Lord, “ and speak 

“of Christ to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem? Luke ii. 36 


076 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1684 


‘37, 38. So such holy women were not forbidden to speak in the church. 
neither in the law nor gospel. Was it not Mary Magdalen and other 


women that first preached Christ’s resurrection to the apostles? The 


woman indeed (namely Eve) was first in transgression; so they were 
‘women that first preached the resurrection of Christ Jesus; for Christ 
‘said to Mary, &c. “Go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend 


“unto my Father and to your Father, and to my God and to your God,” 


‘John xx. 17. And Luke xxiv. 10. It was Mary Magdalen, Johanna 
‘and Mary the mother of James, and other women with them, who told 
‘the apostles “Christ was risen from the dead; and their words and 
“these women’s words were as idle tales to the apostles, and they be- 
“lieved them not,” ib. 11. Ver. 22. “Certain women also of our com- 
“ pany made us astonished,” they said. So here it may be seen that the 
‘ women’s preaching the resurrection of Christ did astonish the apostles. 
‘Christ sent these women to preach his resurrection; so it is no shame 
for such women to preach Christ Jesus, neither are they to be silent 
‘when Christ sends them. The apostle says, “ Every tongue shall con- 
“ fess to God,” Rom. xiv. 11, and “ Every tongue shall confess that Jesus 
“ Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Philip. ii. 11. So here 
‘it is clear that women must confess Christ as well as men, if every 
‘tongue must confess. And the apostle saith, “ There’s neither male nor 
“female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus,” Gal. iii. 28. 
‘ And whereas it is said, “ women must ask their husbands at home,” 
‘ &c. the duke knows very well, virgins have no husbands, nor widows; 
‘for Anna, the prophetess, was a widow; and if Christ be the husband, 
men must ask counsel of him at home, as well as women, before they 
teach. And set the case that a Turk’s wife should be a Christian, or a 
Papist’s wife should be a Lutheran, or a Calvinist, must they ask and 
learn of their husbands at home before they confess Christ Jesus in the 
congregation of the Lord? Their counsel will be to them to turn Turks 
or Papists. 

‘] intreat the duke to consider these things. I intreat him to mind 
God’s grace and truth in his heart, that is come by Jesus Christ, that 
by his Spirit of grace and truth he may come to serve and worship God 
n his Spirit and truth; so that he may serve the living eternal God that 


‘ «ade him, in his generation, and have his peace in Christ that the world 


‘candot take away. And I do desire his good, peace, and prosperity in 
‘this wurld, and his eternal comfort and happiness in the world that is 
‘everlastiug. Amen. Ow 
‘ Lonaou, the 26th of the 
‘8th meuth, 1684.’ 


Besides the furegving, I wrote also epistles to friends; one of which — 


the following is a copy of: 


‘Friends and brewren in the Lord Jesus Christ, 
‘In whom you have life peace, and salvation; walk in him who is 
‘your heavenly Rock and Fvundation, that stands sure, who hath all 
‘ power in heaven and earth given unto him. So his power is over all 


‘ 


‘ Let your faith stand in his power which is over all from everlasting to — 
‘everlasting, over the devil and fis power; that in the holy heavenly — 


‘wisdom of God ye may be preserved and kept to God’s glory, out of 


all snares and temptations; that God’s wisdom may he justified of a’ 
his children in this day of his power, and they all may be faithful, serv- 


; 


1685) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 577 


ing and worshipping God in spirit and truth, and valiant for it upon the 
‘earth. For, as the apostle saith, “ They that believe are entered into 
“their rest. and have ceased from their own works, as God did from 
“his.” Now this rest is an eternal rest in Christ, the eternal Son of God, 
‘in whom every true believer hath everlasting life in Christ Jesus, their 
‘rest and everlasting day. For Christ the rest bruiseth the serpent’s head 
and through death destroyeth death, and the devil, the power of death, 
‘and his works. He is the eternal rest, that giveth eternal life to his sheep. 
Christ fulfilleth the prophets, and all the figures, shadows, and ceremo- 
‘nies, as in the Old Testament; and all the promises are yea and amen 
‘in Christ, who was the eternal rest to all true believers in the apostles’ 
‘days, and ever since, and is so now. Christ is the beginning and the 
‘ending, the first and last, ascended above all principalities, powers, 
‘thrones, and dominions, that he might fill all things. For by “ Jesus 
“Christ all things were made and created, whether they be things in 
“heaven or things in the earth;” and he is the Eternal Rest. They that 
\‘ believe are entered into Christ, their Eternal Rest, in whom they have 
eternal life, and peace with God. Whercfore I say again, in him who 
‘is your Rest live and abide; for in him ye are happy; and his blessings 
‘will rest upon you.. God Almighty keep and preserve you all, his true 

‘ believers, in Christ your Rest and Peace this day. Amen. 

G. FY 
‘London, the 18th of the 
‘12th month, 1684-5.’ 


About a month after I got a little out of London, visiting friends at 
South-street, Ford-green, and Enfield, where [had meetings. Afterwards 
I went to Waltham-abbey, and was at a meeting there on a first-day ; 
which was very large and peaceable. Then returning through Enfield, 
and about Edmonton-side, | came back to London in the third month, to 
advise with and assist friends in laying their sufferings before the parlia- 
ment then sitting; and we drew up a short account of our sufferings, 
which we caused to be printed and spread amongst the parliament-men. 

The yearly meeting coming on, | was much concerned for friends 
that came up to it out of the country, lest they should meet with any 
trouble or disturbance in their passage up or down; and the rather, be- 
cause about that time a great bustle arose in the nation upon the duke 
of Monmouth’s landing in the West. But the Lord, according to his 
wonted goodness, was graciously. pleased to preserve friends in safety, 
and gave us a blessed opportunity to meet together in peace and quiet- 
ness, and accompanied our meeting with his living, refreshing presence : 
blessed for ever be his holy name! 

Considering the hurries that were in the nation, it came upon me at 
the close of this meeting to write a few lines to friends, ‘ to caution all 

to keep out of the spirit of the world, in which trouble is, and tu dwell 
in the peaceable truth ;’ as followeth: 


‘ Dear friends and brethren, 

‘Wuom the Lord hath called and chosen in Christ Jesus, your Life 
and Salvation, in whom ye have rest and peace with God; the Lord 
by his mighty power, which is over all, hath preserved and supported 
you to this day, to be a peculiar holy people to himself, so that by his 
eternal Spirit and power ye might be all kept out of the world; for in 

‘the world is trouble. In this great day of the Lord God Almighty he 
3X 


578 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1685 


‘is shaxing the neavens and the earth of outward professions, their ele- 
ments are in a heat, their sun and their moon are darkened, the stars 
falling, and the mountains and hills shaking and tottering, as it was 

‘among the Jews in the day of Christ’s appearing. Therefore, dear 

‘friends and brethren, dwell in the Seed, Christ Jesus, the Rock and 

‘ Foundation, that cannot be shaken; that ye may see with the light and 

‘Spirit of Christ, that ye are as fixed stars in the firmament of God's 


power; and in this his power and light you'll see over all the wander- _ 


ing stars, clouds without water, and trees without fruit. That which 


‘may be shaken will be shaken, as will all that are wandered from the 
‘firmament of God’s power. 

‘Dear friends and brethren, you that are redeemed from the death 
‘and fall of Adam, by Christ the second Adam, in him ye have life, rest, 
‘and peace; for Christ saith, “In me ye shall have peace, but in the 
“ world trouble.” And the apostle saith, “ They that believe are entered 
“jnto their Rest,” namely Christ, who hath overcome the world, bruiseth 
‘the serpent’s head, destroys the devil and his works, and fulfils the 
‘ -ypes, figures, and shadows of the Old Testament, and the prophets. In 
‘ whom the promises are Yea and Amen; who is the First and Last, Be- 

ginning and Ending, the Eternal Rest. So keep and walk in Christ, 
your Rest, every one that have received him. 

‘Dear friends and brethren, whatever bustlings and trouble, tumults 
‘or outrages, quarrels and strife, arise in the world, keep out of them all; 
‘concern not yourselves with them; but keep in the Lord’s power and 

_‘ peaceable truth, that is over all such things; in which power ye seck 


‘the peace and good of all men. Live in the love which God hath shed 


‘abroad in your hearts through Christ Jesus; in which love nothing is 
‘able to separate you from God and Christ, neither outward sufferings, 
‘persecutions, nor any outward thing that is below and without; nor to 
‘hinder or break your heavenly fellowship in the light, gospel, and spirit 
‘of Christ, nor your holy communion in the Holy Ghost, that proceeds 
‘from the Father and the Son, which leads you into all truth. In this 
‘ Holy Ghost, in which is your holy communion, that proceeds from the 
‘ Father and the Son, you have fellowship with the Father and the Son, 
‘and one with another. This is it which links and joins Christ’s church 
‘or body together to him the heavenly and spiritual head, and in unity 
‘in his Spirit which is the bond of peace to al] his church and living 
‘members, in whom they have eternal rest and peace in Christ; and 
‘with God everlasting, who is to be blessed and praised for ever, Amen! 

‘ Dear friends, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, who 
‘are gathered in the name of Jesus, your prophet, whom God has raised 
_ up in the New Testament, to be heard in all things; who opens to you, 


‘and no rman can shut, who shuts and no man can open; He is your. 


‘priest, made higher than the heavens by the power of an endless life; 
‘by him you are made a royal priesthood, to offer up to God spiritual 
* sacrifice ; He is the bishop of your souls, to oversee you, that you do not 
‘go astray from God; He is the good shepherd that hath laid down his 
‘life for his sheep, and they hear his voice and follow him, and he gives 
‘to them eternal life. 

‘Dear friends and brethren, abide in Christ the viné, that ye may 
bring forth fruit to the Glory of God. As every one hath received 
Christ, walk in him, who is not of the world that lies in wickedness; so 
that ye may be preserved out of the vain fashions and customs of the 


a 
4 


| 


16851 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 579 


‘ world which satisfy the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride 
‘ of life, which are not of the Father, but of the world that passes away. 
‘ Whoever joins to that which is not of the Father, or encourages it; 
‘draws the mind from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. There- 
‘fore let Christ rule in your hearts, that your minds, souls, and spirits 
«may be kept out of the vanities of the world in their words, ways, and 
‘ actions, that ye may be a peculiar people, zealous of good works, serv- 
‘ing the Lord through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God; that 
‘by the Word of his grace your words may be gracious, and in your 
‘lives and conversations ye may shew forth righteousness, holiness, and 
‘ godliness, that God Almighty may be glorified in you all, and through 
‘ you all, who is above all, blessed and praised for ever, Amen. 
Guk? 


‘London, the 11th of the 
‘4th month, 1685.’ 


I wrote several other letters to friends, in divers foreign countries, 
from whom I had received letters about the affairs of truth. Which when 
I had dispatched, I got a little way out of town, being much spent with 
the heat of the weather, throngs in meetings, and continual business. I 
went at first to South-street, where I abode some days. And a great 
sense entered me of the growth and increase of pride, vanity, and excess 
in apparel, and that not only amongst the people of the world, but too 
much also in some that came among us, and seemed to make profession 
of the truth. In the sense I had of the evil thereof, it came upon me to 
give forth the following, as a reproof and check thereunto. 

‘The apostle Peter saith (in 1 Pet. iii.) of the women’s adorning ; 
« Let it not be (mark, let it not be: this is a positive prohibition) that 
“ outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of 
“putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that 
“ which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, 
“which is in the sight of God of great price; for after this manner in 
“old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned them- 
“ selves.” 

‘Here ye may see what is the ornament of the holy women, which 
‘was in the sight of God of great price, which the holy women who 
‘trusted in God adorned themselves with. But the unholy women, that 
‘trust not in God, their ornament is not a meek and a quiet spirit; they 
‘adorn themselves with plaiting the hair, putting on of apparel, and wear- 
‘ing of gold, which is forbidden by the apostle in his general epistle to 
‘the church of Christ, the true Christians. 

‘The apostle Paul saith, 1 Tim. ii. 9. 10, “In like manner also that 


’ “women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and 


‘sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array ; 
“but, which becometh women professing godliness, with good works.” 
‘Her2 ye may see what the women were not to adorn themselves 
‘with who professed godliness: they were not to adorn themselves with 
‘broidered hair, nor gold, nor pearls, nor costly array; for this was not 
‘looked upon to be modest apparel for holy women that professed godli- 
‘ness and good works. But this adorning or apparel is for the immodest, 
‘unshamefaced, unsober women, that profess not godliness, neither fol- 
low those good works that God commands. ‘Therefore it doth not he- 
come men and women, who profess true Christianity and godliness, to 


~ 


580 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [168% 


‘be adorned with gold, or chains, or pearls, or costly array, or with 
‘broidered hair; for these things are for the lust of the eye, the lust ot 
‘the flesh, and pride of life, which is not of the Father. All holy men 
“and women are to mind that which is more precious than gold; “ being 
“redeemed not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your 
“vain conversation, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb 
“ without blemish and without spot. Therefore as obedient children to 
“ God, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in yeur 
“ ignorance, but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy ir all 
“ manner of conversation,” 1 Pet. i. 14, 15. 

‘ Christ saith, “ The life is more than meat, and the body is more than 
“raiment,” Luke xii. 23. 

‘I read of a wise moral philosopher, who, meeting a woman with her 
‘neck and breast bare, laid his hand upon her and said, “ Woman, wilt 
) “thou sell this flesh?” and she replying, No: “Then pray,” said he, 
“shut up thy shop” (meaning her bare breasts and neck.) So they were 
‘looked upon as harlots that went with their necks, breasts, and backs 
‘bare, and not modest people, even among the moral heathens. There- 
‘fore those that profess the knowledge of true Christianity should be 
‘ashamed of such things. You may see a book written by the very 
‘ Papists, and another by Richard Baxter the Presbyterian, against bare 
‘breasts and bare backs. They that were but in an outward profession 

did declare against such things, therefore they who are in the posses- 

sion of truth and true Christianity should be ashamed of such things. 

Read, I pray you, the third of Isaiah. There you may see the holy 
‘prophet was grieved with the foolish women’s vain attire, and was sent 
‘by the Lord to reprove them. Envious, persecuting Jezebel, her attired 
‘head and bravery, like a painted harlot out of the truth, did not keep 
‘her from the judgments of God, when the Lord stirred up Jehu against 
‘her. Doth not pride go before a fall, and a haughty mind before de- 
‘struction? “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 
‘Solomon saith, “ The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,” Prov. 
‘xv. 25. “ For the day of the Lord shall be upon every one that is proud 
“ and lofty, &c. and he shall be brought low,” Isa. ii. 12. and Mal. iv. 
‘ Therefore take heed ‘of calling the proud happy; for “the Lord will 
“scatter the proud in the imagination of their own hearts, and exalt 
“them of low degree.” You may read in the Revelations (Chap. xvii. 4. 
‘and xvill. 16.) of the false church, how she was outwardly decked, but 
‘full of abomination, and came to a downfall at last. Therefore it is 
‘ good for all that profess the truth, to use this world as not abusing it; 
“for the fashion of this world passeth away, but the word of the Lord 
“endureth for ever. The Lord taketh pleasure in his people, he will 
“ beautify the meek with salvation,” Psal. cxlix. 4. All that know the 
‘truth as it is in Jesus, are to be beautified and clothed with this sa va- 


tion, which salvation is a strong wall or a bulwark against that spirit. 


‘that would lead you further into the fall from God, into those things 
‘which the fallen man and woman delight in, beautify, or adorn them- 
‘selves with. Therefore, all that profess the truth, be circumspect, sin- 
‘cere, and fervent, following the Lord Jesus Christ, who is not of this 
world: in whom ye have life and peace with God. ae 
~ © ‘ * 


* South-street, the 24th of the 
“4th month, 1685.” 


——oOOo 


1685} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 581 


After some weeks I returned to London. Among other services that 
[ found there, one was to assist in drawing up a testimony to clear our 
friends of being concerned in the late rebellion in the west, and from 
all plots against the government; which accordingly was done, and de- 
livered to the chief justice, who was then to go into the west with com: 
mission to try prisoners. 

I tarried some time in London, visiting meetings, and labouring among 
friends in the service of truth. But finding my health much impaired for 
vant of fresh air, I went to Charles Bathurst’s country-house at Epping- 
forest, where I staid a few days. ‘There it came upon me to write the 
following epistle to friends: 


‘ Dear friends, : 

‘Wuo are called, chosen and faithful in this day of trial, temptations 
and sufferings, whom the Lord by his right hand hath upholden in all 
‘your sufferings (and some to death) for the Lord and his truth’s sake. 
‘Christ saith, “ Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world; in me 
“ ve have peace, but in the world ye have trouble.” The children of the 
‘Seed, which be heirs of the kingdom, know this is true. And though 
‘ye have trials by false brethren, Judases, and sons of perdition, that are 
‘ got into the temple of God, and exalted above all that is called God, 
‘whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his mouth and the 
brightness of his coming; and though ye be tried by powers and prin- 
cipalities, yet there is nothing able to separate you from the love of 
God which ye have in Christ Jesus. In that love dwell, which bears all 
‘things, and fulfils the law; in which edify one another, and be court- 
‘eous, kind, and humble; for to such God giveth his grace plentifully, 
‘such he teacheth. And pray in the Holy Ghost, which proceeds from 
‘the Father and the Son; in it keep your holy communion and unity in 
‘the Spirit, the bond of peace, which is the King of kings’ heavenly 
‘peace. In that you are all bound to good behaviour, to keep peace 
‘among yourselves, to seek the peace of all men, and to shew forth the 
‘heavenly, gentle, and peaceable wisdom to all, in righteousness and 
‘truth, answering the good in all people in your lives and conversations 
‘(for the Lord is glorified in your bringing forth spiritual fruit:) that ye 
‘may eye and behold the Lord in all your actions, that the blessings of 
‘the Lord ye may all feel to rest upon you. Whether ye be the Lord’s 
‘prisoners for his name and truth’s sake, or at liberty, in all things la- 
‘“bour to be content, for that is a continual feast; and let no trouble 
‘move you; then ye will be as Mount Sion that cannot be removed. In 
‘all things exercise the word of patience, which word will sanctify all 
‘things to you. Study to be quiet, and do the Lord’s business that he 
‘requires of you, and your own, in truth and righteousness. Whatsoever 
‘ye do, let it be done to the praise and glory of God in the name of 
‘Jesus Christ. All that make God’s people suffer, make the seed suffer 
‘in their own particulars, and imprison the just there. Such will not 
‘visit the seed in themselves, but cast it into prison in others, and not 
‘visit it in prison. You way read that Christ saith, “Such must go into 
“everlasting punishment.” That is a sad punishment and prison. Alt 
‘such as are become apostates and backsliders, that crucify to them- 
‘selves Christ afresh, put him to open shame, trample under feet the 
‘blood of the Son of God by which they were cleansed, and come to be 
unclean; such grieve, vex, quench, and rebel against the Spirit of God 


582 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. r685 


wn themselves, and then such rebel against them that walk in the Spirit 
‘of God. Such are unfaithful to God and man, and are enemies to every 
‘ good work and service of God; but their end will be according to their 
‘works, who are like the earth that hath often received rain, but brings 
‘forth briers and thorns, which are to be rejected, and are for the fire. 
‘ Therefore, dear friends, in all your sufferings feel the Lord’s eternal 
‘arm and power, which hath supported you to this day, and will to the 

end, as your faith stands in it, and as you are settled upon the rock and 
‘foundation Christ Jesus, that cannot be removed, in whom ye have life 
‘and peace with God.. The Lord God Almighty, in him, give you do- 
‘minion, and preserve you all to his glory, that in all your sufferings ye 
‘may feel his presence, and that, when ye have finished your testimony, 
‘ye may receive the crown of glory which God hath laid up for them 
‘that fear and serve him, Amen. Gi? 

‘ The 15th of the 7th 
‘month, 1685.’ 


Having spent about a week in the country, I returned to London; 
where I continued about two months, visiting meetings, and labouring to 
get relief for friends from their sufferings, which yet lay heavy upon 
them in many parts of the nation. I also wrote several papers relating 
to the service of truth, one of which was concerning order in the church 
of God, which some that were gone out of the unity of friends did much 
oppose. It was as followeth: 


‘ Amone all societies, or families, or nations of people in the world, 
‘they have among them some sort of order. There was the order of 
« Aaron in the Old Testament, and there was the order of Melchisedeck 
‘before that, after whose order Christ Jesus came, and he did not despise 
‘that order. God is a God of order in his whole creation, and in his 
‘church; and all believers in the light, the life in Christ, that pass from 
‘death to life, are in the order of the Holy Spirit, power, light, life, and 

government of Christ Jesus, of the increase whereof there is no end. 

This is a mystery to all those disorderly people, who have written and 
‘printed so much against order, which the Lord’s power and Spirit hath 
- brought forth among his people. And you that cry so much against 

order, is it not manifest that you are gone into a land of darkness, 
‘thick as darkness itself, and of the shadow of death, into disorder, and 
‘where the light is as darkness? Is not this your condition seen by all 
‘them that live and walk in the truth, and whose conversations are ac- 
‘cording to the gospel of life and salvation ? 

‘ The devil, Satan, dragon, the first and second beast, the whore and 

‘false prophets, and their worshippers and followers, all are out of the 
truth, abode not in it, nor in the order of it: and the truth is over them 
all. In Salem is God’s tabernacle; and his tabernacle is in Shiloh: 
‘these are far bevond the tabernacles of Ham, Psalm Ixxvi. and Ixxviii 

‘ All the figures and shadows were and are comprehended in time ; 

‘but Christ the substance is the beginning and the ending. And all trials. 
troubles, persecutions, and temptations came up in time: but the Lord’s 
* power, which is everlasting, is over all such things; in which is safety. 
‘The black world of darkness lieth in wickedness, and by their wis- 
dom know not God that made the world and all things therein: for the 
god of the world and prince of the air ruleth in the hearts of all that 
‘disobey the living God who made them. So the god of this wicked 


685} GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 583 


‘woild hath blinded the eves of the infidels or heathen; so that this 
‘wicked world by their wisdom doth not know the living God. 

‘In the Old Testament the Lord said, “ With all thy offerings thou 
shalt ofler salt,” Levit. ii. 18. And Christ saith in his new covenant 
*«‘ Every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be saltea 
“ with salt. Salt is good; but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith 
~ will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with 
- another,” Mark ix. 48, 49, 50. 

‘We have received the earnest of the Spirit, which is the earnest of 
‘the inheritance that fadeth not away. For God poureth out of his Spirit 
‘upon all flesh. It is God’s Spirit, which is above our natural spirit, by 
‘which alone we do not know God; for it is by the Spirit of God that 
‘we know the things of God. And the Spirit of God doth witness to our 
‘souls and spirits, that itself is the earnest of an eternal inheritance. 
“God opens his people’s ears to discipline, and commands that they turn 
“from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days 
“jn prosperity, and their years in pleasure: but if they obey him not, 
“ they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge,” 
‘Job xxxvi. 10, 11, 12. So the disobedient, that do not turn from their 
‘iniquity, have not this prosperity and pleasure; but die without the 
‘ knowledge of God; and their ears are shut to this discipline, which God 
‘ opens to his people. Gale 


When I had been about two months in London, I was sent for to my 
son Rouse’s at Kingston, to visit a daughter of his, who at that time lay 
very sick; but recovered. Whilst I staid there, I had several meetings 
with friends: and returning by Hammersmith, staid the first-day meet- 
ing there, which was large and peaceable. Having visited friends there- 
abouts, | came back to London again; being very intent upon the busi- 
ness of getting redress for suffering friends. In this and other services 
I continued at London till the latter end of the eleventh month; save that 
I went to visit an ancient friend at Bethnal-Green, with whom I tarried 
three or four days. While I was there, I was much exercised, in the 
sense of the enemy’s working, to draw from the holy way of truth into 
a false liberty, and so into the world’s ways and worships again. Ana 
the example of the backsliding Jews coming before me, 1 was moved to 
write the following, as a warning to all such: 


‘ You may see, when the Jews rebelled against the good Spirit of God, 
which he gave to instruct them, they forsook him and his law, way, 
‘and worship, went a whoring after Balaam’s ways, and became like the 
« wild ass’s colt, snuffing up the wind,” Jer. ii. 24. In Jer. ii. see how 
‘Judah played the harlot under every green tree, and upon every high 
‘mountain: therefore the Lord divorced Judah, as he had divorced Is- 
‘rael when she forsook his way, and followed the ways of the heathen. 
‘Though the Lord had fed them to the full, yet they “forsook him, com- 
‘mitted adultery, and assembled themselves together in harlots’ houses,” 
‘Jer. v. 7. “And with their whoredom they defiled the land, and com- 
“mi ted adultery with stocks and stones,” Jer. ii. 9. Here you may see, 
‘when they forsoc k the living, eternal God, they followed the religions 
‘and worships of other nations, whose gods were made of stocks and 
stones, which the Jews worshipped, and committed adultery withal. 
When they forsook the living God, and his way and worship, they for- 
*sook the worship at Jerusalem at the temple, and followed the heathens’ 


584 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1685 


worships in the mountains and fields: So it was called adultery and 
whoredom, to join with other religions, and forsake God, Jer. xiii. 27. 

‘And now, if the children of the New Jerusalem that is above would 
‘forsake the w orship that Christ in his New Testament set up, (which is 
‘in Spirit and in truth) and follow the worship of nations, which men 
‘have set up; will not they commit adultery with them, in forsaking 
‘ God’s worship, and Christ the new and living way? 

‘In Jer. xliv. ye may see how the children of Judah provoked the 
‘ Lord against them, by worshipping the works of their own hands, and 
‘following the gods of the land of Egypt. In this they committed adul- 
‘tery, forsaking the living God, their husband, and his worship; and 
* there ye may see God’s judgments pronounced against them to their 
‘destruction. What will become of those that forsake the worship in 
‘Spirit and truth, which Christ set up; and worship the works of their 
‘own hands in spiritual Egypt, and follow spiritual Egypt’s will-worship, 
‘which they invented? May not this be called whoredom in them that 
‘forsake Christ, the new and living way, his pure religion, and the wor- 
‘ship that he hath set up? And they that forsake the Lord’s way and 
‘his worship, and follow the world’s ways and worships, do not they, 
‘whose way they follow, become at last their enemies? as in Lament. 1. 
‘See how the Jews forsook the Lord’s way and worship, and doted on 
‘other lovers (the Assyrians. &c.) and with all their idols were defiled ; 
‘and how they retained the whoredoms brought from Egypt, and were 

‘polluted with the Babylonians’ bed: read Ezek. xxiii. When they for- 
‘sook the Lord, his way, and worship. and followed the way and wor- 
‘ship of the heathen; then it was said, “They went a whoring after 
“ others, and committed adultery with them.” 

‘Ye may see Ezek. xvi. the state of the Jews was likened to that of 
‘their sister Sodom, which had played the harlot with the Assyrians, 
‘committed fornication with the Egyptians, and increased their whore- 
‘doms, in following their abominable idols; therefore the Lord carried 
‘ away the two tribes, that forsook him, into Babylon; see Ezek. xvii. 20. 
‘ And they that forsake Christ, the new and living Way, and the worship 
‘*of God in Spirit and truth, which Christ set-ap-in his New Testament, 
‘ go into captivity in spiritual Babylon. 

‘ Hosea il. you may see how the prophet discovers the whoredoms and 
‘idolatry of the Jews who forsook the Lord, and compares them to an 
‘harlot. And in chap. ili. ye may see the destruction threatened against 
‘the Jews for their impiety and idolatry. In ch. ix. also the distress and 
‘captivity of the Jews is threatened for their sins and idolatry; and 
‘again they are reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry, 
‘Hos. x. This was for forsaking the Lord and his way. and following 
‘the ways of their own inventions, and the ways of the heathen. 

‘Doth not Isaiah say, “ That the Lord would visit Tyre, and that she 
“ should commit fornication with all the kingdoms upon the face of the 
‘ earth?” therefore the Lord threatened destruction upon her, ch. xxiii. 
‘In ch. Ivii. you may see how the Lord reproved the Jews for their 
‘whorish idolatry, saying, “ Upon an high and lofty mountain hast thou 

‘set thy bed, even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifices. Thou 
‘hast enlarged thy bed, and made a covenant with them. thou lovest 
“ their bed where thou sawest it.” This was a joining to the heathen’s 
‘ religions, altars, and sacrifices, and forsaking the Lord’s altar and sacri- 
fices, which he commanded in the law; and therefore that was com 


1685] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. a85 


‘mitting whoredom with the heathen, and a going into their beus from 

‘the Living God that made them. And now in the New Testament God 

‘having “poured his Spirit upon all flesh,” that by it all might come 

‘to be a “ royal priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God by Je- 

_ “sus Christ ;” all that err from the Spirit of God, and rebel against it, 

‘are not like to offer spiritual sacrifices to God; the sacrifice of such 

God doth not accept, no_more than he did that of the heathens or the 

Jews, who rebelled against his good Spirit that he gave them to instruct 

them. 

» You may see in the 17th, 18th, and 19th chapters of the Revelation 
‘the punishment of the great whore, Babylon, the mother of harlots, and 
‘the victory of the Lamb, and how he calleth God’s people out of Baby- 
‘lon; for “in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of the saints, 
“and of all that were slain upon the earth.” There ye may read her 
{judgment and downfall. This whore are they that are whored from the 
‘Spirit of God, and so¥rom God, from his holy worship in spirit and 
* truth, from the pure undefiled religion that keeps from the spots of the 
* world, from the new and living way of Christ Jesus; these are whored 
‘from the Spirit of God into false religions, ways, and worships, and so 
‘have corrupted the earth with her abominations. But her judgment ana 

_ ‘downfal are seen, over whom Christ hath the victory; and the mar- 

_ ‘riage of the Lamb is come, glory to the Lord for ever! And God’s 

_ ‘pure religion, and pure worship in Spirit and truth Christ hath set up, 

_ ‘as it was in the apostles’ days, Hallelujah. G. FY 


6 
t 


I soon returned to London, but made no long stay there, my body not 
__ being able to bear the closeness of the city long together. While I was 
in town, besides the usual services of ‘visiting friends, and taking care 
_ ‘about their sufferings to get them eased,’ I assisted the friends of the 
city in distributing certain sums of money, which our friends of Ireland 
had charitably and very liberally raised, and sent over hither for the re- 
lief of their brethren who suffered for the testimony of a good con- 
science; which monies were distributed amongst poor suffering friends 
in the several counties in proportion, according as we understood their 
need. 

Before I left the city, I heard of a great doctor lately come from Po- 
land, whom I invited to my lodging, and had a great deal of discourse 
with him. After I had informed myself by him of such things as I had 
_ a desire to know, I wrote a letter to the king of Poland on behalf of 
_ friends at Dantzick, who had long been under grievous sufferings. A 
copy whereof follows: 


| ‘To Joun the third, king of Poland, great duke of Lithuania, Russia, 
‘and Prussia, defender of the city of Dantzick, &c. 


| ‘Concerning the innocent and afflicted people in scorn called Qua 
‘ kers, who are now fed with bread and water in Bridewell of the 

| ‘aforesaid city, under close confinement, where their friends, 
‘wives, and children are hardly suffered to come to see them. 

| ‘Oh king! 


mand that these innocent and afflicted people should suffer such oppres- 
sion Now this punishment is inflicted upon them only because they 


3 ¥ 


‘THE magistrates of the city of Dantzick say it is thy order and com 


586 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1685 


come together in the name of Jesus Christ, their Redeemei and Sa- 

viour, who died for their sins, and is risen from the dead for their justi- 
‘fication, who is their prophet, whom God hath raised up like unto Mo- 
‘ses; whom they ought to hear in all things in this day of the gospel and 
‘new covenant; who went astray like scattered sheep, but now are re- 
‘turned to the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of their Souls, 1 Pet. ii. 25. 
*“ Who has given his life fer his sheep, and they hear his voice and fo'low 
“him ;” who leads them into his “ pastures of life,” John x. 

‘Now, Q king! I understand thou openly professest Christianity, and 
‘the great and mighty name of Jesus Christ, who is King of kings and 
‘Lord of lords, to whom is given all power in heaven and earth, who 
‘rules all nations with a rod of iron. Therefore, O king, it seems hard 
‘to us, that any who openly confess Christ Jesus (yea the magistrates of 
‘ Dantzick do the same) should inflict those punishments upon an innocent 
‘and harmless people, by reason of their tender consciences only, be- 
‘cause they come together to serve and worship the Eternal God, who 
‘made them, in Spirit and in truth; which worship Christ Jesus has set 
‘up sixteen hundred years ago, as we read in John iv. 23, 24. 

‘I beseech the king that he would consider, whether Christ in the New 
‘ Testament ever gave such a command to his apostles that they should 
‘shut up any in prison, and feed them with bread and water, who were 
‘not conformable in every particular to their religion, faith, and wor- 
‘ship? Where did the apostles exercise such things in the true church 
‘after Christ’s ascension! Js not this the doctrine of Christ and the apos- 
‘ tles, that Christ’s followers should love their enemies, and pray for them 
‘that hate, persecute, and “ despitefully use them?” Mat. v. 

‘Is it not a shame to Christendom among the Turks and others, that 
‘one Christian should persecute another for the doctrine of faith, wor- 
‘ship, and religion? They cannot prove that Christ ever gave them such 
‘a command, whom they profess to be their Lord and Master. For 

Christ says, that his believers and followers should “love one another ;” 
‘and by this they should be known to be his disciples. And did not 
‘Christ reprove those who would have “ fire to come down from hea- 
“ ven” to destroy them who would not receive him? Did not he tell them, 
“they did not know what spirit they were of !’? Have all who have per- 
‘secuted men, or taken away their lives because they would not receive 
‘ their religion, known what spirit they were or are of? Is it not good 
‘for all to know by the Spirit of Christ what spirit they are of! The 
‘apostle says, Rom. viii. 9. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ 
‘the is none of his.” And 2 Cor. x. 4. “The weapons of our warfare 
“are not carnal, but spiritual, &c. We wrestle not against flesh and 
“blood, but against spiritual wickedness,” &c. Thus we see, the fight 
‘ of the first Christians and their weavons in the days of the apostles were 

spiritual. 7 

‘Would not the king and the magistrates of Dantzick think it con- 
‘trary to their consciences, if they should be forced by the Turk to | is 
‘reigion? Would it not in like manner seem hard to the magistrates of - 

Dantzick, and contrary to their consciences, if they should be forced 
to the retgion of the king of Poland? or the king of Poland, if he 
should be compelled to the religion of the magistrates of Dantzick? 
And if they would not be subject thereunto, that they should be ban- 
ished from their wives ana families, and out of their native countiy, or 
otherwise be fed with bread and water under strict confinement ? 


1685} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 587 


‘We beseech the king with all Christian humility, and the magistrates 
of Dantzick, that they would order their proceedings in this matter ac- 
‘cording to the royal law of God, which is, “to do unto others as they 
“ would have others do unto them, and to love their neighbour as them- 
“selves.” For we have this charity, that we hope and believe the king 
‘of Poland and his people, with the magistrates of Dantzick, own the 
writings of the New Testament as well as of the Old; therefore we be- 
‘seech the king and the magistrates of Dantzick, to take heed that their 
work of imprisoning an innocent people, for nothing but their meeting 
‘together in tenderness of conscience to serve and worship God, their 
‘Creator, may not be contrary and opposite to the royal law of God, and 
to the glorious and everlasting gospel of truth. 
‘We desire the king, in Christian love, earnestly and weightily to con- 
‘ sider these things, aud to give order to set the innocent prisoners, our 
‘ friends, called Quakers, at liberty from their strict confinement in Dant- 
zick, that they may have freedom to serve and worship the Living God 
in Spirit and in truth, and go home to their habitations, and follow their 
trades and calling, to maintain their wives, children and families. And 
we believe that the king, in doing such a noble, glorious, yea Christian 
work, will not go unrewarded from the Great God who made him, 
whom we serve and worship, who has the hearts of kings, and their 
lives and length of days in his hand. 


‘From him who desires the king and all his ministers may be preserv- 
‘ed in the fear of God, and receive his word of wisdom, by which 
‘all things were made and created, that by it he may come to order 
‘all things to the glory of God, which God has put under his hand; 
‘that both he and they may enjoy the comforts and blessings of the 
‘Lord in this life, and in that which is to come life eternal, Amen. 

of S08 

‘London, the 10th of the 3d month, 

‘commonly called May, 1685.’ 


‘POSTSCRIPT. 


_* The king may please to consider that his and all men’s consciences 
are the prerogative of God.’ 


After this I went into Enfield, where, and in the country thereabouts 
several friends had country-houses, amongst whom I tarried some time 
visiting and being visited by friends, and having meetings with them. 
Several things I wrote in this time relating to the service of truth, one 
whereof was concerning judging; for some, who had departed from the 
truth, were so afraid of truth’s judgment, that they made it much of their 
business to cry out against judging. Wherefore I wrote a paper, prov- 
ing by the scriptures of truth, that the church of Christ hath power and 
abi.ty to judge those that profess to be of it, not only with respect to 
outward things relating to this world, but with respect to religious mat- 
ters a.so A copy of which follows: 


Concerning Judging. 
“Tue natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for 


‘they are foolishness to him, neither can he know tnem, because they 
“are spiritually discerned; but he that is spiritual judgeth all things 


eee (mark) all things, yet he himself is judged of no man,” ~ Cor ii. 14 15 


j 
j 


588 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. rGRD 


So the natural man cannot judge of those things he receives not, for 
they are foolishness to him; but he is comprehended by the spiritua: 
‘man, and his foolishness, and is judged, though he cannot judge the 
‘ spiritual man. 

“Do not ye judge them that are within?” saith the apostle. This 
‘power the chirch had and hath, “therefore put away from amongst 
“yourselves that wicked person.” Did not this wicked person, think 

you, profess and plead for liberty for his wickedness, and his freedom, 
as he was a Christian, who was looked upon as a member of the church? 

‘The apostle saith, “For I verily, as absent in body, yet present in 
‘Spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him 
‘that hath done this wicked deed,” 1 Cor. v. 3.12. Here the apostle 

did judge, though afar off, and set up judgment in the church against 
‘false liberty, under what pretence soever it was. 

‘ And the apostle saith, “ Dare any of you, having a matter against a 
“ brother, go to law before the unjust and not before the saints?” Here 
‘the saints, the church, are to judge of things amongst themselves, and 
‘not the unjust to judge of their matters. “Do ye not know the saints 
“shall judge the world?” So the saints are to judge the unjust, and not 


\ ‘the unjust to judge their matters. 


‘ And farther the apostle saith, “If the world shall be judged by you 
“(to wit, the saints) are you unworthy to judge the smaller matters 
* amongst you?” 

‘It is clear that the saints have a judgment given them of Christ, by 
‘his power and Spirit, light and wisdom. to judge the world, and not to 
‘carry their matters before the unjust, but to judge of them amongst 
‘themselves; and if they carry them before the unjust, they shew their 
‘unworthiness of the saints’ judgment. 

‘ Again, “ Know ye not, that we shall judge the angels? (and angels 


\“ are spirits) how much more the things which pertain to this life ? 


“Tf ye then have judgment of things pertaining to this life, set them 
“up to judge who have least esteem in the church,” 1 Cor. iv. 6. Here 
‘it is clear the church of Christ has a judgment in the power and Spirit 
‘of God, not only to judge in “ things that pertain to this life ;” but also 
‘to judge of things betwixt brethren, without brother going to law with 
‘brother before unbelievers; which was a fault, and to be judged, if 
‘ they did so. 

‘ But all the saints have a judgment to judge angels that kept not their 
‘habitations, and the world. Jude “judged the angels that kept not their 
‘habitations, their first state.” Did not he judge in divine matters here? 

He judged the state of Cain, Balaam, and Core, and such Christians as 

were got into their steps, and were gone as far as they, though they 

professed themselves Christians? Here again he judged in divine mat- 

ters, and of their states and beings, who stood in the divine principle, 
‘and who were fallen from it. 


‘ The apostle saith, “Try the spirits, and believe not every spirit,” I~ 


John 4. Here again was a judgment in divine matters; and he judged 
such as went out from them, which whilst they were with them they 


had sight of things and openings, but when they went from them, they — 


went from the anointing; therefore he exhorts the saints to keep to the 
anointing. Such as went from them that had the anointing, came to be 
the seducers and false prophets that went into the world. 

‘John had a judgment to try sacrifices, and distinguished Cain’s from 


685} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 589 


* Abel’s, and by the Spirit of God knew which God accepted, and which 
he did not accept, 1 John iii. 12. Paul judged and tried such messen- 
‘gers and apostles, and transformers of themselves like to the apostles 
‘of Christ, and would have the church to try such, and have the same 
‘ judgment as he had, 2 Cor. xi. 
-)» ‘Peter judged Ananias and Sapphira, and the thonghts of Simon Ma- 
gus, who would have been a worker of miracles for money. Was no* 
‘all this judgment in divine matters? The apostle Paul judged the 
‘preachers of circumcision both in the Romans and Galatians. For it 
. was the faith and liberty of those preachers to preach up circumcision, 
“though it was a wrong faith. Did not the apostle here again judge in 
‘divine matters? 

‘ James judged in matters of faith, and manifested the living faith from 
‘the dead one. He also judged in matters of religion, the vain religion 
‘from the pure religion, and distinguished them. 

‘ Paul judged of the “false brethren that would spy out the liberty of 
“ the true, to whom he would give no place by subjection, no not for an 

_“ hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with the saints,” Gal. 
/ ‘ii. Did not the apostle here judge in divine matters? And he judged 
. €concerning the matters of the gospel, when some came to pervert them 
‘with another gospel, and said, “ ‘The gospel which I received is not of 
“man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ,” 
‘Gal. i. 12. So here was a judgment to distinguish the gospel of Christ 
‘from all other gospels which were accursed, which after man are re- 
‘ceived of man, and taught of man, and not by the revelation of Jesus 
‘Christ, Gal. i. And he had judgment to know, “‘ Who made the gospel 
“ chargeable, and who kept it without charge.” 

‘ He set up a judgment in the church, that the believers should not be 

‘unequally yoked, and to see when men had a communion in the light, 

and when they had it in darkness, when with Christ and when with 
‘ Baal, with the believer and unbeliever, with the temple of God and with 
‘Idols, as in 2 Cor. 6. Did he not set up a clear judgment here in divine 
‘ matters in the church? 

‘ And the apostle judged such libertines through their knowledge that 
‘could sit at meat in the idol-temple, which caused the weak brother to 
‘perish, through his knowledge and liberty, for whom Christ died. 
‘ These, it is like, did profess it was their faith and their liberty, yet did 
‘not keep in the unity of the true faith, but went astray to destroy it, 
“1 Cor. viii. 5 


—— 


‘into hell, of the state of the old world, and of Sodom, and the state of 
* the false prophets then amongst them, that could speak great swelling 
‘ words of vanity, and whilst they promised them liberty were themselves 
‘the servants of corruption. Had not Peter here a judgment in divine 

matters? These were such, whose work was to bring into bondage, 


( ‘ Peter gives judgment upon the angels that sinned and were cast down 
x 


‘ being like the dog and sow that were washed; which shews that they 


had been washed, but were turned into the mire again. The apostle 
Paul had a judgment upon such with their fair words and men’s wis- 


not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, and were enemies to 
the cross of Christ.” He had a judgment and discerning who lived in 
the cross of Christ, and who did not, and exhorted all to live in the cross 
of Christ, the righteous power of Ged, that slew all deceit and the deeds 


' dom that deceived the hearts of the simple, and upon such as “ served 


590 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ‘ [1635 — 


‘of the old man; agreeable to Christ’s words, “ He that will be my dis- 
“ciple, must take up his cross, and follow me.” Was not here a ‘judg- 
*ment again in divine matters, of such as walked in the divine power, 
‘and such as did not? 

‘Christ sets up a judgment in his seven churches, and commends them 
‘that did keep in his judgment, and had tried them which said, “ They 
“were apostles,” who might pretend they were sent of God and Christ, 
‘and were not; but the Church of Christ had found them liars. Christ 
‘commended this judgment of the church of Ephesus, because they had 
“not borne with them that were evil, but had tried those false apostles ;” 
‘and Christ commends this church, for that they had “hated the deeas 
“of the Nicolaitans, which he also hated ;” and had not these Nicolai- 
‘tans sprung from Nicholas, one of the deacons? and were not those be- 
‘come a sect of Christians? Though they might talk and preach of Christ, 
‘ yet Christ hated their doctrine. 

‘Christ saith to the Church of Smyrna, “I know the blasphemy of 
“them which say they are Jews, and are not; but are of the synagogue 
“of Satan.” So the Church is to have a judgment upon these blasphe- 
‘mers, and are to distinguish the Jews in the Spirit from such as are not, 
‘but of the synagogue of Satan. 

‘ The Church in Pergamos Christ had a “ few things against, because, ts 
‘said he, “thou hast there them that hold the doctrines of Balaam, &c. 
*“ And also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I hate.” 
‘ These that held the doctrine of Balaam, and the doctrine of the Nico- 
‘Jaitans, were got into the church, and might look upon themselves to be 
‘high Christians, and take great liberty to go into Balaam’s and Nicho- 
‘las’s doctrine, which was hated by Christ; but the church was to keep 
‘a spiritual and divine judgment upon the heads of all these. 

‘To the church of Thyatira, saith Christ, “I have a few things against 
“ thee, because thou sufferest the woman Jezebel to teach, which seduces 
“my people,” &c. Here was a suffering which should have been a 
‘judgment by Christ’s Spirit upon that Jezebel which was erred from his 
‘Spirit, and so from Christ. Such as these were high preachers. Is 
‘not the church to beware of suffering such now, lest she should come 
‘under the reproof of Christ for not passing judgment against the false 
‘teacher and seducer? 


‘The church of Sardis “had a name to live, but-was dead, and her 


“ works were not found perfect before God.” There is a judgment to be 
‘set up in the church, to judge all imperfect works, and such as would 
‘have a name, but not the nature; a name to live yet are dead. The 
‘living of every member of the true church must be in Christ their life. 
‘ These living members live to his name. This church had a few names, 
“ who had not defiled their garments, that did walk in white ;” but such 
‘as have a name to live but are dead, whilst they are in a dead state 
‘cannot walk in white, nor judge in divine matters. « Behold,” said 
Christ, “I will make them of the svnagogue of Satan, which say they 
‘are Jews, but are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come 
and to worship before thy feet.” 

‘ And to the church of Laodicea, that was “neither hot nor cold, but 
‘lukewarm; I would thou wert either hot or cold: I will spew hee out 
‘of my mouth, because thou saidst thou wast rich, and wanted nothing ;” 
when they were “wretched, miserable, poor, hn and naked.” This 
was for want of living in the power and Spirit of Christ. These could 


————ooooOoOnr—OoOowor. 


1685] GLORGE FOXS JOURNAL. 591 


talk of high experiences and great enjoyments, but were naked, miser- 
‘able, and blind; so lived not in the power, Spirit, light, and righteousness 
‘of Christ, by which they might be clothed, and have the eternal riches. 
©So the church of Christ had a spiritual judgment given to them that are 

faithful in his power and Spirit and light, to judge of temporal things 
‘and the things of this life, and to judge of eternal and divine things and 
«states, and of angels and wicked men, and such as go from truth, and 
‘ of the states of election and reprobation, yea and of the devils who are 

out of truth; these being in Christ Jesus who is the First and Last, from 
| ‘whom they have the eternal judgment, to judge eternal, spiritual, and 
‘divine things; and in this word of power and wisdom, by which all 
‘things were made and are upheld, to order all things to God’s glory, 
‘and to judge of all things in righteousness. 

‘ The apostle judged, and set up a judgment in the church, of gifts, of 
‘ prophecies, of mysteries, of faith, and of giving the body to be burned, 
‘and of giving goods to the poor, and of speaking with tongues of men 
‘and angels; that yet, if they had not love, all this was nothing, but as 
‘a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. Therefore they are to be tried 
‘by the fruits of the good Spirit, which is love. The apostle not only 
‘ judged himself in divine matters, but set up a judgment in the church in 
‘those spiritual and divine matters. 

‘ The apostle James judges of fountains and of fig-trees, of the wisdom 
below, and of the wisdom from above, and the fruits of both, James iii. 
And Paul judged in divine matters, when he said, “'The Spirit spoke 
expressly, that in the latter times some should depart from the faith,” 

‘1 Tim. iv. He judged in divine matters, when he judged all those 
‘teachers that were high-minded, and had got the form of godliness, but 
‘denied the power, and termed them like Jannes and Jambres, which 
‘withstood Moses coming out of outward Egypt, as these with their 
‘form of godliness oppose Christ and his power that brings them out of 
‘spiritual Egypt now. Was not he a judge here in divine matters, who 
‘judged such as had gotten the form of godliness but denied the divine 
‘power? 2 Tim. iii. 

‘ When the apostle Paul said, “‘ The priesthood of Aaron was changed, 
“and the law was changed, and the commandment disannulled, that gave 
“them their tythes,” did not he judge in divine and spiritual matters? and 
‘was not the law spiritual, which served till the Seed came? 

‘Did not the apostle judge in divine and spiritual matters in the sixth 
‘ of the Hebrews, where he saith, “Let us go on to perfection, not laying 
“again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith to- 
“ wards God, and of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, 
‘and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment: and this 
“will we do, if God permit,” &c. and does not the apostle judge here, 
“ That it was impossible for those who were once enlightened, and tast- 
“ed of the heavenly gift, and were partakers of the Holy Ghost, and 
“had tasted of the good word of God, and of the power of the world to 
* come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, 
“seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him 

“to open shame?” Heb. vi. Were not these spiritual, eternal, and divine 
‘matters and states that the apostle judged of? and have not the saints 
the same judgment given unto them in the same spirit? Have not the 
‘apostles and the church a spiritual judgment to judge of prophets, mys- 
teries, faith, apostles. angels, world, and the devil? And is not this judg 


592 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1686 


ment given them of God in divine matters, besides the judgment given 
them in matters pertaining unto this life? . 

‘And had not they judgment to discern the true gospel from the false ? 
‘and all such as had a profession of the form, and did not live in the 
‘power? and such as spoke of the things of God, in the words that 
‘man’s wisdom did teach? which things of God were not to be spoken 
‘in the wisdom which man’s words taught; but in the word which the 
‘Holy Ghost taught. Therefore did not the apostle exhort to know the 
‘ power, and that their faith might stand in the power of God? that the 
‘kingdom of God stands not in word, but in power? 


‘Had not all the prophets a judgment to judge in divine matters? as ~ 


‘Jeremiah, when he judged the prophets; and Ezekiel judged all such 
‘as came with a pretence of the Word of the Lord, using their tongues, 
- and saying, “ Thus saith the Lord; when the Lord never spoke unto 
“them.” Jeremiah xxiii. Ezekiel xiii. and many other places might be 
‘instanced. Did he not judge Hananiah, who prophesied falsely? and 
‘did not this Hananiah pretend to speak the word of the Lord to the 
‘priests and people? Jeremiah xxviil. 

‘Did not Isaiah judge in divine matters, when he judged the watch- 
‘men and the shepherds? Isa lvi. Did not Micah judge in divine and 
‘ spiritual matters, when he said he “ was full of the power by the Spirit 
“of the Lord and of judgment?” Did not he judge of priests, prophets, 
‘and judges, though they would lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the 
‘Lord amongst us, and no evil can come unto us; yet did not he let 
‘them see their states and conditions, and “ divided the precious from the 


“vile?” Mic. iii. And so the rest of the prophets. You may see they ~ 
‘judged for God in his divine matters, “ who served him, and who serv-— 


“ed him not; who lived in truth, and who not;” and likewise the apos- 
‘tles. And this divine,.spiritual, heavenly judgment was given of God 
‘to his holy men and women. 

‘They that judge in-Ged’s divine matters, must live in his divine 
‘Spirit, power, and light now, as they did then; which spiritual and 
‘divine judgment Christ has given to his Church, the living stones, and 


‘living members, that make up his spiritual household ; to try Jews, apos- © 


‘tles, and prophets; to try faiths and religions, trees and fruits, shep- 
‘herds and teachers, and to try spirits. So the living members have a 
‘living divine judgment in the church of Christ, which he is the Head of, 
‘the judge of all. 

‘Nay, the church has a power given them, which is farther than a 
‘judgment: for what they “bind on earth, is bound in heaven by the 
“power of God ;” and what they loose on earth is loosed in heaven by 
“ the power of God.” This power has Christ given to his living mem- 
‘bers, the church. 

‘G. F. to friends.’ 
‘The 20th of the 12th 
‘month, 1685-6.’ 


I returned to London in the first month 1686, and set myself with all 
diligence to look after friends’ sufferings, which we had now some hopes 


of getting relief from. The sessions came on in the second month at 


Hick’s Hall, where many friends had appeals to be tried; with whom | 


was from day to day to advise, and see that no opportunity was slipt, - 
nor advantage lost: and they generally succeeded well. Soon after, the 


6861 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 593 


és 5 

king was pleased, upon our often laying our sufferings before him, ‘ To 
‘give order for the releasing all that were imprisoned for conscience 
‘sake; which were in his power to discharge.’ Whereby the prison- 
doors were opened, and many hundreds of friends, some of whom had 
been long in prison, were set at liberty. Some of them, who had many 
years been restrained in bonds, came up to the yearly meeting, whick 
was in the third month this year. This caused great joy to friends, to 
see our ancient, faithful brethren again at liberty in the Lord’s work, 
after their long confinement. And indeed a precious meeting we had; 
the refreshing presence of the Lord appearing pleutifully with us and 
amongst us. After the meeting I was moved to write a few lines, to be 
sent amongst friends ; the tenour whereof was thus ; 


‘ Dear friends, 

‘ My love is to you all in the holy Seed Christ Jesus, that bruises the 
‘ serpent’s head, and destroys the devil and his works; and who hath all 
* power in heaven and earth given to him. Let every one’s faith stand 
‘in him, and in his power, who is the author and finisher of your faith. 
_ *To you who have been partakers of his power, and are sensible of it in 
_ ‘this day of his power, which is over darkness and its power; by whose 
_ ‘power the hearts of the king and rulers have been opened; and by 
_ ‘which your outward prison-doors have been set open for your liberty 
« My desires are, that all may be preserved in humility and thankfulness, 
‘in the sense of the mercies of the Lord; and live in ‘the peaceable truth 
_ ‘that is over all: that ye may answer God’s grace, and his light and 

‘Spirit in all; in a righteous, godly life and conversation. Let none be 
‘lifted up by their outward liberty, neither let any be cast down by suf 
_ ‘fering for Christ’s sake; but all live in the seed (which is as wheat) 
‘which is not shaken nor blown away by the winds and storms, as the 
‘chaff is. Which Seed of life none below can make higher or lower: 
_ ‘for the children of the Seed are the children of the everlasting, un 
_ ‘changeable kingdom of Christ and God. In Christ Jesus, whom God 
_ ‘hath given you for a sanctuary, God Almighty keep you, in whom ye 
| 


‘have life everlasting, and wisdom from above, which is pure, peacea- 
‘ble, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits; that 
‘all may he exercised in it, and may practise this wisdom in holy lives 
‘and conversations; that this wisdom may be justified of all her children, 
‘and they exercised and preserved in it in this day of the power of 
_ ‘Christ; in which all his people are made a willing people, to serve 
_ ‘and worship God in righteousness and holiness, in the Spirit and truth. 
‘ Let none abuse the power of the Lord, nor grieve his Spirit, by which 
‘you are sealed and kept to the day of salvation and redemption; but 
_ “always exercise yourselves to have a “ good conscience void of offence 
“towards God and towards all men;” being exercised in holiness, godli- 
‘ness, and righteousness, in the truth, and in the love of it. All study to 
“be approved unto God in innocency, virtue, simplicity, and faithfulness, 
‘labouring and studying to be quiet in the will of God. “ And whatso- 
“ever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giv- 
“ing thanks to God the Father by him:” That he, who is over all, may 
- ‘have the praise for all his mercies and blessings, with which he hath 
_ ‘refreshed his people, and by his eternal arm and power hath kept and 
| ‘preserved them to this day. Glory to his name over all forever, Amen! 
: ‘Christ has called you by his grace into one body, to him the holy head 


| e 


594 ; GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1686 


therefore live in charity, and in the love of God. which is the bond of 
‘ perfectness in his body; which love edifies the Ledy of Christ: which 
‘body and all its members are knit together, and increased with the in- 
‘crease of God, from whom they receive nourishment. For by one 
‘Spirit we are all baptized into one body, and have been made all te 
‘drink into one Spirit; in which Spirit the body and all its members have 
‘fellowship with Christ the head, and one with another. The unity of 
‘this holy Spirit is the bond of peace of all the living members of Chirist 
‘ Jesus, of which he is the spiritual head, rock, and foundation. In the 
‘midst of his church of living members Christ exercises his spiritual pro- 

‘ phetical office, to open to them the mysteries of his kingdom. He is a 
‘spiritual bishop to oversee them, that they do not go astray from the 
‘living God that made them; a shepherd that feeds them with bread and 
‘water of life from heaven, and none is able to pluck his sheep out of his 
‘hands. He is a priest that died for them, sanctifieth them, and presents | 
‘them to God, who ruleth in their hearts by the divine faith, which he is_ 
‘the author and finisher of. His living members praise God through 
‘ Jesus Christ, in whom they have life and salvation, who reconciles them 
‘to God, that they can say they have “ peace with God through Jesus 
“Christ ;” and so praise God through him that was dead and is alive, 
‘reigns over all, and liveth for evermore, blessed for ever, Hallelujah, 
«Amen! 

‘Greet one another with an holy kiss of charity. Love or charity 
‘beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all 
‘things. . It envieth not, vaunteth not itself, nor is puffed up, nor doth it 
‘ behave itself unseemly. It rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the 
‘truth. Charity is not easily provoked, and thinks no evil, but suffereth 
‘Jong and is kind. Charity never faileth. I say, greet one another with 
‘this holy kiss of charity, and peace be with you all that are in Christ 
* Jesus, your life and salvation. G. FY’ 

‘The 30th of the 3d 
‘month, 1686.’ 


I remained most part of this year in London, save that sometimes I 
got to Bethnal-green for a night or two, sometimes as far as Enfield an 
thereabouts amongst friends. and once or twice to Chiswich, where an 
ancient friend had set up a school for the educating of friends’ children ; 
in all which places I found service for the Lord. At London I spent 
my time amongst friends, either in publick meetings, as the Lord drew 
me, or visiting ‘such as were not well, and in looking after the sufferings | 
of friends. For though many were released out of prison, yet some re- 
mained prisoners still for tythes, &c. and sufferings of several sorts lay 
heavy on friends in many places. Yet inasmuch as many who had been 
prisoners were now set at liberty, I felt a concern upon me that none 
might look too much at man, but might eye the Lord therein, from whom 
deliverance comes. Wherefore I wrote an epistle to friends, as fol- 
weth ; 


‘ Friends, q 
‘ Tue Lord by his eternal power hath disposed the heart of the king 
‘to open the prison-doors, by which about fifteen-er sixteen hundred are 
‘set at liberty, and hath given a check to the informers, so that in many 
places our meetings are pretty quiet. My desires are, that both liberty 
an | sufferi ings may be sanctified to his people, that friends may a 


16086 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 595 


the mercies of the Lord in all things, and to him be thankful, who sti.leth 

the raging waves of the sea, allayeth the storms and tempests, and 
‘maketh a calm. Therefore it is good to trust in the Lord, and cast 
* your care upon him who careth for you. For when ye were in gaols 
‘and prisons the Lord did by his eternal arm and power uphold you, and 
‘sanctified them to you; unto some he made them as a sanctuary, and 
‘tried his people as in a furnace of affliction, both in prisons and spoiling 
‘of goods. In all this the Lord was with his people, and taught them to 
‘know that “ the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; and that 
‘he was in all places “ who crowneth the year with his goodness,” 
‘Psal. xv. Therefore let all God’s people be diligent, and careful to 
‘keep the camp of God holy, pure, and clean, and to serve God and 
‘Christ, and one another in the glorious, peaceable gospel of life and sal- 
‘vation; which glory shines over God’s camp, and his great Prophet, 
‘Bishop and Shepherd is among, or in the midst of them, exercising his 
‘heavenly offices in them; so that you his people may rejoice in Christ 
‘ Jesus, through whom you have peace with God. For he that destroyeth 
‘ the devil and his works, and bruises the serpent’s head, is all God’s peoples’ 
‘heavenly foundation and rock to build upon; which was the holy proph- 
‘ets’ and apostles’ rock in days past, and is now the rock of our age; 
‘which rock, the foundation of God, standeth sure. Upon this the 
“ Lord God establish all his people,” Amen. GaEY 

‘London, the 25th of the 
‘7th month, 1686.’ 


Divers other epistles and papers I wrote this year, whereof one was 
by way of exhortation to ‘ friends to keep in unity in the truth, in which 
‘there is no division nor separation: thus, 


‘ Dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ, 


‘In whom ye have all peace and life, in whom there is no division, 
‘ schism, rent, strife, nor separation: for Christ is not divided, and there 
‘can be no separation in the truth, nor in the light, grace, faith, and 
‘ Holy Ghost, but unity, fellowship, and communion. For the devil was 
‘the first that went out of the truth, separated from it, and tempted man 
‘and woman to disobey God, and to go from the truth into a false liber- 
‘ty, to do that which God forbad. So it is the serpent now that leads 
‘men and women into a false liberty, even the God of the world, from 
‘which man and woman must be separated by the truth, that Christ the 
‘truth may make them free, and then they are free indeed. Then they 
‘are to stand fast in that liberty in which Christ hath made them free, 
‘and in him there is no division, schism, rent, nor separation; but peace, 
‘life, and reconciliation to God and to one another. So in Christ male 
‘and female are all one; for whether they be male or female, Jew or 
‘ Gentile, bond or free, they are all one in Christ. And there can be nc 
“schism, rent, or division in him, nor in the worship of God in his holy 
‘Spirit and truth, nor in the pure and undefiled religion that keeps from 
“the spots of the world, nor in the love of God that beareth and endureth 
‘all things, nor in the word of God’s grace, for it is pure and endureth 
‘for ever. Many, you see, have lost the word of patience, and the word 
‘of wisdom, that is pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated. 
‘Then they run into the wisdom that is below, that is “ earthly. sensual, 
‘and devilish,” and very uneasy to be intreated. They go from the love 


696 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. | 1686 


of God that beareth all things, endureth all things, thinks no ey.], anu 
‘doth not behave itself unseemly ; then they cannot bear, but grow brit- 
‘tle, are easily provoked, run into unseemly things, and are in that, that 
‘ vaunteth itself, are puffed up, rash, heady, high-minded, and fierce, aad 
‘become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal; out this is contrary to 
‘the nature of the love of God. ‘Therefore, dear friends and brethren, 
‘dwell in the love of God; for those who dwell in love dwell in God, 
‘and God in them. Keep in the word of wisdom, that is gentle, pure. 

and peaceable: and in the word of patience that endureth and beareth 

all things; which word of patience the devil, and the world, and all his 
‘instruments can never wear out: it will wear them all out; for it was 
‘ before they were, and will be when they are gone, the pure, holy word - 
‘of God, by which all God’s children are born again, and feed on the 
‘milk thereof, and live and grow by it. My desires are, that ye may all 
‘be of one heart, mind, soul, and spirit in Christ Jesus, Amen. 


2 Cn 


| Soon after this, finding those apostates whom the enemy had drawn 
) into division and separation from friends continued their clamour and _ 
\ opposition against our monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings, it came 
Epowime to write another short epistle to friends to put them in mind of — 
the ‘evidence and seal they had received in themselves by the Spirit of - 
‘the Lord, that those meetings were of the Lord and accepted by him,’ 

that they might not be shaken by the adversaries. I wrote as followeth: 


‘ My dear friends in the Lord Jesus Christ! 


‘ Aux you that are gathered in his holy name know that your meetings 
‘for worship, your quarterly meetings, monthly meetings, women’s meet- 
‘ings, and yearly meetings, are set up by the power and Spirit of the 
‘Lord God, and witnessed by his Spirit and power in your hearts: and 
‘by the Spirit and power of the Lord God they are established to you, 
‘and in the power and Spirit of the Lord God you are established in 
‘them. The Lord God hath with his Spirit sealed to you that your 
‘meetings are of his ordering and gathering, and he hath owned them 
‘by honouring you with his blessed presence in them; and you have had 
‘great experience of his furnishing you with wisdom, life, and power, 
‘and heavenly riches from his treasure and fountain, by which many 
‘thanks and praises have been returned in your meetings to his holy, 

‘glorious name. He hath sealed your meetings by his Spirit to you, and 
‘ that your gathering together hath been by the Lord, to Christ his Son, 
ae in his name, and not by man. So the Lord hath the glory and 

‘ praise of them and in them, who hath upheld you and them by the arm 

of his power against all opposers and backsliders and their slanderous 

* books and tongues. For the Lord’s power and seed doth reign over 
‘them all, in which he doth preserve his sons and daughters to his glory, 

by his eternal arm and power, in his work and service, as a willing 
people in the day of his power, without being weary or fainting, but 
strong in the Lord, and valiant for his glorious name and precious 
truth, and his pure religion; that ye may serve the Lord in Christ 
Jesus, your rock and foundation, in your age and ecneraaensy ree 


‘London, the 3d of the a 
‘11th month, 1686-7.’ 7 


1686; GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 597 


A little after it came upon me to write something concerning the state 
of the church and the true members thereof; as followeth: 


‘Concerning the church of Christ being clothed with the sun and having 
‘the moon minder her feet. 


‘ Tuey are living members, living stones, built up a spiritual house- 
‘hold, the children of the promise, and of the seed and flesh of Christ ; 
“as the apostle saith, “ flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone.” They 

are the good seed, the children of the everlasting kingdom written in 
‘ heaven, who have put on the Lord Jesus Christ. They sit together in 
‘heavenly places in Christ, are clothed with the Sun of righteousness, 
‘Christ Jesus, and have the moon under their feet, Revel. xii. So all 
( changeable things that are in the world, all changeable religions, 

z changeable worships, changeable ways, fellowships, churches, and 

\ teachers in the world, are as “the moon; for the moon changes, but the 
&sun doth not change. The Sun of righteousness never changeth, or 
* sets, nor goes down; but all the ways, religions, worships, fellowships 
‘ of the world, and the teachers thereof, change like the moon. But the 
‘true church, which Christ is the head of, which i is in God the Father, 

‘and is called “the pillar and ground of truth,” whose conversation is in 
‘heaven; this church is clothed with the Sun, Christ Jesus her head, 

‘who doth not change, and hath all changeable things under her feet. 

‘ These are the living members, born again of the immortal seed by the 

‘word of God, who ‘feed upon the immortal milk, and live and grow by 

‘it. Such are the new creatures in Christ Jesus, who makes all things 

‘new, and sees the old things pass away. His church, his members 

‘which are clothed with the sun, their worship is in the Spirit and in the 

‘truth, which doth not change, which truth the devil, the foul, unclean 

‘spirit, is out of, and cannot get into this worship in Spirit and truth. 

‘Their religion is pure and undefiled before God, that keeps from the 

‘spots of the world, and their way is the new and living way, Christ 

‘Jesus. So the crch of Christ, that is clothed with the ‘Sua, that hath 

_ ‘the moon and all changeable religions and ways under her feet, hath an 
‘unchangeable w orship, religion and w ay, an unchangeable rock and 
f foundation, Christ Jesus, an unchangeable high priest, ~and so are chil- 
‘dren of the New Testament, and in the ev erlasting covenant of light 
‘and life. 

‘ All that profess the scriptures both of the New and Old Testament, 
‘and are not in Christ Jesus, the apostle tells them they are “ reprobates 

_“if Christ be not in them.” These that are not in Christ cannot be 
‘clothed with Christ, the Sun of righteousness, that never changes. They 
‘are under the changeable moon in the world, in the changeable things, 
‘the changeable religions, w ways, worships, teachers, rocks, and founda- 
‘ tions. But Christ, the Son of God and Sun of righteousness, doth not 
‘change; in whom his people are gathered, and sit t together i in heavenly 

places in him, clothed with Christ Jesus, the Sun, who is the mountain 
that filleth the whole earth with his divine power and light. So all his 
people see him and feel him both by sea and land. He is in all places 
of the earth felt and seen of all his. He saith to the outward professors, 
the Jews, “ I am from above, ye are from below, ye are of this world.” 

So their religions, worships, ways, teachers, faiths, beliefs, and creeds, 

are made by men, and are heloes of this world that changeth like the 

moe1. You may see their religions, ways, worships, and ‘teachers, are 


598 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1686 


all changeable like the moon; but Christ, the Sun, with which the 
cuurch is clothed. doth not change, nor his church; for they are spirit- 
nally-minded, and their way, worship, and religion is spiritual, from 
Christ, who is from above and not of this world. Christ hath redeemed 
‘you from this world, their changeable rudiments and elements, and old 
‘things, and their changeable teachers, and from their changeable faiths 
‘and beliefs. For Christ is the Author and Finisher of his church’s faith, 
‘who saith, “ Believe in the Light, that ye may become children of the 
Light.” And it is given them not only to believe, but to suffer for his 
‘name. So this faith and belief is above all faiths and beliefs, which 
‘change like the moon. God’s people are an holy nation, a peculiar peo- 
‘ple, a spiritual household, and royal priesthood, offering up spiritual 


‘ sacrifice to God by Jesus Christ, and are zealous of righteousness, god-: 
J g g 


‘ly, good works, and their zeal is for that which is of God against the 
‘evil which is not of God. Christ took upon him the seed of Abraham, 
‘he doth not say the corrupt seed of the Gentiles; so accerding to the 
‘flesh he was of the holy seed of Abraham and David, and his holy body 
‘and blood was an offering and a sacrifice for the sins of the whole 
‘world, as a lamb without blemish, whose flesh saw no corruption. By 
‘the one offering of himself in the New Testament or New Covenant, he 
‘has put an end to all the offerings and sacrifices amongst the Jews in 
‘the Old Testament. Christ, the holy Seed, was crucified, dead, and 
‘buried according to the flesh, and raised again the third day, and his 
‘flesh saw no corruption. Though he was crucified in the flesh, yet 
‘ quickened again by the Spirit and is alive, and liveth for evermore, and 
‘hath all power in heaven and earth given to him, and reigneth over 
‘all, and is the One Mediator between God and Man, even the Man 
‘Christ Jesus. Christ said, “ He gave his flesh for the life of the world ;” 
‘and the apostle saith, “ his flesh saw no corruption ;” so that which saw 
‘no corrruption he gave for the life of the corrupt world to bring them 
‘out of corruption. Christ said again, “ He that eateth my flesh and 
“ drinketh my blood hath eternal life; for my flesh is meat indeed, and 
“ my blood is drink indeed. And he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh 
“ my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” He that eats not his flesh 

and drinks not his blood, which is the life of the flesh, hath not eternal 

life. As the apostle saith, “ All died in Adam ;” then all are dead. Now 
‘all coming spiritually to eat the flesh of Christ, the second Adam, and 
‘drink his blood, his blood and flesh gives all the dead in Adam life, and 
‘quickens them out of their sins and trespasses in which they were 
‘dead; so they come to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ 


‘Jesus, and are living members of the church of Christ that he is the — 


_ head of, and are clothed with the Sun of righteousness, the Son of God, 
| ‘that never changes, and have the changeable moon under their feet, 
‘and all changeable worldly things, inventions, and works of men’s 
hands. These see the people how they change from one worship %o 
another, from one religion to another, from one way to another, ana 
ene church to another, yet their hearts are not changed. The letter of 
the scripture is read by the Christians like the Jews, but the mystery is 
hid; they have the sheep’s clothing, the outside, but are inwardly rav- 
‘ened from the Spirit, which should bring them into the Lamb’s and 
‘Sheep’s nature. The scripture saith, “ All the uncircumcised must go 
“ down into the pit ;” therefore all must be circumcised with the Spirit 
of God. which puts off the body of death and sins of the flesh, that 


686] GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 599 


“came into man and woman by their disobedience and transgressing 
God's commands. | say, all must be circumcised with the Spirit, which 
puts off the body of death and sins of the flesh, before they come up 
into Christ, their Rest, that never fell, and be clothed with him the Sun 
of righteousness. Gike 


Towards the latter end of this year I went to my son Rouse’s near 
Kingston. While I was there I wrote a paper concerning the ‘ failing 
away,’ foretold by the apostle Paul, 2 ‘Thess. ii. 3. as followeth: 


‘ Tue apostle saith unat uhere must be “a failing away” first before 
the wicked one, and man of sin, the son of perdition, be revealed, which 
betrayeth Christ within, as the son of perdition betrayed Christ with- 
out; and they that betray Christ within crucify to themselves Christ 
afresh, and put him to open shame. Before the apostles deceased, this 
man of sin and son of perdition was revealed; for they saw antichrist 
come, the false prophets, false apostles, and deceivers come, having a 
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. They saw the wolves 
dressed in the sheep’s clothing, and such as went in Cain’s, Corah’s, and 
“* Balaam’s way, and Jezebel’s, and the whore of Babylon, the whore of 
‘ confusion, the mother of harlots, and such as were enemies to the cross. 
‘of Christ, that served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies. 
‘These Christ saw should come, and said, “Jf it were possible they 
“ should deceive the elect,” and commanded his followers not to go after 
‘them. The apostle said, “ Turn away from such,” and Christ and his 
‘apostles warned the church of Christ of such. In this day of Christ 
‘and his gospel, after the long night of apostacy from the light, grace, 

truth, life, and Spirit of Christ Jesus, the son of perdition, the wicked 
* one, the man of sin is revealed again, and the inwardly ravening wolves 
*in sheep’s clothing, and the spirit of Cain, Corah, Balaam, Jezebel, the 
‘ antichrists, false prophets, and false apostles, and such as are enemies 
‘to the cross of Christ, who serve not the Lord Jesus, but their own bel- 
‘lies, and crucify Christ to themselves, and put him to open shame.. This 
‘spirit have we seen fn this gospel-day of Christ; but Christ will con- 
‘sume them with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy them with the 
‘brightness of his coming. But God’s people, whom he hath chosen unto 
‘salvation in Christ from the beginning, through the sanctification of the 
‘Spirit and the belief of the truth, stand steadfast in Christ Jesus, and 
‘are thankful to God by and through his Son, their rock and salvation, 
‘ their happiness, and eternal inheritance. 

‘The apostle saith, “ Ye were as sheep going astray, but are now re- 
“turned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls.” So when people 
‘are returned to Christ, their Shepherd, they know his voice and follow 
‘him, and are returned to’ the Bishop of their Souls; then they believe 
‘in h'm, and receive wisdom and understanding from him who is from 
‘above, heavenly and spiritual. Then they act like spiritual holy men 
‘and women, and come to be members of the Church of Christ. Then 
‘a spiritual care cometh upon the elders in Christ, that all the members 

walk in Christ, in his light, grace, Spirit, and truth, that they may adorn 

the confession and profession of Christ, and see that all walk in the or- 
‘der of the holy Spirit, and the everlasting gospel of peace, life, and sal- 
vation. This order keeps out of confusion; for the gospel of peace, 
‘the power of God, was before confusion was. All the heirs of the gos- 
_ *pel-are heirs of its order, and are in this gospel whi:h brings life and. 


600 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1686 


‘immortality to light in them, by which all men and women may see 
‘their work and service in it, to look after the poor widows and father- 
‘Jess, to see that nothing be lacking, and that all honour the Lord in thei 
‘lives and conversations. 

‘When the whole house of Israel were in their graves and sepulchres, 
and were called “the scattered, dry bones,” yet they could speak, and 
say ‘their bones were dry, their hope was lost, or they were without 
hope, and they were cut off” They were alive outwardly, and could 

‘speak outwardly. So that which is called Christendom may very wel. 
‘be called “the scattered dry bones,” and be said to be in their graves 
‘and sepulchres, dead from the heavenly breath of life, the Spirit and 
‘word of life, that gathereth to God. Though they can speak, and are 
‘alive outwardly, yet they remain in the congregations or churches of 
‘the dead, that want the virtue of life. For the Jews, whom God poured 
‘his Spirit upon and gave them his law, when they rebelled against the 
‘Spirit of God, and turned from God and his law, they came to be dry 
‘scattered bones, and were turned into their graves and sepulchres. So 
‘Christendom that is turned from the grace, truth, and light of Christ, 
‘and the Spirit that God poureth upon all flesh, they are become the 
‘scattered dry bones, are in tuvir graves and sepulchres, and are the 
‘ congregations or churches of the dead, though they can speak and are 
‘alive outwardly. 

‘Christ saith, “I am come that they might have life, and that they 
“might have it more abundantly. He gave his flesh for the life of the 
“ world.” And he saith, “ I am the resurrection and the life. I am the 
“way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by 
“me.” Christ is the quickening Spirit. All being dead in Adam are to 
‘be quickened and made alive by Christ, the second Adam. And when 
‘they are quickened and made alive by him, they meet together in the 
‘name of Jesus Christ their Saviour, who died for their sins and is risen 
‘for their justification, and so was dead and is alive, and liveth for ever- 
“more. All whom he hath quickened and made alive (even all the living) 
‘meet in the name of Jesus who is alive, and he “their living Prophet, 
‘Shepherd, and Bishop is in the midst of them, and is their living Rock 
‘and Foundation, and a living Mediator between them and the living 
“God. So the living praise the living God through Jesus Christ, through 
‘whom they have peace with God. All the living have rest in Christ 
‘their life, he is their sanctification, their righteousness, their treasure of 
‘ wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, which is spiritual and heavenly. 
‘ He is the spiritual tree and root, which all the believers in the light, the 
‘Jife in Christ, that pass from the death in Adam to the life in Christ, 
‘and overcome the world, and are born of God, are grafted into Christ, 

the heavenly tree, which beareth all the spiritual branches or grafts. 


‘These meet in his name, are gathered in him, and sit together in hea-— 


‘venly places in Christ Jesus, their Life, who hath quickened and made 
‘them alive. So all the living worship the living God in his holy Spirit 
‘and truth, in which they live and walk. Into this worship the foul, un- 
‘clean spirit, the devil, cannot get; for the holy Spirit and truth is over 
‘him, and he is out of it. This is the standing worship which Christ set 
up in his new covenant. And they that are quickened by Christ are 
‘ the living stones, living members, and spiritual household and church, 
or congregation of Christ, who is the living head and husband. They 
that are made alive by Christ are a living church, 1ave a living head. 


16871 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 60) 


‘and are come from the congregations or churches of the dead in Adam, 

‘where death and destruction talk of Goa, and of his prophets and apos- 

‘tles, in their wisdom that is below, earthly, and devilish, inthe know- 

‘ledge that is brutish, and in the understanding that comes to nought. 

‘For what they know is natural, by their natural tongues, arts, and 

‘sciences, in which they corrupt themselves. This is the state of the 
_ *dead in Adam; but the quickened, that are made alive Ly Christ, dis- 

‘cern between the living and the dead. Cane 

‘ Kingston upon Thames, the 
© 12th month, 1686-7.’ 


While I was at Kingston, I wrote another paper, shewmg, That thé 
Lord in all ages called the righteous from amongst the wicked, befor 
he destroyed them ;” after this manner: 


‘ Noau and his family were called into the ark, before the old world 
was destroyed with the flood. And all the faithful generation, that lived 
before, were taken away, and died in the faith, before that flood of de- 
struction came upon the wicked old world. 

‘The Lord did call Lot out of Sodom, before he did destroy and con- 
sume it, and the wicked there. 

‘Christ said; “It cannot be, that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem ;” 
and he said; “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and 

“stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered 
“ thy children together, as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings! 
“but ye would not,” Luke xiii. 33, 34. And he said to the Jews; “ There- 
‘ fore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apos- 
“tles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute; that the blood 
“of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, 
“may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel, unto the 
“blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple. 
“ Verily, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation,” Luke 
! ‘xi. 49, 50, 51. And he said to the Jews, “ Behold, your houses shall be 
“left unto you desolate,” Matth. xxiii. 34, &c. Christ told his disciples, 

‘that the temple at Jerusalem should be thrown down, and there should 
‘not be one stone left upon another, that should not be thrown down, 
‘ Matth. xxiv. 2. Also, that he must go to Jerusalem, and “suffer many 
“ things of the Jews, elders, and chief priests, and be killed, and raised 
“again the third day,” Matth. ,xvi. 21. And Christ said, “ When ye 
“ shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know, the desolation 
“thereof is nigh.” He foretold, that the Jews should fall by the edge of the 
‘sword, and should be led away “captive into all nations; and Jerusa- 
“lem should be trodden down of the Gentiles,” Luke xxi. 20. 24. Here 
‘you may see how Jerusalem was often warned by Christ, and how often 
‘he would have “ gathered them, but they would not,” before they were 
‘scattered over or into all nations, their houses left desolate, and their 
‘temple and Jerusalem besieged with armies, destroyed, and thrown 

down. And though the disciples and apostles of Christ did meet, with 

the elders and church at Jerusalem, after Christ was risen, yet Eusebius 

[ie in his Ecclesiastical History, that the Christians at Jerusalem 


had a vision, or a revelation to depart out of Jerusalem. Being fore- 

warned also by Christ, that “when they should see Jerusalem com- 

“passed with armies, its desolation was nigh; and that the temple should 

“be thrown down, and not one stone left upon an»>ther;” it is said, the 
4A 


Av2 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [168% 


‘Christians did depart out of bloody Jerusalem, before it and the temple 
‘were destroyed by Titus the emperor, who besieged it with his armies. 
‘He was of the Gentiles, and destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, as 
‘ Christ had forespoken to his disciples, because .{ the wickedness of the 
‘ Jews, and the innocent blood that they had shed in it. So the Lord 
‘called his people out of bloody Jerusalem, before he destroyed it. And 
‘it is said, Titus destroyed the temple and Jerusalem about two-and-forty 
‘years after Christ was crucified and risen again, and that with so great 
‘a destruction, that the Jews never did build again ‘he city of Jerusalem, 
‘nor the temple, as Sodom was never built again, nor the cities of the 
‘old world. But the Jews for above these thousand years have been, 
‘and are a scattered people in all nations to this day ; and Christ, whom 
‘they crucified, and his doctrine is preached, and set over them: and 
‘the Gentiles, whom they hated, have received and do receive him and 
‘his doctrine, and praise God for it through Jesus Christ, Amen. 

‘God called his people out of Egypt, after he had poured out his ten 
‘plagues upon the Egyptians; when he had destroyed the first-born of 
‘ Egypt, then the Lord brought his people out of Egypt. And after the 
‘Lord had clearly brought his people out, he destroyed Pharaoh, with 
‘all his hosts and chariots. 

‘John saith, he heard a voice, saying; “Come out of her, my people 
“ (to wit, out of Babylon, the false church) that ye be not partakers of 
“her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins have 
“reached to heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities,” Rev. 
‘xviii. 4, 5. Here ye may see, that God did call his people out of spirit- 


‘ual Babylon before he destroyed her, and cast her down, to be utterty 


‘burnt with fire, ver. 8, 9 and 21. 

‘Was not Nebuchadnezzar’s empire thrown down and ended by Cyrus 
‘and Darius, who were of the seed of the Medes, before Cyrus and Da- 
‘rius gave forth their proclamation for all the Jews to go into their own 
‘land out of Babylon’s captivity? and was there not a prophecy of Cy- 
‘rus, “ That he should subdue n‘.tions, and that the Lord would loose the 
“loins of kings before him, and break in pieces the gates of brass, and 
“cut in sunder the bars of iron, and open the two-leaved gates; and that 
“the gates should not be shut?” And the Lord said; “ This is for Jacob, 
“my servant’s sake, and for Israel mine elect,” Isa. xlv. Was not, this 
‘ fulfilled in Cyrus’s and Darius’s time? For did not then the Jews go out. 
‘ of captivity into their own land? Ezra i. 2, 3, 4, and chap. vi. 1. and 12. 
‘and Isa. xliv. 28. and xlv. 13. Was not this prophecy ‘of Isaiah fulfill- 
‘ed, when the children of Israel came out of Babylon? Were not the 

Assyrians, that carried away the ten tribes, subdued? and the Babylo- 
nians, that carried away the two tribes, were they not subdued in the 
days of Cyrus and Darius, in whose days the “loins of kings were loos- 
“ed, and the two-leaved gates of brass and iron were opened?” and 
‘hai not Israel and Jacob their liberty by them in their days, to go into 
their own land? ; 
«And here in England, was it not observed, that most of the honest 
and sober people were turned out of the army, and their commissions, 
offices, and places taken from them, because they could not join with 
‘others in their cruelty and persecuting ? and others laid down their com- 
‘ missions themselves, and came out from amongst those persecutors, be- 
‘fore they were overthrown, and brought to confusion. All that are 
‘wise, see these things, and learn by such examples and way-marks to 


1687] GEORGE FOX’S JOUR. L. 605 


snun such bogs. The righteous are safe that keep in Christ, their 
everlasting sanctuary, that changes not; i: whom they have rest and 
peace with God, Amen. G. FY’ 
‘ Kingston, the 29th of the 
«12th month, 1686-7.” 


While I was at Kingston, one day meditating on the things of God, 
some particular observations arose in my mind concerning the first, and 
-the ‘second or last Adam. As that 

[ ‘The first man Adam was made on the sixth day of the week; and 
‘Christ, the second Adam, was crucified on the sixth day of the week. 

\ ‘The first Adam was betrayed by the serpent in the garden of Eden 
‘Christ our Saviour, the second Adam, was betrayed by Judas in a gar- 


/ den near Jerusalem. 


De | 


a 


| 


‘Christ arose from the dead on the first-day of the week; and they 
‘that do believe on him are entered into Christ their rest: the christians 


_ ‘meet together to worship God on the first day of the week; and on the 


\ ‘first day of the week it was, that God said, “Let there be light, and 
“ there was light.” The Jews’ rest was on the seventh day of the week, 
‘which was given to them asa sign of the eternal rest of the Lord, 
‘ sanctifying them, after they came out of the land of Egypt: for before 
‘that time the Lord had not given to man and woman his outward Sab- 
‘ bath-day to keep, neither in the old world, nor after in Abraham’s time, 
‘nor in Isaac’s, nor in Jacob’s time; until the Jews came out of Egypt 
“to Mount Sinai in the wilderness. Then the Lord gave the law, and 
‘his Sabbath, as a sign in the old. covenant, of Christ the eternal rest in 
‘the new covenant: and they that believe do enter into Christ their rest. 

‘ Adam, the first man, is the root from whence we all spring natural- 
‘ly: and Christ is called the last or second Adam, because he is the be- 

‘ ginning and root of all that are spiritual. 

‘The first Adam was made a living soul: and Christ the last Adam 
‘is a quickening Spirit. 

‘Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man, that they 
‘might all come into favour with God; and that every tongue should 
‘ confess, that “ Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 


I wrote also a paper there, concerning the two seeds, distinguishing 
the s€ed wherein the blessing is received, from the seed which the curse 
remains upon. Of which the following is a copy: 


‘Tue Lord said to Abraham, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the 

“ earth be blessed,” Gen. xxii. 18. “And thy seed shall be as the stars 
“ of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore, and as the 
“ dust of the earth, that cannot be numbered,” chap. xiii. 16. and xv. 5. 
‘and xxii. 17. In this seed all nations and families of the earth are 
‘blessed; but not in the seed of evil-doers and of falsehood, nor in the 
‘seed of adultery and the whore, Isa. i. 4. and lvii. 3, 4.“ For the seed 
sof the wicked shall be cut off, saith the Lord,” Psal. xxxvii. 28. The 
‘Lord said to David, “That his seed should endure for ever,’ Psal. 
‘Ixxxix. 36. And again it is said, Psal. cii. 28, “The children of thy 
** servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.” 
‘ Here is a distinction betwixt the two seeds: for the seed of evil-doers, 
‘of the adulterer, whore, and of the wicked shall be cut off; so it is no* 
‘blessed. But Christ bruises the head of the serpent and his seed, which 
he soweth in them, that disobey and transgress God's command, and 


Jv04 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1681 


‘rebe. against God’s good Spirit. This wicked seed ot .he serjent is 
‘curst, and is an enemy to the seed, in whom all are blessed. But Christ 
‘ bruises the head of this cursed seed of enmity, and destroys the devi 
‘and his works; and in his seed are all blessed, and all are in unity in 
‘this seed. All the children of the seed are the children of the kingdom 
“of God and Christ, and are blessed with faithful Abraham. Whoever 
‘are of the saving, divine, precious faith, are of Abraham, walk in the 
‘steps of the seed and faith of Abraham, and are blessed with him, yea, 
‘of all nations, and all the families of the earth. 
The Lord said to Abraham, “ Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land 
“ that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four 
“hundred years: and that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; 
“ and afterwards shall they (to wit, God’s seed) come out with great sub- 
“ stance,” Gen. xv. 13, 14. Here ye may see, that which afflicts God's 
* seed, he will judge, and did judge; for he did destroy the first-birth of 
* Pharaoh, and overthrew him and his host. 

‘An holy man said; “ Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed 
“or remnant, we had been as Sodom,” &c. that is destroyed. But in 
‘the seed, which destroys the devil and his works, and bruises the head 
‘of the serpent and his seed, are all nations and families of the earth 
‘ blessed. 

‘Christ, according to the flesh, was of Abraham and of David: for he 
‘took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; in which 
‘seed all nations and families of the earth are blessed. And so they. 
‘that are of his seed, are of the generation of Christ; are “flesh of his 
“ flesh, and bone of his bone.”—Now all nations and families of the earth 
‘must be in this holy seed, if they have the blessings, and are blessed 
‘ And “out of the mouth of this seed’s seed shall not God’s word depart ;” 
“but shall remain and abide in the mouth of this seed’s seed, in which 
‘ they are blessed, Isa. lix. 21. So it is not the first-birth’s talking of the 
‘words of Christ, the seed, in whose mouth the word of God doth not 
‘abide, that makes an outward profession, like the Jews, that did kill and 
‘ persecute the prophets, and crucify Christ the seed and substance of the 
‘law and prophets, which the Jews professed in words, but they denied 
‘Christ, the seed and life. All Christians (so called) that profess the 
‘ scriptures in words, and are not in the seed Christ, are in the confésion, 
“and are like the Jews. So neither Jews nor Christians are blessed, ex- 

‘cept they be in Christ, the seed of life. 

‘But though Christ is said to be the seed of David, and of Abraham, 

‘as his generation is declared by Matthew and Luke ; yet Christ was 

‘not born of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
‘ For he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin, and sup- 
‘ posed to be the son of Joseph, but was the son of God. His name was 
‘called Jesus, because he should “save his people from their sins ;” and 
‘Emanuel, God with us. Christ took not upon him the nature of an- 
‘ eels, but the seed of Abraham (as I said before) and so was made of 
‘ the seed of David according to the flesh, and * declared to be the Son 
“of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resur- 
“rection from the dead,” Rom. i. 4. So the generation of Christ is a 
‘mystery. Christ saw his seed or word grow up in his disciples; and 
“ Christ in you the hope of glory,” the apostle calls “ the mystery, which 
‘hath been hid from ages and generations ; but now is made manifest 
‘to the saints, or sanctified ones,” Col. i. 26, 27. “ Whom we preach - 


1687) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 605 


‘warning every man, and teaching every man in al. wisdom, that 
“we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,” v. 28. For 
in Christ, the second Adam, all are made perfect and complete; and 
in Adam in the fall, all are deformed and made inperfect; so out 
‘of Christ all mankind are imperfect and deformed; let them paint 
‘and dress themselves with the sheep’s clothing, and with the form 
‘of godliness, of the prophets’, Christ’s and his apostles’ words never so 
‘much; vet if Christ be not in them, they are incomplete, imperfect, 
‘ deformed, reprobates. But the apostle tells the church of Christ, “ Ye 
“are complete in Christ, which is the head of all principality and pow- 
“er,” Col. ii. 10. (for he hath “all power in heaven and earth given to 
“him,” Matth. xxviii. 18.) So all the saints are made perfect and com- 
«plete in Christ Jesus; blessed be the Lord God over all for ever, 
‘through Jesus Christ, Amen, Amen. Gore 

‘ Kingston, the 15th of the 

‘1st month, 1686-7.’ 


Quickly after this I returned to London, and continued there a month 
in the service of the Lord; being daily exercised either in public meet- 
ings, or more particular services relating to the church of Christ: as 
visiting such as were sick or afflicted, writing books or papers for the 
spreading of truth, or refuting of error. As it was a time of general 
liberty, the Papists appeared more open in their worship than formerly, 
and many unsettled people going to view them, a great talk there was 
of their praying to saints, and by beads, &c. whereupon I wrote a short 
paper concerning prayer; as followeth: 


‘Curist Jesus, when he taught his disciples to pray, said unto them, 


-* When ye pray, say; Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be 


——— 


“thy name,” &c. Christ doth not say, they should pray to Mary, the 
‘mother of Christ; nor doth he say, they should pray to angels, or to 
‘saints that were dead. Christ did not teach them to pray to "the dead, 
‘nor for the dead. Neither did Christ or his apostles teach the believers 
‘to pray by beads, nor to sing by outward organs; but the apostle said, 
‘he would sing and pray in the spirit: for the Spirit itself “ maketh 
«intercession; and the Lord, that searcheth the heart, knoweth the 
“ mind of the spirit.” 

‘fo take counsel of the dead, was forbidden by the law of God; they 
‘were to take counsel of the Lord. He hath given Christ in the new 
‘covenant, in his gospel-day, to be a counsellor and a leader to all be- 
‘lievers in his light. Men are not to run to the dead for the living; for 
‘the law and testimony of God forbids it. Those Jews, that refused the 
‘running waters of Shiloh, the floods and waters of the Assyrians and 
‘Babylonians came over them, and carried them into captivity: and 
‘ they that refuse the waters of Christ, are overflowed with the flood of 
‘the world, that lieth in wickedness. They that asked counsel uf stocks 
‘and stones, were in the spirit of error and whoredom; they were 
“gone a whoring from God,” Hosea iv. 12. And they, that “ joined 
« themselves to Baal- Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead, provoked 
“the Lord’s anger, and brought the Lord’s displeasure upon them,” 

Psal. evi. 28, 29. So here ye may see, the sacrifices of the dead were 
‘forbidden. The living know that they shall die; but the dead know not 
any thing, neither have they any more a reward: for the memory of 
them is forgotten, Eccles. ix. 5. “ Wo to the rebellious children, saith 


006 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [168% 


“the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a cov- 
“ering, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,” Isa. xxx. 1 
me, PP 

When I had staid about a month in London, | got out of town again. 
For by reason of the many hardships I had undergone in imprisonments, 
and other sufferings for truth’s sake, my body was grown so infirm and 
weak, that I could not bear the closeness of the city long together ; ‘but 
was fain to go a little into the country, where I might have the benefit 
of the fresh air. At this time I went with my son-in-law William Mead, 
to his country-house called Gooses in Essex, where I staid about two 
weeks; and among other services, that I had there, I wrote the follow- 
ing paper: 


“ A Distinction between the true offering and sacrifice, and the false, in 
“the old and new covenant. 


‘Tue Lord saith, “ He that sacrificeth to any god, save unto the 
“ Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed,” Exod. xxii. 20. So no god 
“is to be minded, nor sacrificed to, but the Lord God. It is death to sac- 
‘rifice to any other god, save the Lord. The Lord saith also, “ Thou 
“shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread,” Exod. 
‘xxi. 18. So that sour heavy leaven must not be offered with the Lord’s 
‘sacrifice. Again the Lord saith; “Thou shalt not build an altar of 
“ hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it,” 
‘Exod. xx. 25. Therefore have a care of polluting the altar with your 
‘own tools, you that profess to offer the spiritual sacrifice. 

‘Jonah said; “ He would sacrifice unto the Lord with the voice of 
“ thanksgiving,” when he was in the fish’s belly; and there he prayed 
‘unto the Lord, Jonah ii. For Jonah in the whale’s belly had no lambs, 
‘nor rams, nor outward sacrifices to offer. 

‘The Lord forbids his people to sacrifice with harlots, Hosea iv. 14. 
* And the Lord forbids his people to offer sacrifice of the blind, lame, sick, 
‘or that which was deformed, or had any blemish: as in Mal. i. and 
‘many other places. So they that offer spiritual sacrifice, must not offer 
‘the blind, lame, blemished, or deformed sacrifice to God. 

‘The scribe saith unto Christ, “ To love God with all the heart, and 
“with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the 
“strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all Whole 
“ burnt-offerings and sacrifices,” Mark xii. 33. “ And when Jesus saw, 
“that he answered discreetly, he said unto him; Thou art not far from « 
“the kingdom of God,” v. 34. To love God, and their neighbour as 
‘themselves, was more than whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices in the 
‘time of the law; therefure all offerings and sacrifices in the time of the 
‘ gospel, if there be not love to God and to their neighbour as themselves, 
‘ avail nothing. 

‘David said, “ Let them sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and de- 
‘clare his works with rejoicing,” Psal. cvii. 22. These are the sacri- 
‘ fices that the lord requires of his people, more than outward sacrifices. 
‘David said, “ Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense ; and 
‘the lifting up of mine hands as the evening sacrifice,” Psal. cxli. 2. 
‘ Here David looks upon his prayer to the Lord, and the lifting up of his 
‘hands to him, to be accepted with the Lord, as much as the outward 
‘incense, and the outward evening sacrifice. Again David says, “ The 
* sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite hear* 


087] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 607 


“ O God, thou wilt not despise,” Psal. li. 17. (See also Isa. vii. 15. and 
‘chap. Ixvi. 2.) These are the sacrifices that David said God would ac- 
‘cept, and not despise; which are beyond the unbroken spirit, and un- 
‘contrite heart, with outward offerings and sacrifices. 

‘The adversaries of the Jews would have joined with them towards 
‘the building of the temple, saying, “ Let us build with you, for we seek 
“ your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him.” But the Jews re- 
‘fused them, and said; “ Ye have nothing to do with us, to build an 
“house unto our God,” Ezra iv. 2,3. Here ye may see God’s people 
‘refused their building with them, and their sacrifice. Solomon saith, 
“ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,” Prov. xv. 
“© & (See also Isa. i. 11. and chap. Ixvi. 3.) Solomon also saith, “ Bette: 
“is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacri 
“ fices with strife,” Prov. xvii. 1. Now let all people consider what goo. 
‘ your house full of sacrifices doth with strife, when a dry morsel, anc 
‘ quietness therewith, is better? Consider all people, if ye live in wicked- 
‘ness, your sacrifice is an abomination to the Lord. 

‘ Again, Solomon speaking of the sacrifice of fools, saith; “ They con- 
“sider not, that they do evil,” Eccles. v. 1. Fools are such as do not 
‘walk in the Spirit of God, or begin in the spirit, and end in the flesh, 
‘like the foolish Galatians: for the Spirit of God is the Spirit of wisdom 
‘and understanding, and cannot join with the sacrifices of the dead, nor 
‘of the fools, nor of the wicked, whose sacrifice is abominable: who 
‘ grieve and quench the Spirit of God: by which the spiritual and right- 
‘ eous offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

‘ The apostle Paul saith, he was the “ minister of Jesus Christ to the 
“ Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gen- 
“tiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost,” Rom. 
‘xv. 16. So ye may see, that all the acceptable offerings and sacrifices 
‘to God must be sanctified by the Holy Ghost. The same apostle saith 
‘to the Corinthians; “ Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify 
“ God, in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” 1 Cor. vi. 20. 
« And to the Romans, he saith; “I beseech you, brethren, by the mer- 
“cies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, ac- 
“ceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,” Rom. xi. 1. 
‘ This is the duty of all true Christians. 

‘ Peter also saith, in his general epistle to the church of Christ; “ Ye 
* also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, 
“to offer up spiritual sacrifices," acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,” 1 
‘ Pet. ii. 5. So every man and woman must come to the Spirit of God 
*in their own hearts, if they offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to 
*God by Jesus Christ. For as Christ saith, “ Every sacrifice shall be 
“ salted with salt,” Mark ix. 49. And in the Old Testament ve may see, 
‘all their outward offerings they were “to season with salt,” Levit. ii. 
‘13. A type and figure of Christ, who “ gave himself for us, an offering 
“and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling savour,” Ephes. v. 2 
‘ Therefore all his people must be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with 
‘fire, that they may be salted with fire, and every sacrifice salted with 
‘salt, with the Spirit of grace, that is poured upon all: so that they may 

offer up this spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

‘Samuel said to king Saul; “ Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt 
“ offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? behold t. 

obey is be‘ter than sacrifice; and to hearken, than the fat of rams” 1 


608 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1687 


‘Sam. xv. 22. So ye may see, all offerings and sacrifices are nothing, 
‘if there be not an hearkening to the Lord in his Spirit, and an obeying 
“of his voice. Christ told the Jews, who were outward sacrificers, that 
‘he would have mercy and not sacrifice: and bid them “ go and learn 
“ what that meaneth,” Matth. ix. 13. G. FY 
‘ Gooses, the 28th of the 
‘2d month, 1687.’ 


The beginning of the third month I returned to London, and continued 
there till after the yearly meeting, which began the sixteenth, and was 
very large ; friends having more freedom to come up out of the countries 
to it, by reason of the general toleration-and liberty now granted. The 
meeting lasted several days; and at the close thereof it was upon me to 
write the following lines, to be dispersed among friends every-where, 
as “A word of counsel and caution to them to walk cireumspectly 
“in this time of liberty.” 


‘ Dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ; 


‘ Tue Lord by his eternal arm and power having supported you in all 
‘your sufferings, great spoiling of goods, and tedious imprisonments, 
‘only for serving and worshipping the living God that made you; who 
‘gave up wife and children and goods, and suffered the spoil of them, 
‘and imprisonment for his truth and name’s sake; the Lord, by his infi- 
‘nite power and mercy, having been pleased to open the king’s heart to- 
‘wards you, by which you are set at liberty from gaols, and the spoilers 
‘of your goods are stopt, whereby ye may follow your callings, confess 
‘Christ Jesus, and call him Lord by the Holy Ghost, in your assemblies, 
‘without being cast into gaols, or having your goods spoiled. Dear 
‘brethren, a great concern lies upon me from the Lord to write unto 
‘you, “ That none may abuse this liberty, nor the mercies of the Lord, 
“but prize them ;” for there is great danger in time of liberty, of getting 
‘up, and getting into ease, looseness, and false liberty. And now, seeing, 
‘that ye have not the outward persecutors to war with in sufferings, with 
‘the spiritual weapons keep down that which would not be subject to 
‘Christ; that he, the holy One, may reign in your hearts; that your 

lives, conversations, and words may preach righteousness and truth; 
that ye may all shew forth good ensamples of true believers in Christ, in 
‘ virtue and holiness, answering that which may be known of God in all 
‘people, that ye are the sons and daughters of God; standing fast in that 
‘righteous, holy liberty in Christ, the just and holy One, that has made 
‘you free, over the loose or false; shunning the occasions of vain dis- 
putes, and foolish questions of men of corrupt minds: for the serpent was 
the first questioner of Eve, who drew her and Adam out of the truth. 
Therefore as ye have received Christ, live and walk in him, who bruises 
the serpent’s head, who is your safe sanctuary; in whom ye have elec- 
tion. reconciliation, and peace with God. Therefore live in the peace 
which ye have from Christ, which is not of this world; be at peace one 
‘ with another, and seek the peace of all men in Christ Jesus: for blessed 
‘are the peace-makers. Labour to exercise a good conscience towards 
God, in obedience to him in what he requires, and in doing to all men 
the thing that is just and honest; in your conversations and words giv- 
‘ing no offence to Jew or Gentile, nor to the church of God. So ye may 
be as a city set on God’s Sion-Hill, which cannot be hid; and may be 


Se Oe 


587] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 609 


‘lights to the dark world, that they may see your good fruits, and glo- 
. rify your Father which is in heaven: for he is glorified i in your bring- 
‘ing forth good fruits, as ye, abide in Christ, the vine, in this his day of 
‘ life, power, and light, that shineth over all. Therefore all that believe 
‘in the light, walk in the light, as children of the light and of Christ’s 
as day; that in the light ye may have fellow ship with the 

* Father and the Son, and one ait anothe:; ; keeping in the unity of his 

‘Holy Spirit, in the bond of his holy peace, in his church, that he is head : 
‘of. My desire is, that God’s wisdom every-where may be justified of 
‘her children, and that it may be shewed forth in meekness. and in the 
‘fear of the Lord in this his day, Amen. G. F’ 


By that time the yearly meeting was over, I was very much wearied 
and spent: wherefore about a week after I got out of town to a friend’s 
house a little beyond Edmonton, where, and at South-street, I abode 
some time, and had meetings amongst friends there; and at Winchmore- 
hill and Berry-street. Having my mind continually exercised in the 
things of God, the sense of his infinite goodness and mercy to mankind, 
in visiting them, after they had transgressed and rebelled against him, 
and providing a way and means for their return to him again, was very 
much upon me; and in the opening of the Spirit of truth, I writ the fol 
lowing paper on that subject: 


‘Gop, who made all men and women, though they have transgressed 
‘his commands and laws, rebelled against isan hated his light, grieved 
‘his Spirit, and walked despitefully against his Spirit of grace; yet he 
‘who is merciful, would have all to be saved, and come to thea know- 
‘ledge of the truth. All that come to the know ledge of the truth, must 


‘know it in their inward parts; I say, the grace and truth, which comes 


by Jesus, all that know and find it, know and find it in their hearts. 
‘Such find the hidden man of the heart, tie pearl, the leaven, the lost 
‘piece of silver, and the kingdom of heaven within. For until all come 
‘to the light and truth in their hearts, they have been strangers to these 
‘ things, in Adam in the fall, from the image of God, his light, power and 
‘spirit, and kingdom. But Christ, that never fell, brings man and woman 
‘again, that follow him, to know these things, anid i to know the truth, 
‘him the Saviour, and brings them into his image, and his everlasting 
‘kingdom. 

‘ The devil, who is out of the truth: tempted man and woman to diso- 
‘bey God; and so drew them into the fall from the truth. It is the devil 
‘that hath stopped men’s eyes, ears, and hearts from the truth, who ts 
‘called the god of the world; who hath blinded the eyes of infidels, or 
‘heathen. But Christ, who bruises the serpent’s head, and destroys the 

‘devil and his works, doth open men’s hearts, eyes, and ears, who is 
‘their Saviour and Redeemer, and giveth life eternal to his people, that 
‘obey him and his truth. Blessed be the Lord for ever through Jesus 
‘Christ, who hath tasted death for all men, to bring them out of the 
‘death of Adam; and is a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, 
“and gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified of in due timé. For 
‘as by Adam’s transgression and disobedience death and condemnation 
“came upon all men, so by Christ’s obedience unto death, justification 

of life is come upon all men: and “he that believeth in Christ hath 

‘eternal life; but he that doth not is condemned already.” But God 

4B 


610 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1687 | 


‘ would have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the 
“truth, as it is in Jesus, who is their Saviour; and in him there is no con- 
‘ demnation. G. F? 


° 


After I had been awhile here, I went to a monthly meeting at Enfield, 
and from thence with some friends to Hertford; where I staid three or 
four days, visiting friends both at their public meetings on first-day, and 
at their quarterly meetings of men and women: and good service iur 
the Lord I had amongst them. Then passing to Waltham-Abbey, I had 
a very good meeting with friends, and the next day went to another 
place, to compose a difference, which, for want of a right understanding 
of each other, had happened between some friends. I returned to Wal- 
tham that night: and the next day went with some friends to William 
Mead’s house in Lssex. 

Here I staid some weeks, yet was not idle, but often visited meetings 
thereabouts: as at Wanstead, Barking, and at John Harding’s. Betwixt — 
meeting and meeting I wrote many things for spreading truth, and open- — 
ing people’s understandings to receive it. One was a paper, proving 
from the scriptures that people must renent before they can receive the 
gospel, and the Holy Spirit, and the kingdom of God, or be baptized ; 
after this manner : 


, ‘Joan the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, — 
i Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Matth. ii. 12. 
\‘When John the Baptist was cast into prison, Mark says; “ That Jesus 
“came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and 
“saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; re- 
“pent ye, and believe the gospel,” Mark i. 14, 15. Matthew also says; 
“ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, repent, for the king- — 
“dom of heaven is at hand,” Matth. iv. 17. “And when Christ sent — 
“forth his twelve disciples, two and two, they went out, and preached, 
“that men should repent,” Mark vi. 12. Christ said to the Jews, “ Eix- 
“cept ye repent, ve shall all likewise perish,” Luke xiii. 3, 5. when the 
‘ publicans and sinners came to hear Christ, and the Pharisees and Scribes 
‘murmured, saying, “ This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,” 
« Luke xv. 1,2. Christ reproved them by a parable, and then told them; “Joy 
“shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety 
“and nine just persons, which need no repentance,” ver. 7. Adding, 
“ There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that 
“yepenteth,” ver. 10. Christ, after he was‘ risen, said unto his disciples, 
“ That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name 
“among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem,” Luke xxiv. 47. Peter said 
‘to the Jews, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name 
“of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift 
“of the Holy Ghost.” Acts ii. 38. Paul said, “The times of this igno- 
“rance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every-where te 
“repent,” Acts xvii. 30. Simon Magus was called to repentance, if he 
‘had regarded it, Acts viii. 22. The apostle Paul did preach at Damas- 
‘cus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then tc 
the Gentiles, turning them from darkness to the light of Christ, and from 
the power of Satan to God, that they should “repent and turn to God 
‘and do works meet for repentance,” Acts xxvi. 20. 
‘Here ye may see people must repent before they believe and are bap. 
tized, and hefore they receive the Holy Ghost and the kingdom of .Ged 


. 


1687] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 61] 


‘They must repent of their vain life and conversation before they re 
‘ceive the gospel, and must be turned from darkness to the light of Christ, 
‘from the power of Satan unto God, before they receive his holy Spirit 
‘and his gospel of life and salvation. The Lord doth command all men 


- fevery-where to repent, and do works meet for repentance. They must 


‘shew that their lives, conversations, and tongues are changed, and that 
‘they serve God in newness of life, with new “tongues and new hearts. 
« G@: i? 
‘Gooses, the 6th month, 
* 1687.’ 


Another short paper I wrote about the same time, shewing ‘ wherein 
‘ God’s people should be like unto him.’ Thus: 


‘ Gop is righteous, and he would have his people to be righteous, and 
‘to do righteously. God is holy, and he would have his people holy 
‘and to do holily. God is just, and he would have his people to be just, 

and to do justly to all. God is light. and his children must walk in his 
‘light. God is an eternal, infinite “Spirit, and his children must walk in 
‘the Spirit. God is merciful, and he would have his people to be merci- 
‘ful. God’s sun shines upon the good and the bad, and he causes the 
‘rain to fall upon the evil and the good; so should his people do good 
‘unto all. God is love, and they that dwell in love dwell in God. Love 
‘ worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore “ Love is the fulfilling of the 
“law,” Rom. xii. 10. The apostle saith, “ All the law is fulfilled in one 
* word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” Gal. v. 
14. “As the Father hath loved me, so I have loved you; continue ye 
2m my love,” John xv. 9. This should be the practice of all God’s 
‘ people. G. FY 
‘ Gooses, the 6th month, 
©1687.” 


And because most people would confess, that God’s people should be 
thus. but few know how to come to this state, therefore in the openings 
of the Spirit of truth I wrote another short paper, directing to ‘ the right 
‘way and means whereby people might come unto Christ, and so “be 
‘made like unto God. Thus: 


 Curist saith, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh 
“unto the Father but by me,” John xiv. 6. And again, “ No man can 
‘© come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him,” John 
‘vi. 44. Now, what is the means by which God doth draw his people 
‘to his Son, but by his holy Spirit, who “ poureth out of his Spirit upon 
“all flesh,” that is, all men and women. By this holy Spirit the holy and 

righteous God doth draw people from their unrighteousness and unhol:- 
‘ness to Christ, the righteous and holy One, the great Prophet in his New 
‘Covenant and New Testament, whom Moses in the Old Covenant and 

Testament said, God would raise up like unto him, whom people should 
“ hear in all things; and they that would not hear him should be cut off-” 
‘ They that do not hear the Son of God, the great Prophet, do not mind 
‘the drawing of the Father by his holy Spirit to his Son; but they that 

mind the drawings of the good Spirit of the Father to his Son, the 
‘Spirit doth give them understanding to know God and Jesus Christ. 
‘ which is eternal life. Then they know that Jesus Christ is the way, the 
‘truth, and the life. and that none can come unto God but by and through 


612 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1687 


his Son, who is their shepherd to feed them in his pastures and springs 
‘of life; and his sheep know his holy voice, in whom ‘here was no sin 
“and in whose mouth there was no guile, and an hireling they will not 
‘hear, for he careth not for the sheep: for they are not the hireling’s but 
‘ Christ’s, who hath laid down his life for his sheep. He that robs and 
‘ steals his neighbour’s words, climbeth up another way, and entereth not 
‘by the door, is a thief and a robber; but Christ is the door into his 
‘sheepfold, for his sheep to enter in by. They know that Christ is the 
‘bishop of their souls, tu see that they do not go astray from God nor 

out of his pastures of life. They know that Christ is their mediator, 

who makes their peace with God. They know that Christ is their high- 
‘priest, made higher than the heavens, and hath died for their sins, and 
‘doth cleanse them with his blood, and is risen for their justification, 
‘and is able to the utmost to save all that come to God by him. - 

‘Gory 
* Gooses, the 6th month, 
‘1687.’ 


Before I left this place I wrote another paper, the scope wheieof was 
to shew, by many instances taken out of the holy scriptures, that the 
kingdom of God, which most people talk of at a distance and refer alto- 
gether to another life, is in some measure to be known and entered into 
in this life; but that none can know an entrance thereinto, but such as 
are regenerated and born again. Of that paper the following is a copy: 


‘Curist saith, “except a man be born again he cannot see thesking- 
“dom of God,” John iii. 3. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, 
“and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit,” ver. 6. So “except a 
“man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the king- 
“dom of God,” ver. 5. And John, writing to the seven churches of 
‘ Asia, calls himself their “ brother, and companion in tribulation, and in 
‘the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,” Rev. i. 9. Here you may 
‘see that John was in the kingdom, so he was born again: for he did 
‘not only see the kingdom, but was in it. 

‘And John saith, “ Behold what manner of love the Father hath be- 
* stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore 
“the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not,” 1 John iii. 1. 
“ Beloved, now are we the sons of God,” ver. 2. “If ye know that he 
“jis righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born 
“of him,” chap. ii. 29. “ Whosoever is born of God doth not commit 
“sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born 
“of God,” chap. iii. 9. ‘Let us love one another, for love is of God; 
“and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that 
“Joveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love,” chap. iv. 7,8. “ Who- 
“ soever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God,” chap. v. 1. 
* Whosoever is born of God, overcometh the world; and this is the vic- 
“tory that overcometh the world, even our faith,” ver. 4. Were not 
‘these that were born of God in the kingdom of God? And seeing John 
‘says, “Every one that doth righteousness is born »f God;” do not 
‘such see the kingdom of God, that stands in righteousness, and ente1 
‘into it? 

‘ Peter, in his first general epistle to the church of Christ, saith, “ As 
“new-born babes desire the sineere milk of the word, that ye may grow 
“thereby,” 1 Pet. ii. 2. And he tells them they were “a chosen genera- 


1687] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 618 


“tion, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,” that they 
‘should “shew forth the praises of him who had called them out of 
“ darkness into his marvellous light,” ver. ¥. And that “as lively stones 
“they were built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spir- 
“itual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,” ver. 5. Did not 
‘these new-born babes, these lively stones, spiritual household, royal 
‘ priesthood, holy nation, and chosen generation, who were called out of 
‘darkness into Christ’s marvellous light, see and enter into his holy king- 
‘dom, being heirs of the same? who were “ born again, not of corrupt- 
“ible seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and 
“ abideth for ever,” 1 Pet. 1. 23. And had not such an entrance minis- 
‘tered to them into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour 
‘ Jesus Christ? 

‘James, in his general epistle to the church of Christ, saith, “ Hath 
“ not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the 
*¢ kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?’ James ii. 5. 
‘ The apostle Paul saith, “God sent forth his son made of a woman, &c. 
“ to redeem them that were under the law, that we may receive the adop- 
tion of sons; and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit 
“of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou 
“art no more a servant but a son, and if a son then an heir of God 
“‘ through Christ,” Gal. iv. 4, 5, 6,7. The same apostle saith, “ As manv 
*as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God:” and tells 
‘the saints at Rome, “ Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby 
“ we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, 
“ that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs, heirs of 
“ God, and joint-heirs with Christ: if so be we suffer with him. that we 
“ may be also glorified together,” (namely with Christ) Rom. vii. 14, 15, 
‘16, 17. Now seeing they are the sons of God that are led by the Spirit 
‘of God, and the Spirit beareth witness unto their spirit that they are 
‘the children of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, are not 
‘all these children of God heirs of the righteous glorious kingdom of 
‘God? And do they not see it and enter into it! 

‘The Lord saith in Hosea i. 10, “ Where it was said unto them, ye 
“are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, ye are the sons of 
“ the dhiving God.” Did not this relate to the gospel-days of the New 
‘Covenant? See Rom. ix. 26. And what the Lord said by the prophet 
‘ Jeremiah, chap. xxxi. 1. the apostle applies to the gospel-days, and says, 
“ Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and 
“[ will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my 
“sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,” 2 Cor. vi. 16. Are not 
‘these the children that see and enter into the righteous kingdom of God, 
‘that separate from that which is unclean and touch it not? 

‘ The Lord saith also by Isaiah, “I will say to the north, give up, and 
* to tne south, keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters 
‘from the ends of the earth,” Isa. xliii. 6. Then doth not he bring them 
‘to his kingdom of glory, that stands in righteousness and peace, and joy 
‘in the Holy Ghost? 

‘ The Lord said to Job, “ When the morning-stars sang together, and 
* all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job xxxviii. 7. Where did these 

sons of God shout for joy? Was it not in his kingdom of glory? 
Christ saith, “The least in the kingdom of God is greater than John,’ 
Luke vii. 28. And in chap. xvi. 16. he says, “The law and the pro 


614 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. . {1687 


* phets were until John; since that time (viz. since the law and the pro- 

phets and John) the kingdom of God is preached, and who man 
“ presseth into it.” 

“The good seed are the children of the kingdom, Matt. xiii. os And 
“the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Fa- 
‘ ther,” ver. 48. Christ said unto his disciples, “ Unto you it is given to 
« know the mysteries of the kingdom of God,” Mark iv. 11. Christ lifted 
‘ap his eyes upon his disciples, and said, “ Blessed be ye poor, for yours 
‘js the kingdom of God,” Luke vi. 20. The apostles preached the king- 

‘dom of God. ‘These were born again, that saw and knew the kingdom 
‘of God and preached it. 

‘Christ said to his disciples, “ Fear not little flock, for it is your Fa- 
« ther’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” Luke xii. 82. “1 ap- 
“ point to you a kingdom,” said Christ, “as my Father hath appointed to 
“me,” chap. xxii. 29. The Lord said, “ He that overcometh shall inheri 
“all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son,” Rev. xxi. 7. 
‘And John saith, “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are 
“strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome 
«the wicked one,” 1 John ii. 14. And Christ, by whom are al! things, is 
‘said “ to bring many sons to glory,” Heb. ii. 10. 

‘He said, “ “Wo unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye 
« shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye ueither go in your- 
« selves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in,” Matt. xxii. 13. 
“ Wo unto you, lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge ; 
“ve entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hin- 
“ dered,” Luke xi. 52.. Christ gives unto his children the keys of the 
‘kingdom, his Spirit; but the scribes, pharisees, and lawyers, great pro- 
‘fessors, who were erred from the Spirit, like the great professors in our 
‘age, that scoff at the Spirit, and draw people from the Spirit of God 
‘within, these shut up the kingdom from men, and draw people from the 
‘key of knowledge, and the key of the kingdom. “ For no man knows 
“the things of God, but by the Spirit of God ;” for the things of God are 
5 spiritually discerned. The Spirit is the key, by which the kingdom of 
‘God and the things of God are revealed, discerned, and known, accord- 
‘ing to 1 Cor. il. 10, 11, 13,14. The apostle names some in his epistle 
‘ to. the Colossians, and’ says, “ These are my fellow-workers unto the 
“ kingdom of God,” Col. iv. 11. And he tells that church, that “God 
‘hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us 
“into the kingdom of his dear Son,” chap. i. 18. So ye may see these 
‘were born again that were translated into the kingdom of Christ, and 

» were fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God. 

‘Christ exhorts his disciples to love and to do good, that they might 

be the children of their Father, which is in heaven, Matt. v. 45. He 
‘bids them be perfect, even as their Father which is in heaven is perfect, 
‘ver. 48. The apostle saith to the church at Philippi, “ That ye may be 
‘* blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst 
“ of a crooked and perverse nation ;” amongst whom ye shine as lights 

in the world, holding forth the word of life, &c. Phil. ii. 15, 16. And 
writing to the church of the Thessalonians, he puts them in mind how 
he had exhorted them that they would “ walk worthy of God, who had 
‘called them into his kingdom and glory,” 1 Thess. ii. 12. 

‘The Lord had promised by the prophet Joel, that he would * pour 
* out his Spirit upon all flesh,” and that “ Sons and daughters should pro- 


) 


\ 


.687] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 615 


“ phesy, old men should dream dreams, and young men see visions,” 
Joel 11. 28. The cause that sons and daughters, hand-maids, servants 
young men, and old men have not these heavenly visions, dreams, and 
« prophecies, is because they are “erred from the Spirit of God,” which 
‘he poureth upon them; but as many as are led by the Spirit of God are 

* the sons of God. 

‘John saith Christ was the true light, “ which lighteth every man that 
“ cometh into the world,” John i. 9. And that “as many as received 
‘him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, ver. 12. which 
‘were born not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God,” ver. 13. 
‘The reason why people do not become the sons of God, is because 
‘they do not receive Christ. The Jews, the great professors, who had 
‘the promises, prophecies, figures, and shadows of him, would not re- 
‘ceive him when he came. And now the priests and high professors 
‘of Christ are so far from receiving the light of Christ, and believing in 
‘it, that they hate the light and scoff at it, calling ita natural conscience, 
‘and some “ Jack in the lanthorn.” Such are not like to become the sons 
‘of God, nor to see the glorious kingdom of Christ, which stands in 
‘righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For the light that 
‘shines in the heart gives the “light of the knowledge of the glory of 
“God in the face of Christ Jesus.” They that do not receive Christ 
‘Jesus, but hate his light (which is the life in him) and yet profess him 
‘in words, neither know the children of the light, nor true fellowship in 
‘the light, nor the kingdom of God, that stands in righteousness, peace, 
‘and joy in the Holy Ghost; but by the light they are condemned. “ And 
“this is the condemnation, that light is come ito the world, and men 
“Jove darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. For every 
“ one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his 
“ deeds should be reproved,” John iii. 19, 20. But the children of the light, 
‘that walk in the light, come to heavenly Jerusalem, to the city of the 
‘ Living God, to the innumerable company of angels, and to the general 
‘assembly and church of the first-born, that are written in heaven, and 
‘can sing Hallelujah. Ga Be 

‘ Gooses, the 2d of the 
‘7th month, 1687. 


Having been more than a quarter of a year in the country, I returned 
to London somewhat better in health than formerly, having received 
much benefit by the country airy And it being a time of general liberty 
and great openness amongst the people, I had much service for the Lora 
in the city, being almost daily at publick meetings, and frequently taken 
up in visiting friends that were sick, and in other services of the church. 
I cortinued at London about three months; then finding my strength 
muzt spent with continual labouring in the work of the Lord, and my 
Lway much stopped for want of fresh air, I went to my son Rouse’s by 
Kingston, where I abode some time, and visited friends at Kingston. 
While I was there; it came upon me to write a paper concerning the 
Jews, shewing, ‘ How by their disobedience and rebellion they lost the 
‘holy city and land.’ By which example the professed Christians may 
see what they are to expect, if they continue to disobey 1nd provoke the 
Lord. The copy here followeth: 


‘ Tur Lord gave the Jews in the Old Testament the .and of Canaan, 
and they built the temple at Jerusalem to worship in. It was calle 


616 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [16s 


“ the Holy temple,” and Jerusalem was called “ the Holy City,” and Ca- 
‘naan “ the Holy Land.” But when the Jews rebelled against the good 
‘Spirit which God gave them to instruct them, and rebelle. against his 
‘law, and set up idols and images, and defiled the land and the city, the 
‘ Lord sent his prophets to cry against them, to bring them back again 
‘to his Spirit, and to his law, and so to God, to serve and worship him, 
that they might not worship images and idols, the works of their own 
hands. But instead of hearkening to God’s prophets, they persecuted 
‘them, and at last killed his Son Christ Jesus, and persecuted his apos- 
‘tles. But Christ told the Jews that both their city and temple should be 
‘laid waste, and they should be scattered over all nations; and it was so. 
‘Titus the Roman Emperor came and took Jerusalem, and destroyed 
‘the city and temple, which was a day of vengeance upon the Jews for 
‘all their idolatries, their wickedness, and for the innocent blood they 
‘had shed both in the city and country; and they were driven out of 
‘their own city and land, and scattered over all nations. The Jews had 
‘never power to get the land since, nor to build Jerusalem nor the tem- 
‘ple; but the Turk hath both the land of Canaan and that which is called 
“the City of Jerusalem.” Now the Turk neither makes images nor 
‘worships images; so it is a just hand of the Lord that he should be 
‘over the persecuting, idolatrous Jews, so that they cannot defile the 
‘land of Canaan now with images and idols, for the Turk hath not, who 
‘neither makes images nor idols, nor worships them. ‘The Jews must 
‘never hope, believe, nor expect, that ever they shall go again into the 
‘land of Canaan, to set up an outward worship at Jerusalem, and there 
‘ for their priests to offer outward sacrifices of rams, sheep, and heifers, 
‘ &c. for burnt-offerings ; for Christ, the one offering, hath offered himself 
‘once for all, and by this one offering he hath perfected for ever them 
‘that are sanctified. And Christ hath changed the priesthood of Aaron, 
‘that offered sacrifices, which was made after the power of a carnal 
‘commandment; but Christ was made after the power of an endless life, 
‘a priest for ever, who was holy, harmless, and separate from sinners, 
‘and is a priest made higher than the heavens. ‘This is the priest that 
‘ gives power to all that receive him to become the sons and daughters 
‘of God; and Jerusalem that is above is the mother of all the sons and 
‘daughters of God, which is free; but Jerusalem that is below is in 
‘bondage with her children. They that are the children of Jerusalem 
‘that is above do not look down at Jerusalem that is below; but they 
‘look at Jerusalem that is above, which is their mother. Christ said, 
“ Neither at outward Jerusalem, nor in the mountain of Samaria should 
“God be worshipped; but God should be worshipped in Spirit and in 
“truth: for he is a Spirit, and such he seeks to worship him,” John iv. 
‘ This is the worship that Christ set up above sixteen hundred years ago; 
therefore the idolatrous Jews must never think to offer their outward 
offerings and sacrifices. nor set up their outward worship at Jerusalem, 
in the holy land of Canaan more. For Christ, by the offering up of 
himself once for all, for the sins of the whole world, hath ended all the 
Jews’ offerings, and changed the priesthood, and the law by which it 
was made, and hath blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances, which 
commanded both priests and offerings. and triumphed over them. So 
he is the offering and sacrifice of all the children of the New Testa- 
ment, New Covenant, and heavenly New Jerusalem that is above. He 
is their Prophet that openeth to them, their Shepherd that feeds them 


ee ee eee ee ee eee 


1687} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 617 


‘their Bishop that oversees them, and Priest that died for their sins and 
‘is risen for their justification, who sanctifies and presents them to God 
‘He is the one Mediator betwixt God and man, even the Man Christ 
‘ Jesus. Gates 
‘ Kingston, the 9th of the 
‘10th month, 1687.’ 


After this I went to Guildford to visit friends there, and staid three 
days with them, and had a large and very good meeting on first-day 
After- which I came back to Kingston again, and tried about two 
weeks longer, visiting friends and having meetings amongst them, both 
at their publick meeting-house and in their families. Many things [ 
wrote while I was at Kingston ; amongst which the following was one: 


“Gop so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that 
‘whosoever believeth in him shall not perish (mark, not perish) but have 
“ everlasting life,” John i. 16. Again he saith, “ He that believeth on 
“the Son of God hath (mark, hath) everlasting life,” ver. 36. So these 
“believers have everlasting life while they are upon the earth. And “he 
“ that believeth on Christ 1s not condemned ; but he that believeth not is 
“ condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on him. He that 
“ heareth Christ’s word, and believeth on God that sent him, hath (mark, 
“ hath) everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is 
“passed from death,” the death in the first Adam, “ to life,” the life in 
‘ Christ the second Adam, John v. 24. And that meat which Christ doth 
‘give endureth unto everlasting life, as in John vi. 27. And the water 
‘that Christ doth give shall be in him that drinks it “a well of water 
“ springing up into everlasting life,” John iv. 14. Christ said to the Jews, 
“Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and 
“they are they which testify of me: And ye will not come to me that 
“ve might have life;” John v. 39, 40. Here ye may see, the eternal life 
‘is to be found in-Christ, and_not.in the scriptures which testify of ie 
‘the life. Christ’s sheep that hear his voice, know, and follow him; he 

‘ gives unto them eternal life, and they shall not perish, neither shall any 
‘pluck them out of his hand. They shall not pluck Christ’s sheep, to 
‘whom he hath given eternal life, out of his eternal hand. Christ said 
‘to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, 
“though he were deaa (mark, though he were dead) yet shall he live 
s (mark, live though he were dead) ; and whosoever liveth and believeth 
“in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Martha said, « Yea, Lord, 
‘John xxv. 26. This is the true substantial belief, which they that be- 
‘lieve shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John saith, “ This is 
“the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in nis 
“Son,” 1 John v.11. The life was manifested, and we have seen it, 
“and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with 
“the Father, and was manifested unto us,” 1 John i. 2. Su these were 
‘the believers that had eternal life in the Son of God, and shewed it unto 
‘others. “He that hath the Son hath life,’ saith John, “and he that 
“hath not the Son of God hath not life,” 1 John v.12. Christ saith, 
“ Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, 
‘or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall re- 
‘ceive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life,” Matt. xix. 29 
‘The wicked that do not receive Christ shall go into everlasting punish- 
ment, but the rignteous into as life. The true servants of God 
AC 


618 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1687 


‘have their fruns unto holiness, and their end is everlasting life. For 
“ the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life, through 
* Jesus Christ our Lord.” Such have a building of God, an house not 
‘made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore I desire that God’s 
* people may endure all things, that they may obtain this salvation which 
‘is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. For Christ, being made perfect. 
‘became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him. This 
‘eternal salvation is above an external salvation; for they come to re- 
‘ceive an eternal inheritance, and live in the possession of the everlast- 
‘ing gospel of joy, comfort, peace, and salvation, having everlasting life 
in Christ Jesus. G. FY 
‘ Kingston, the 6th of the 
‘11th month, 1687.’ 


Another paper I wrote concerning the stone spoken of by Daniel, 
chap. li. which became a great mountain and filled the whole earth, 
shewing ‘That thereby was set forth the kingdom and power of Christ.’ 


‘Wuen Christ, the stone that became a great mountain, and filled the 
‘whole earth, had broke to pieces the head of gold, the breast of silver, 
‘the belly of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet part iron part clay, 
‘which were the four monarchies, the Babylonian and Mede, the Gre- 
‘cian, and the Roman, and had ended the outward Jews’ typical king- 
‘dom, Daniel saith, “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven 


ee 


“set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed,” Dan. ii. 44. Christ 


‘saith, “ All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” Matth. 
‘xxvil. 18. And “My eecaarrrea this world,” John xviii. 36. 
«Christ is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every crea- 
'“ture; for by him were all things created that are in heaven and that 
“are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or domin- 
“jons, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him and 
“for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist,” Col. 
‘xv. 16,17. Here ye may see all things consist by Jesus Christ, and 
‘all things were created by Christ and for him, whether they be things 
‘in heaven or things in earth, visible or invisible; yea thrones, do- 
‘minions, principalities, or powers, these were all created by him and 


‘for him. Christ is “ King of kings and Lord of lords,” Rev. xix. 16._ 


‘The “Prince of the kings of the earth,” chap. i. 5. Out of his mouth 
‘goes a sharp sword, with which he shall smite the nations, and he shall 
‘rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessel of a potter shall they be 
‘dashed in pieces who do not obey him, the “ King of kings and Lord 
“of lords.” This is Christ, who saith, “I am Alpha and Omega, the 
« Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last;” so he is over all 

nations, and above them all. We must understand this rod of iron, by 

which Christ doth rule the nations, is a figurative speech of Christ who 

is ascended into heaven, and is at the right hand of God. All po ver 
‘in heaven and earth is given unto him, and all things were created by 
*him and for him: so then they are Christ’s, and he hath power ove. all 
‘things; for all are his. So, as the scripture saith, “ By me kings rm ign 


“and princes decree justice,” Prov. viii. 15. But if they abuse his pe ver 


‘and do not do justice, as is decreed by Christ, the “ King of kings «nd 
“T.ord of lords, the First and the Last,” they must feel the weight ox his 
rod of iron. by which he will rule such as abuse his power. Tita is 


GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 619 


decreed by him, who-hath all power in heaven and earth given to him, 
and rules in the kingdoms of men. G. F’ 
_ £ Kingston, the 11th 
‘month, 1687. 


Several other things I wrote while I was at Kingston, .or my spirit 
being continually exercised towards God, I had many precious openings 
_ of divine matters; and divers places of scripture, both in the Old Tes- 
‘tament and in the New, relating to the state of regeneration and sancti- 
fication, &c. were brought to my remembrance by the Holy Spirit: 
some of which I committed to writing, as followeth: 


* Tuey that touched the dead were unclean, and were to be cleansed 
| *by the water of purification, Numb. xix. And they which touch the 
“dead doctrines or faiths, and let them in, burden the pure, defile and 
«make themselves unclean, until the spring of the water of the Word do 
| ‘arise and wash and clean them; for all the dead in Adam in the fall 
| *are unclean, and they must be washed by Christ, in his blood and water 
_ ‘of life, who quickeneth and makes alive. 
_ ‘A dwarf might not come near to ofier upon God’s altar; but he 
“might eat of the holy bread, that he might grow. Lev. xxi. 20, &c. So 
‘the new-born babes may eat of the milk of the Word, that they may 
_ “grow thereby and increase. He that had any blemish might not come 
* near to offer upon God’s altar; neither might any thing be offered upon 
_ *God’s altar that had any blemish, or was unclean, Lev. xxi. And it is 
| *said, “The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the 
| “congregation of the righteous,” Psa. i.5. But God standeth in the con- 
_ * gregation of the mighty, Psal. Ixxxii. 1. 

«The camp of God was to be kept clean and hely. That which was 
* unclean, or defiled, was to be kept out cf God’s camp in the Old Testa- 
-*£ment. And in the New Testamen*, all that is defiled and unclean must 
» ‘be kept out of God’s kingdom, the new and heavenly Jerusalem that is 
‘from above. All was to pass through the fire. even of those things that 
| ‘would bear the fire, and to be purified by fire and water, before the 
| * people might come into God’s camp, Numb. xxxi. So all must be cir- 
| *cumcised, and baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire. cleansed with the 

blood of Christ, and washed with the water of the Word, before they 
* come into the kingdom of God, into heavenly Jerusalem. 

* The apostle Paul saith, « We know that if our earthly house of this 
| * tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not 
_ “made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earn- 
_ estly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, 
_ ‘that mortality might be swallowed up of life, 2 Cor. v.1,2,4. Here 
_ ‘is “(WE in the earthly house of this tabernacle;”’ which [WE] are 
*they that have received Christ, are become the sons of God, new crea- 
_ ‘tures, and children of the light, that believe in Christ's light; who have 
_ £ ar eternal house in the heavens, where mortality is swallowed up of life. 
in which house from heaven they will not groan. 

_ ‘Peter said, «I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to 
'*stir you up by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly | 
“must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath 
“shewed me.” 2 Pet. i. 13, 14. Peter knew he must put off this taber- 
nacle shortly: but as long as he was in it, he did stir up the saints to 


620 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1687 


their duty in holiness, that they might remember it afte: he was de- 
‘ ceased. 
* Paul saith, “ The first man is of the earth, earthly,” (mark, earthly) 
«1 Cor. xv. 47. “ And as we have borne the image of the earthly, we 
‘ shall also bear the image of the heavenly,” (mark, the heavenly) ver. 
‘49. And “ we have this treasure in earthen vessels,” &c. 2 Cor. iv. 7. 
“And I live,” said he, “ yet not 1, but Christ liveth in me,” Gal. ii. 20. 
‘who is the life of all God’s people. 
‘Christ said to the Jews, “ That the dead are raised, even Moses 
** shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord, the God of Abraham, 
“and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; for he is not the God of 
“ the dead, but of the living, for all live unto him,” Luke xx. 37, 38. So 
“none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself; for whether 
“ we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the 
“ Lord. Whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord’s. For to 
“ this end Christ both died and rose, that he might be Lord both of the 
“dead and living,” Rom. xiv. 7, 8, 9. For all died in Adam: and Christ 
‘by the grace of God tasted death for every man, that they might come 
‘ out of the death in Adam to the eternal life in Jesus Christ: who is also 
‘a quickening Spirit; for as in Adam all died, even so in Christ shall all 
‘be made alive. So Christ that died and rose again, is Lord both of the 
‘living and of the dead; for the living live to the Lord, and die in him, 
‘and are blessed. 

‘ All Christendom say, that they believe in God and in Christ, and that 
‘they believe Moses and the prophets, and preach Christ, Moses, and the | 
‘prophets; so their words and writings are preached and printed, and 
‘ye say ye believe them. But what life do ye live? Are ye through the 
‘law dead to the law, that ye may live unto God? Are ye crucified with 
‘Christ? Doth Christ live’ in you? Is the life that ye now live in the 
‘flesh by the faith of the Son of God, and ye do not live, but Christ 
‘liveth in you, who gave himself for you? Is this your present life? for 
“the just live by the faith” which Christ is the Author and Finisher of; 
‘ by which holy, divine, precious faith they have victory over that which 
‘is vile, unholy, and not divine; and in this faith they please God, and 
‘have access to God and his Son, who fulfilleth the Jaw and the proph- 
‘ets. For the law and the prophets were until John, and since that the 
‘kingdom of God hath been preached, and men press into it; and the 
‘least in the kingdom of God is greater than John, though he was the 
* greatest prophet born of a woman. See whether ye are in the kingdom 
‘that stands in peace and righteousness and joy in the Holy Ghost, or 
‘not. Christ, the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every crea- 
‘ture, was before any creature; for by him were all things created that 
‘are in heaven and in the earth, visible or invisible, whether they be 
‘thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. “ all things were 
“created by him and for him, and he was before all things, and by him 
‘all things consist: and he is the head of the body, the church, and is 
“the beginning, the first-born from the dead.” Here ye may see that 
all things were made by Christ Jesus, and all things were created fo: 
Christ Jesus, and by him all things consist and have their being, whe 
is the first-born from the dead, and dieth no more. It pleased the Fa- 
ther that in him all fulness should dwell, and by Christ to reconcile all 
things unto himself, whether they be things in heaven or things in the 
earth. “In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” 


 es7 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 62 


who is the head of all principality and power; for “all power in 


~ heaven and earth is given to him,” the first-born of every creature, and 
- the first-born from the dead, who liveth for evermore in his power over 
‘all, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. While the world’s 
‘spirit rules in men’s hearts, they do not know Christ, nor the begin- 
‘ning nor ending of the work of God. Christ was outwardly crucified 

and slain without the gates of Jerusalem by the disobedient Jews; and 
‘they that hate the light of Christ, disobey his gospel, quench his Spirit, 
‘and are erred from his faith, “ crucify to themselves Christ afresh.” 
‘So Adam and Eve, and their children that disobeyed God, did slay the 
‘Lamb; the blind Jews, that disobeyed God, crucified Christ Jesus; and 
‘the outward Christians, that live and walk not in Christ, but in sin and 
‘evil, though they make an outward profession of Christ, yet crucify to 
‘themselves Christ afresh. As to Christ himself, he is “ ascended far 
“ above all principalities, thrones, powers, and dominions ;” so that they 
‘cannot put him to death, or crucify him any more, as to himself: but 
‘ what the killers, crucifiers, and persecutors do now upon the earth, is 
‘against Christ in themselves, and in his members; as Christ said to 
‘Saul, “ Why persecutest thou me?” Acts ix. 4. For what is done 
‘to his members, Christ takes as done to himself, Matth. xxv. 40, and 
‘45. And they that did not visit Christ, but persecuted him in his mem- 
‘bers, persecuted Christ in themselves first. 

‘ The serpent, that enemy to man and woman, the destroyer, the god 
‘of the world, and prince of the air, that ruleth in the hearts of the dis- 
‘ obedient, got in by disobedience. But Christ bruises his head, breaketh 
‘his power to pieces, and destroys the devil and his works; and through 
‘death destroys death, and the devil, the power of death. So Christ, the 
‘light and life, hath all power in heaven and earth; and openeth the 
‘ prison doors, and the eyes of the blind, and takes captive him that hath 
‘led ‘into captivity, and gives gifts unto men. So Christ bindeth the 
‘strong man of sin, and spoils his goods, and casts him out; Hallelujah! 
‘ For the strong man of sin is the god of the world, and his house is that 
‘whole world that lieth in wickedness. And this god of the world hath 
‘kept his house, and his goods have been in peace: until a stronger than 
‘he come, and binds, and casts him out: and then destroys him and his 
‘goods. So Christ, the Son of God, who is stronger than the devil, hav- 
‘ing destroyed the devil and his works, setteth up his own house. All 
‘believers in the light are the children of light, are of the Son of God’s 
‘spiritual house, and the Son of God is over his house for evermore: 


“glory to God in the highest, through Jesus Christ, Amen! 


‘God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets concerning Christ 
‘ Jesus, his Son, the holy One: so they were holy men, and rot unholy, 
‘that God spake by. All that name the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
‘are to depart from iniquity. G. Fy? 
‘ Kingston upon Thames, the 
‘11th month, 1687.’ 


I returned to London towards the latter end of the eleventh month 
1687, visiting friends in the way at Chiswick and Hammersmith, where 
[ had two meetings, one upon a feast-day, and the other on occasion of 
a marriage; at which were many people of other denominations, 
amongst whom I had a very seasonable opportunity of opening the way 
of truth. 


22 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1688 


Being come to London, I visited meetings in and about the city, as 


the Lord led me; in whose service I continued labouring till the middle — 


of the first-month 1687-8. At which time I went towards Enfield, and 


visited friends there and thereabouts, and at Barnet, Waltham-Abbey, 


and other places; where I had many meetings, and very good service, 
in which | spent several weeks. I then returned to London, where I 
continued labouring in the work of the gospel till after tae yearly meet- 
ing, which this year was about the beginning of the fourth month. A 
precious meeting it was. A very refreshing season friends had together, 
the Lord vouchsafing to honour our assemblies with his living glorious 
presence in a very plentiful manner. At the conclusion of the meeting 
I felt a concern upon my spirit to give forth the following paper, to be 
dispersed amongst friends. 


‘ Aut you believers in the ight, that are become children of the light, 
‘walk as children of the light, cad of the day of Christ, as a city set on 
‘a hill, that cannot be hid. Let your light so shine, that people may see 
‘ your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. Fora 
‘ good tree bringeth forth good fruit; therefore be ye trees of righteous- 
‘ness, the planting of the Lord, having fruits unto holiness; and then 
‘ your end will be everlasting life. Such are the wells and cisterns that 
‘hold the living water, which springs up in them to eternal life. Ye may 
call drink water out of your own cisterns, running water out of your 
‘own wells: and eat every one of his own fig-tree, and of his own vine; 
‘having salt every one in yourselves, to season every one’s sacrifice, ac- 
‘ceptable to God by Jesus Christ; like wise virgins, that have oil in 
‘ their lamps, follow the Lamb, and enter in with the bridegroom. Now 
‘is the time to labour, while it is day (yea, the day of Christ) to stir up 
‘every one’s pure mind, the gift of God that is in them; and to improve 
‘ your talents, that Christ hath afforded you, that ye may profit; and to 
‘walk every one according to the measure that Christ hath given you; 
‘for “the manifestation of the Spirit of God is given to every one tc 
“ profit withal.” Consider what you have profited in spiritual and hea- 
‘venly things, with the heavenly Spirit of God. Be not like the wicked 
‘and ‘slothful, that hid his talent; from whom it was taken, and he cast 
‘into utter darkness. A dwarf, or one that had any blemish, was not to 
‘come nigh to offer upon God’s altar; therefore mind the word of wis- 
‘dom, to keep you out of that which will corrupt and blemish you; and 
‘that ye may grow in grace, in faith, and in the knowledge of our Word 
‘ Jesus Christ: and feeding upon the milk of the Word, may grow by it, 
‘that ye may not be dwarfs; and so offer your spiritual sacrifice upon 
‘God’s holy altar. For the field or vineyard of the slothful grows over 
‘with thorns and nettles, and his walls go down. Such are they that are 
‘not diligent in the Spirit of God, and the power, which is the wall, a 
‘sure fence. The Spirit of God will weed out all thorns, thistles, and 
‘nettles out of the vineyard of the heart. And you that are keepers of 

others’ vineyards, see that you keep your own vineyards clean with the 
‘Spirit and power of Christ. Sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the Lord 
in your hearts, that ye may be a holy people to the Lord, who saith; 
«Be ye holy, for Lam holy ;? that ye may be the holy members of the 
church uf Christ, that is clothed with the sun, and hath the moon under 
her feet; the changeable world, with all her changeable worships, re- 
ligions, churches, and teachers. Be ye new and heavenly Jerusalem's 


1688) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 623 


_ * children; for new and heavenly Jerusalem, that is above, is the mother 
|‘ of all the children of light, that are born of the Spirit. These are they 
‘that have been persecuted, and have suffered by the false church, mys- 
‘tery Babylon, the mother of harlots. : 
‘ And now all heavenly Jerusalem’s and Sion’s children, that are from 
‘ above, labour in the gospel, the power of God, the seed in which all na- 
* tions, and all the families of the earth are blessed; which seed, Christ, 
‘bruises the serpent’s head, destroys the devil and his works, and over- 
‘comes the whore, the false church, the beast, and the false prophet. He 
‘takes away the curse, and the vail that is spread over all nations, and 
‘ over all the families of the earth, and brings the blessing upon all (if 
‘they will receive it) saying, “In thy seed shall all nations and all the 
‘families of the earth be blessed.” This is the gospel of God preached 
‘to Abraham, befure Moses wrote his five books; and was preached ir 
‘the apostles’ days, and is now preached again; which brings life and 
‘immortality to light; and is the gospel of peace, life, and salvation to 
‘ every one that believes it. So all nations, all the families of the earth 
‘ must be in Christ, the seed, if they be blessed, and be partakers of the 
‘blessing in the seed. This gospel was revealed by Christ to his apos- 
‘tles, who preached it; which is not of man, nor from man. New, God 
‘and Christ hath revealed the same gospel unto me, and many others in 
‘this age, I say the gospel, and the seed, in which all nations and fami- 
) ‘lies of the earth are blessed; in which gospel I have laboured, and do 
\ ‘labour, that all may come into this blessed seed, Christ, who bruises the 
| ‘head of the serpent, that in it they might have peace with God. This 
\‘ everlasting gospel is preached again to them that dwell upon the earth; 
‘and they that believe it, and receive it, receive the blessing, the peace 
‘joy, and comfort of it, the stability in it, and the life and immortality 
| ‘which it brings to light in them and to them. Such can praise the ever- 
| ‘lasting God in his everlasting gospel. 
« And friends, all seek the peace and good of all in Christ: for truth 
_ ‘makes no Cains, Corahs, Balaams, nor Judases; for they come to be 
‘such, that go out of the peaceable truth. Therefore walk in the peace- 
‘able truth, and speak the truth in the love of it, as it is in Jesus. 
q ‘Gok? 
: 
: 


Some time after the yearly meeting I went to my son Mead’s in Es- 
sex, and abode some weeks; often visiting friends’ meetings near, and 
sometimes at Barking. After I had been awhile there, J went to visit 
friends at Waltham-Abbey, Hodsdon, Enfield, South-street, Ford-Green, 
and Winchmore-hill; where I had several very serviceable meetings; 
the Lord opening many deep and weighty things through me, for the in- 
forming the understandings of inquirers, and building up those that were 
gathered into the truth, and establishing them therein. 

In the seventh month I returned to London, having been near -hree 
months in the country for my health’s sake, which was very much im- 
paired; so that I was hardly able to stay in a meeting the whole time, 
and often after a meeting was fain to lie down upon a bed. Yet did not 
my weakness of body take me off from the service of the Lord: but | 
continued to labour in and out of meetings in the work of the Lord, as 
he gave me opportunity and ability. 

T had not been long in London, before a great weight came upon me 
and a sight the Lord gave me of the great bustles and troubles, revolu 
tion and change, which soon after cam? to pass. Jn the sense whereof 


~— 


624 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. ~ 11688 


and in the movings of the Spirit of the Lord, I wrote, “ A general epistle 
“to friends, to forewarn them of the approaching storm; that they might 
“all retire to the Lord, in whom safety is,” as followeth: 


‘ My dear friends and brethren every-where, who have received the 
‘ Lord Jesus Christ, to whom he has given power to become his sons and 
‘daughters; in him ye have life and peace, and in his everlasting king- 
‘dom, that is an established kingdom, and cannot be shaken, but is nve1 
‘all the world, and stands in his power, and in righteousness and joy in 
‘the Holy Ghost, into which no unrighteousness, nor the foul unclear 
‘ spirit of the devil in his instruments can enter. Dear friends and breth- 
‘ren, every one in the faith of Jesus, stand in his power, who has ali 
‘power in heaven and earth given to him, and will “ rule the nations 
“with his rod of iron, and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel,” 
‘that are not subject and obedient to his power: whose voice will shake 
‘the heavens, and the earth, that that which may be shaken may be re- 


| ‘moved, and that which cannot be shaken may appear. Stand in him; 


‘and all things shall work together for good to them that love him. 

‘ And now, dear friends and brethren, though these waves, storms, and 
‘tempests be in the world, yet you may all appear the harmless and in- 
‘nocent lambs of Christ, walking in his peaceable truth, and keeping in 
‘the Word of power, wisdom, and patience ; and this Word will keep 
‘you in the day of trials and temptations, that will come upon the whole 
‘world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. For the Word of God 
‘was before the world, and all things were made by it: it is a tried 
‘Word, which gave God’s people in all ages wisdom, power, and pa 
*tience. Therefore let your dwelling and walking be in Christ Jesus, 
‘who is called the Word of God; and in his power, which is over all. 
‘Set your affections on things that are above, where Christ sits at the 
‘right hand of God (mark) on those things which are above, where 
‘Christ sits; not those things that are below, which will change and pass 
‘away. Blessed be the Lord God, who by his eternal arm and power 
‘hath gathered a people to himself, and hath preserved his faithful to him- 
‘ self through many troubles, trials, and temptations: his power and seed, 
‘Christ, is over all, and in him ye have life and peace with God. There- 
‘fore in him all stand, and see your salvation, who is first and last, and 
‘the Amen. God Almighty preserve and keep you all in him, your ark 
‘and sanctuary; for in him you are safe over all floods, storms, and 


‘tempests: for he was before they were: and will be when they are all 


‘ gone. GilF? 
‘London, the 17th of the 
‘8th month, 1688.’ 


About this time great exercise and weights came upon me, as had — 


usually done before great revoiutions and changes of government, and 


my strength departed from me; so that I reeled, and was ready to fail — 


as I went along the streets; and at length I could not go abroad at all, 
I was so weak for a pretty while; till I felt the power of the Lord to 
spring over all, and had received an assurance from him, that he would 
preserve his faithful people to himself through all. 

In the time that I kept within, I wrote a paper, shewing; “ Moses, as 
“a servant, was faithful in all his house, in the Old Testament; and 
“ Christ, as a Son, is over his house, in the New Testament.” 


16881 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 6235 


‘Tue house of Israel was called God's vineyard, in Isa. v. 7. and ail 
* the Israelites were called the house of Israel. Israel signifies. “a prince 
‘with God, and a prevailer with men,” Gen. xxxii. 28. When Peter 
preached Christ to the house of Israel, he said; “ Let all the house of 
“Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye 
“have crucified, both Lord and Christ,” Acts ii. 36. So they were all 
‘called the house of Israel. And it is said, “ Moses was faithful in all 
« his house (to wit, this house of Israel) as a servant; for a testimony 
“of those things which were to be spoken after: but Christ, as a son, 
“ over his own house; which house are we, if we hold fast the confi- 
* dence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end,” Hebr. iii. 5, 6. 
« Here it is manifest, that Moses was faithful in all his house, as a ser- 
‘vant, viz. in the house of Israel, in the Old Testament: but Christ 
‘Jesus, the Son of God, is over his house in his New Testament and 
‘covenant: and all his true believers are of his house. The apostle tells 
‘the Ephesians, who were a church of Christ, they were “ fellow-citi- 
* zens with the saints, and of the household of God,” Eph. ii. 19. And 
‘the saints are called “the household of faith,” Gal. vi. 10. Peter, in 
‘his general epistle, tells the church of Christ, they were “a chosen 
*“ generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people,” 1 Pet. 
‘ii 9. And that as lively stones, they were built up “a spiritual house. 
“ an holy priesthood, to ofier up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God 
“ by Jesus Christ,” ver. 5. The apostle saith to the church of Christ at 
‘Corinth; “If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we 
“ have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the 
“ heavens,” 2 Cor. v. 1. And Christ said to his disciples; “ Let not your 
“hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fa- 
“ ther’s house are many mansions; (a mansion is a dwelling or abiding- 
“ place) if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a 
“place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will 
“ come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye 
“‘ may be also,” John xiv. 1, 2,3. The Psalmist saith; “ Those that be 
“planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our 
“God: they shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and 
“ flourishing,” Psal. xcii. 13, 14. Again; “ Holiness becomes thine house, 
“ O Lord, for ever,” Psal. xciii. 5. Isaiah also said by way of prophecy ; 
“Tt shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's 
“ house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be ex- 
“ alted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it,” Isa. ii. 2. Is not 
that a great house? Is not this mountain Christ, who is over his house 
in the New Testament and new covenant? To this mountain and house 
‘all the children of the New Testament or new covenant flow in these 
latter days; so that it is come to pass, which was prophesied of by 
Isaiah. For he said; “ Many people shall go and say, Come ye, and 
let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of 
* Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths 


{ “for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from 
Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke 


“ many people; and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and 
“their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against 
“ nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come 
“ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord,” ver. 3, 4, 5.5 Here ye 


_ may see, they that come to the mountain of the house of God, and te 


4D 


626 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1688 


‘God’s teaching, they must walk in the light of the Lord; yea, the house 
‘of Jacob. Jacob signifies a supplanter: he supplanted prophane Esau, 
‘ who is hated, and Jacob is loved. Now these two births must be known 

within: they that walk in the light of the Lord, and come to Christ, the 
‘mountain of the house of the Lord, established above all mountains and 
« hills, break their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning- 

hooks: and in Christ, this mountain and house of the Lord, there are 
‘no spears nor swords to hurt one another withal. Christ, the Son of 
‘ God, is over his house and great family, the children of the light, that 
‘ believe in it, and walk in it, the children of the day of Christ, his holy 
‘and royal priesthood, that offer up spiritual sacrifice to God by him. 
‘ All such are of Christ’s (the spiritual man’s) house; who are born of 
‘God, and led by his Spirit: they are of the Lord of lords and King of 
‘kings’ house and family, which he is over; and are of the household of 


‘the holy, divine, pure, and precious faith, which Christ is the author — 


‘and finisher of. And they that be of the Son’s house, are pure, right- 
‘eous, and holy, and can do nothing against the truth, but for it, in their 


‘ words, lives, and conversations ; and so are a chosen generation, a holy ~ 


‘nation, a peculiar people, that they should shew forth the praise of him 
‘who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light. These 
‘are Christ’s lively stones, that build up a spiritual house, which he 
‘ (Christ, the spiritual Man, the King of kings, and Lord of ee over. 
‘ London, the 10th month, 
‘ 1688.’ ; 


Some time after this, my body continuing weak, I went with my son 
Mead to his house in Hssex ; where I staid some weeks. In which time 
I writ many things relating to the service of truth, some Were printed 
soon after; others were spread abroad in manuscript; and amongst other 
things, a few lines to this purpose: 


so 

‘Tuat, while men are contending for thrones here below, Christ is 
‘on his throne, and all his holy angels are about him, who is the begin- 
‘ning and the ending, the first and last, over all. And that the Lord will 
‘make way and room for himself, and for them that are born of his 
‘Spirit, which are heavenly Jerusalem’s children, to come home to their 
‘free mother.’ , 


A few words also I writ concerning the world’s teachers, and the 
emptiness of their teaching. Which were thus: 


‘Dorn not that which is called Christendom live in talking of Christ’s, 
‘of the apostles’, and prophets’ words, and the letter of the Scriptures? 
And do not their priests minister the letter, with their own conceptions 
thereupon, for money, though the holy Scriptures were freely given 
forth from God, Christ, the prophets, and apostles? Yet the apostie 
saith, “ The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life,” 2 Cor. ii. 6. The 

\ ministers of the New Testament are not ministers of the letter, but of 
‘the Spirit, and they sow to the Spirit, and of the Spirit reap life eternal. 
‘But people’s spending time about old authors, and talking of them, and 
of the outward letter, doth not feed their souls. For talking of victuais 
and clothes doth not clothe the body, nor feed it. No more are their 
souls and spirits fed and clothed, except they have the bread and water 
of life from heaven to feed them, and the righteousness of Christ te 


1688] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 627 


‘clothe them. Talking of outward things and spiritual things, and not 

‘ possessing them, may “starve both their bodies and their souls. There 
‘fore quench not the spirit of God, which will lead to be diligent in all 
‘ things.’ 


With this I writ another short paper, shewing, “The hurt they did, 
“and the danger they run into, who turned people from the inward mani- 
“ festation of Christ in the heart.” 


‘Tue Jews were commanded by the law of God, “ not to remove the 
“ outward landmark,” Deut. xix. 14. They that did so, or that caused 
‘the blind to wander, were cursed in the old covenant, Deut. xxvii. 17. 
‘In the new covenant the apostle saith; “ Let him be accursed that 
“ preacheth any other gospel, than that which he had preached,” Gal. i. 
“8. The gospel that he preached was the power of God unto salvation, 
“to every one that believeth,” Rom. i. 16. And the gospel that was 
‘preached to Abraham was, That in his “ seed all nations, and all the 
“families of the earth should be blessed.” In order to bring men to this 
‘blessed state, God poureth out of his Spirit upon all flesh: ; and Christ 
‘doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world; and the grace of 
‘ God, which bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men, and teach- 
“eth Christians, the true believers in Christ ; and God doth write his law 
‘in the true Christians’ hearts, and putteth it in their minds, that they may 
“all know the Lord, from the greatest to the least;” and he giveth his 
‘word in their Rearts to obey and do, and the anointing w ail them ; 
‘so that they need not any man to teach them, but as the anointing doth 


\*teach them. Now all such as turn people from the light, Spirit, grace, 


\‘ word, and anointing within, remove them from the heavy enly lands mark 

/‘ of their eternal inheritance, and make them blind, and cause the blind 
‘to wander from the living way to their eternal house in the heavens, 
‘and from the new and heavenly Jerusalem. So they are cursed that 
‘cause the blind to wander out of their way, and remove them from 
‘ their heavenly land-mark. GaP? 


I writ also a paper to shew, by instances taken out of the holy scrip- 
tures, that “ many of the holy men and prophets of God, and of the apos- 
“thes of Christ, were husbandmen and tradesmen: by which people might 
“ see how unlike to them the world’s teachers now are.’ 


‘Rieuteous Abel was a shepherd, “a keeper of sheep,” Gen. iv. 2. 

* Noah was an husbandman, and he was a “ just man, and perfect in his 
“ generation, and walked with God,” Gen. ix. 20. and vi. 9. Abraham, 
‘the father of the faithful, was an husbandman, and had great flocks of 
‘cattle; just Lot was an husbandman, and had great flocks and herds, 
Gen. xiii: Isaac was an husbandman, and had great “ flocks and herds 
“of cattle, and store of corn,” Gen. xxvi. 12. 14. And the promise was 
‘ with Isaac: for the Lord said to Abraham, “ In Jsaac shali thy seed be 
“ called,” Gen. xxi. 12. Jacob was an husbandman, and his sons * keep- 
“ers of flocks of cattle,’ Gen. xlvi. 32. 34. and God loved Jacob. Moses 
‘kept sheep, Exod. iii. 1. The Lord spake to him, when he was keeping 
* sheep. ver. 4. and sent him to Pharaoh, to bring God’s people, or sheep, 
‘out of Egypt. And by the hand and power of the Lord, he and Aaron 
‘his brother brought them out of Egypt, a land of anguish, bondage, 
darkness, and perplexity. And Moses kept the Lord’s people, or sheep, 
‘forty years in the wilderness: a meek shepherd of God he was, and 


628 GEORGE- FOX’S JOURNAL. ; [1683 


_ kept his great flock of sheep; though some of them were scabbed with 
/ the leprosy of contention and murmuring, and were destroyed in the 
wilderness. 
‘David, though he afterwards came to be a kiug, was a keeper of 
‘his father’s sheep in the wilderness, 1 Sam. xvii. 15.28. The Lord 
‘called him from the sheep-cotes to feed his sheep, the house of Israel, 
‘and to defend them from the spiritual wolves, bears, and lions; and he 
‘did it to purpose, who was a man after God’s own heart. 

‘Ehisna was a plowman, | Kings xix. 19. He was called from the 
plow, to teach God’s people, the children of Israel, to plow up the fal- 
‘low-ground of their hearts, that they might bring forth seed and fruits 
to God their Creator. 

‘The word of the Lord’came to Amos, wiiod he was fate the 

‘herdsmen of Tekoa, Amos i. 1 Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, said to 


‘Amos, “ Prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s © 


“chapel, and it is the king’s court,” chap. vii. 18. Amos answered, “1 
“was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son: but I was an herdsman, 
“and a gatherer of sycamore-fruit; and the Lord took me as I followed 
“the flock. And the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people 


“Israel,” ver. 14, 15. Here ye may see, the Lord made use of a poor ~ 


‘man, ‘and called him from following the outward flock, and from gather- 
‘ing of outward fruits, to gather his fruits, and to follow his people or 
: flock, the children of Israel. 

‘Christ called Peter, and Andrew his brother, when “ casting their net 
“into the sea (for they were fishers :) and he said unto them, Follow me, 
“and I will make you fishers of men,” Matth. iv. 18, 19. Christ like- 
‘ wise called James and John his bno hee when they were ina ship, with 
‘ Zebedee their father, “ mending their nets; and they immediately left 
“the ship, and their father, and followed him,” ver. 21,22. He gave 
‘them power (a net that will hold, and not want mending) and made 
‘them fishers of men, to fish them out of the great sea, the world of 
‘wickedness. We read, when Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, the sons of 
‘Zebedee, and other disciples went a fishing together, and that night 
‘caught nothing, in the morning Jesus appeared, and said, “Cast the net 


“on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” They did so, and — 


‘catched so great a multitude, they were not able to draw them to the 

‘shore. When thereupon one of the other disciples said to Peter, “ It 

“is the Lord;” Peter, hearing that, “ girded his fisher’s coat unto him,” 

‘John xxi. 2,3, 4, 5,.6, This was after Christ was risen. So here ye 

‘may see, Pater had not laid aside his fisher’s coat all the while that he 
had been preaching before Christ’s death. 

Jesus saw Matthew “sitting at the receipt of custom, and he said 
‘unto him, follow me. And he arose, and followed him,” Matth. ix. 9. 
And Christ employed Matthew to gather his people, that were scatter- 
ed from God; another manner of treasure than the outward custom of 


the Romans. Luke was a physician, whom Christ made a physician 


spiritual; which was better than outward. 
‘ Paul was a tent-maker; and being of the same craft with Aquila and 
Priscilla, “he abode with them at Corinth, and wrought; for by thei: 
‘‘ occupation they were tent-makers,” Acts xviii. 3. . F,’ 
‘ Gooses, the first month, 
‘1688-9.’ 


689] ’ GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 62 


It was now a time of much talk, and people too much busied their 
minds, and spent their time, in hearing and telling news. To shew 
them the vanity thereof, and to draw them from it, ] writ the following 
lines : 


‘In the low region, in the airy life, all news is uncertain; there is no- 
thing stable; but in the higher region, in the kingdom of Christ, all 
‘things are stable and sure, and the news always good and certain. For 
‘Christ, who hath all power in heaven and in earth given unto him, 
‘ruleth in the kingdoms of men: and he, wha doth inherit the heathen, 
‘and possess the utmost parts of the earth with his divine power and 
‘light, rules all nations with his rod of iron, and “dashes them to pieces 
“like a potter’s vessels,” the vessels of dishonour, and the leaky vessels 
‘that. will not hold his living water of life; and he doth preserve his 
elect vessels of mercy and honour. His power is certain and doth not 
‘change, by which he doth remove the mountains and hills, and shakes 
‘the heavens and the earth. Leaky, dishonourable vessels, the hills and 
‘mountains, and the old heavens and the earth, are all to be shaken, re- 
‘moved, and broken to pieces, though they do not see it nor him that 
‘doth it; but the elect and faithful both see it, and know him and his 
‘power that cannot be shaken, and changeth not. _ G. F. 
‘The 5th of the 1st month, 
‘1688-9.’ 


About the middle of the first month, 1688-9, I went to London, the 
parliament then sitting, and being then about the bill of indulgence. 
Though I was weak in body, and not well able to stir to and fro, yet so 
great a concern was upon my Spirit on behalf of truth and friends, that 


_l attended continually for many days, with others, at the parliament- 


house, labouring with the members, that the thing might be done com- 
prehensively and effectually. . 

In, this and other services I continued till towards the end of the second 
month, when being much spent with continual labour, I got out of town 
for a little while, as far as Southgate and thereabouts. While I was 
there I wrote a letter to Peter Hendricks, a friend, at Amsterdam, in 
which I inclosed an epistle to friends at Dantzick, in Poland, who at this 
time were under great persecution. And I wrote unto them to encour- 
age and strengthen them in their testimony, and to comfort them in their 
sufferings for the truth. I also wrote a paper to their persecutors, the 
magistrates of Dantzick, laying before them the evil of persecution, per- 
suading them to Christian moderation, and ‘to do unto others, in mat- 
‘ters of religion, as they would be done unto.’ 


*To Peter Hendricks at Amsterdam; and to friends at Dantzick, who 
‘are under persecution. 


‘Dear friend P. H. 

‘Wirn my ove to thee and thy wife, J. Clause, and J. Roeloffs, and 
‘all the rest of friends every-where in Christ Jesus, who reigns over all. 
I am glad to hear friends are well in all those provinces and places 
‘every-where, except Dantzick, and that you were so diligent in spread- 
“ing my papers to the strengthening of friends. I have lately printed the 
‘Life of William Caton, but have not made a collection of his bocks. I 
taink to send some of them to you, which you my translate and print 


630 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 3 (1689 


‘if you will; they may be serviceable among friends, especiaily them 
‘that knew him. 

‘ Concerning friends at Dantzick, whom the Lord hath supported with 
‘his eternal arm and power to this day, I hope by the same arm and 
‘power he will support them, and in it they will feel his blessed presence 
‘ with them in all their sufferings: who is over the cruelty of their per- 

secutors, who will hardly let them breathe outwardly or inwardly, in 
the common air of their native soil. Which shews their immorality, 
inhumanity, and unchristianity, and that they want the counsel of a 
‘Gamaliel amongst them; whose actions are below the law of God, to 
‘do unto others as they would have others do unto them ;” God will not’ 
‘bless the doings of such. However I desire that friends may mind the 
‘ Lord’s power that is over all, be valiant for his truth, and keep upon 
‘their rock and foundation Christ Jesus, that stands sure in the time of 
‘the heat of persecution which is so hot upon you, that they will not 
‘ suffer you to have so much as your houses to work and sleep in, nor to 
‘meet nor serve God in. The Lord beholds all such actors and their 
“actions. Therefore look over all to him, who is able to deal with them, 
‘and reWward them according to their works. God Almighty preserve 
you all in Christ Jesus, in whom you have rest, life and peace, aaa 
‘G ’ 
‘ Southgate, the 28th of the 
‘2d month, 1689.’ 


‘To the magistrates of Dantzick: 


‘Christian Shroder, president of the council, Emanuel Dilger, N. Ga- 
‘decken, and N. Fraterus, deputy of the council, and the rest of the 
‘ magistrates and priests. 


‘ WE have seen your order, and your breathing out persecution against 
that little flock, the lambs of Christ, that live under your jurisdiction in 
‘the city of Dantzick, and that you have imprisoned and banished two 
‘by the hangman out of the government of your city: and others you 
‘threaten to do the same to, with great punishment if they return. Like- 
‘wise you threaten those with punishment they rent their houses of, if 
‘they let them have their houses either to live in, or meet in to serve 
‘and worship the Lord that made them. Truly, I am heartily sorry for 
‘both your magistrates and priests, that go under the name of Christians, 
‘and shew such immoral, inhuman, unchristian actions, below the royal 
‘law of God, which is “to do to others as you would have them do 
“unto you.” For would you think it was moral, human, or christian, 
‘or according to the law of God, if the king of Poland, who is of another 
‘religion than you, should banish you out of your city by the hangman, 
‘and call you murderers of souls? Could you say but this was accord- 
, ing to the law of God, “ to do unto you as you would have done unto 
\ others?” If you say, you have the sword, the horn, and the power : 
/ blessed be the Lord that hath shortened your sword, your power, and 
\ your horn that it reaches no further than your jurisdiction of Dantzick. 
“and you do not know how long God may suffer you to have your horn, 
‘ your power and your sword. We are sure you have not the mind nor 
‘ Spirit of Christ; and the apostle saith, “ They that have not the Spirit 
« of Christ are none of his,” Rom. viii. And Christ bids Peter “ put up 
‘his sword ;” they that draw the sword concerning him, to defend him 


1689] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 631 


‘and his worship and faith, should perish with the sword. Peter and the 
‘apostles never drew the outward sword after, but said, their weapons 
‘ were spiritual not carnal, and they did not wrestle with flesh and blood 
Christ never gave any such command, that they should banish any by 
the hangman, that were not of their religion, nor would not receive it. 
‘ Are not you worse than the Turks, who let nh religions be in. their 
country, yea Christians, and to meet peaceably! Yea, the Turkish 
*patroons let our friends that were captives meet together at Algiers, 
‘and said, “It was good so to do.” You are worse than those barbar- 
‘ous people at Salee, who do not profess Christianity; for you profess 
‘Christ in words, but in works deny him. Did you ever find, either in 
‘scripture or history, that any persecutors prospered long? You are 
‘worse than they are in the Mogul’s country, who they say permits 
‘ sixty religions in his dominions; and many others might be mentioned, 
‘which you are worse than them all in your cruelty and persecution of 
‘God’s people only for meeting together in the name of Jesus, and serv- 
‘ing and worshipping God, their Creator. No, they must not breathe in 
‘their natural air, neither natural or spiritual, in your dominions. I pray, 
where had you these commands from? Neither from Christ nor his 
‘apostles. Do not you profess the scriptures of the New Testament to 
‘be your rule?’ But I pray you, what scripture have you for this prac- 
‘tice? Itis good for you to be humble, to do justice, love mercy, call 
‘home your erences and love and cherish them; yea, though they were 
‘ your enemies, you are to obey the command of Christ, and love them. 
‘J wonder how you and your wives and families can sleep quietly in 
‘ your beds, that do such cruel actions, without thinking the “ Lord may 
“do to you the same!” You cannot be without sense and feeling, ex- 
‘cept you be given over to reprobation, and your consciences seared 
‘with a hot iron. But Christian charity doth hope that you are not all 
‘in that state; but that there may be some relenting or consideration of 
‘your actions among some of you, either according to the law of God 
‘or his gospel. 


‘From him that desires your temporal and eternal good and salvation, 
‘and not destruction, Amen. mph 


‘ Middlesex, the 28th of the 
‘2d month, 1689.’ 


‘Peter, Thou may’st translate this into High Dutch, and send them; 
‘and you may print it, if you will, and send it abroad: and trans- 
‘late that part of the letter that is to friends into High Dutch, and 
‘ send to them.’ 


Having staid in the country about three weeks, I returned to London 
a little before the vearly meeting, which was in the third month this year, 
and was a very solemn, weighty meeting; the Lord, as formerly, visit- 
ing his people, and honouring the assembly with his glorious presence, 
to tne great satisfaction and comfort of friends. After the business of 
the meeting was over, it was upon me to add a few lines to the epistle, 
which went from the meeting to friends, after this manner: 


‘ Dear friends and brethren, 


‘Wo have known the Lord’s eternal arm and power, that hath pre- 
‘served you upon the heavenly rock and foundation, and hath built your 


832 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [6s9 


‘house upon it; you have known many winds, tempests, and storms that 
‘have risen out of the sea, where the beast rose, and many raging storms 
‘that have risen by apostates of several sorts; but the seed that bruises 
‘the serpent’s head, and is the foundation of God’s people, stands sure. 
‘ Dear friends and brethren, though there be great shakings in the world, 
‘the Lord’s power is over all, and his kingdom cannot be shaken. There- 
‘ fore, all ye children of God, children of the light, and heirs of his king- 
‘dom, a joyful, peaceable habitation keep in; keeping out of all the heats, 
‘contentions, and disputes about things below. “Lay hand on no man 
“nor nothing suddenly,” lest they should be puffed up with that which 
‘fades, and so come to loss; but mind the Lord’s power that keeps open 
‘your heavenly eve, to see things present and to come, and in that ye 
‘will see and handle the word of life. Dear friends every-where, have 
‘ power over your own spirits. As God hath blessed you with his out- 
‘ward things, have a care of trusting in them, or falling into difference 
‘one with another about these outward things that are below, which will 
‘pass away. But all live in the.love of God, and in that live in peace 
‘with God, and one with another. Follow the works of charity, and 
‘overcome the evil with the good to all; for what good have all the 
‘tinklers done, with their cymbals and sounding brass? They always 
‘ bred confusion, and never did good in any age; tinkling with their cym- 
‘bals, and sounding with their brass, to draw out the simple to follow 
‘them. It is good for all the children of God to keep in their possessions 
‘ of life, and in the love of God that is everlasting. As for all the tumults 
‘of the world, and the apostates from the truth, the Lord’s power is over 
‘them all, Christ reigns, and the Lord saith, « No weapon that is formed 
“against thee shall prosper,” Jsa. liv. 17. Friends, you are not insensi- 
‘ble how many weapons have been formed against us who are sons and 
‘daughters of God, and the Lord hath restrained them according to his 
‘promise; they “have not prospered.” The Lord said, “ Every tongue 
“that shall rise up in judgment against thee, thou shalt condemn;” so 
‘God hath given such a power to his children to condemn all the tongues 
‘that shall rise up in judgment against them, and this is the heritage of 
‘the servants of the Lord, “Their righteousness is of me,” saith the 
‘Lord. You are not insensible of the many tongues that have risen up 
‘against us in judgment, yea of apostates and prophane; but in and with 
‘the truth, the power of God, according to the promise of God, “ Every 
“tongue that riseth against thee thou shalt condemn.” It is not one 
‘tongue only thou shalt condemn; but every tongue that shall rise up in 
judgment against thee thou shalt condemn. The Lord giveth this power 
to his servants and children to judge the evil tongues, and he doth re- 
strain the weapons formed against them, so that they shall not prosper 
‘against his children that he hath begotten. Praises and honour be to 
“his holy name for ever! Amen! Disa. eae a 


Soon after this the yearly meeting began at York, which, because of 
the largeness of that county, and for the conveniency of friends in the 
northern parts, had for some years been held there. And inasmuch as 
there had been some hurt done in that place, by some that were gone out 
of the unity of friends, it was upon me to write a few lines to that meet- 
‘ng, to ‘exhort them to keep in pure heavenly ove, which brings into and 

keeps in the true unity.’ Which was thus: 


1689} GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 635 


‘ Dear friends and brethren in Christ Jesus. 

‘ Wuom the Lord by his eternal arm and power hath preserved to this 
‘day. all walk in the power and Spirit of God, that is over all, in love 
‘and unity; for love overcomes, builds up, and unites all the members of 

Christ to him the Head. Love keeps out of all strife, and is of God. 
* Love, or. charity, never fails, but keeps the mind above all outward 
‘ things, and strife about outward things. It overcomes evil, and casts 

out all false fears. It is of God, and unites all the hearts of his people 
together in the heavenly joy, concord, and unity. The God of love 
* preserve you all, and establish you in Christ Jesus, your life and salva- 
‘tion, in whom ye have all peace with God. So walk in him, that ye 
may be ordered in his peaceable, heavenly wisdom, to the glory of God, 

and the comfort one of another, Amen. G. F 

* London, the 27th of the 

‘3d month, 1689.’ 


Being much wearied and spent with many large meetings, and much 
business with friends during the time of the yearly meeting, and finding 
my health much impaired thereby, I went out of town with my daughter 
Rouse to their country-house near Kingston, and tarried there most of the 
remaining part of the summer. In which time I sometimes visited friends 
at Kingston, and wrote divers things for the service of truth and friends. 
One was an epistle to friends at Barbadoes; as followeth: 


© To all friends in Barbadoes that are convinced of God’s truth. 


‘ My desires are that ye may live and walk in his peaceable truth, and 

‘ shew forth that ye are children of the light and of the truth; for the 
‘heavenly, gentle. peaceable wisdom is justified of her children. But 
* debate, strife, wilfulress, laying open one another’s nakedness and weak- 
‘ness, is not the practice of heavenly wisdom’s children, but of Hams, 
“nor from the Spirit of Christ: neither such as bite and tear one another : 
‘that is from a devouring spirit, not the Spirit of Jesus, which covers 
‘that which is uncomely, and can forgive. My friends, you profess that 
* truth which is beyond all the world’s ways, therefore see that you excel 
‘them in the heavenly gentle wisdom, that is easy to be intreated: for 
“the wisdom of the world is not easy to be intreated, and sometimes will 
‘not be intreated at all. Pray see you excel the world in wisdom, in 
‘ virtue, in kindness, in love that is over hatred, in meekness, humility, 
‘ sobriety, civility, and modesty; in temperance and patience, and in all 
‘morality and humanity; which will not act any thing below men nor 
‘unmanly. Shew forth true christianity, and that ye are the converted 
‘and translated believers in Christ, dwelling in the love of God that bear- 
‘eth all things, endureth all things, is not puffed up, and envies not. For 
they that are out of this love of God, and Christian charity, are nothing 
‘ but as a tinkling cymbal and as sounding brass, and are discontented, 
‘ murmurers and complainers, full of doubts, questions, and false jealous- 
ies. Keep that spirit out of the camp of God: for do not you read in 
‘ the scriptures, both of the New and Old Testament, that the end of such 
“was misery? Therefore, in the love of God, build up one another; for 
‘love edifies the body of Christ, and he commands his believers to love 
“enemies, and to love one another; by this they are known to be the 
‘disciples of Christ. But to live in envy, strife, and hatred, is a mark 
‘that they are no disciples of Christ “ “for he that loveth not his brother 

+ 


534 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL [1689 


“abides in death, and whosoever hates his brother is a murderer, and 
‘ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. But they 
“that love the brethren are passed from death to life,” 1 John iii. 14, 15. 
‘And, “If a man say, 1 love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; 
“ for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love 
“ God, whom he hath not seen? And this commandment haye we from 
“God, that he who loveth God loves his brother also,” chap. iv 20, 21- 
Therefore “love one another ;” for love is of God, and hatred is of the 
‘devil, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knows God. Al 
‘are children of God by creation, therefore in that state they are to love 
‘their neighbours as themselves, and “to do unto all men as they would 
* have them do unto them.” Secondly, God pouring his Spirit upon all 
flesh (or all men and women) all that are Jed by the Spirit of God are 
‘the Sons of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, and are in 
‘ fellowship in the everlasting gospel, and in unity in the Spirit, the bond 
‘of peace. They that go out of this unity, out of the bond of peace, 
‘and do not keep it, break the King of kings’ peace; but they that keep, 
‘in the unity and fellowship in the Spirit, and walk in the light, have fel- 
‘lowship one with another, and with the Father and the Son. It is not 
‘every one that talks of the light of the world, of righteousness, of Christ, 
‘and of God, but he that “ doth the will of God.” Therefore, my friends, 
‘ strive to excel one another in love, in virtue, in good life and conver- 
‘sation; and strive all to be of one mind, heart, and judgment in the 
‘ Spirit of God ; for in Christ all are one, and are in peace with him. The 
‘Lord God Almighty preserve you in him, your rock and foundation, 
‘that is heavenly and stands sure; that ye may be valiant for the truth 
‘upon earth, for the Lord and his glorious name; that ye may all serve 
‘him in your generation, and in his new creation in Christ Jesus, Amen. 
‘ And now that you are come into so much favour with the magis- 
‘trates and powers, that they let you serve the office of a constable, &c. 
‘without swearing or taking any oaths, hereby Christ’s doctrine and 
command, and his apostle’s is set up. I therefore desire that you may 
‘double your diligence in your offices, in doing that which is just, true, 
‘and righteous; so that ye may excel and exceed all that are tied or 
‘bound by oaths to perform their offices; and you can do it upon your 
‘Yea and Nay; so say and so do, according to Christ’s doctrine and 
‘command. For Adam and Eve, by disobeying the command of God, 
‘fell under condemnation; and they that disobey the command of 
‘Christ, in taking oaths and swearing, go into evil, and fall into condem- 

nation, Mat. v. and James v. My love in the Lord is to you all. 

‘Genk? 
‘ Kingston upon Thames, the 10th 
‘of the 5th month, 1689.’ 


1 staid at Kingston till the beginning of the seventh month, where not 
only friends came to visit me, but some considerable people of the world, 
with whom I discoursed about the things of God. Then leaving Kings- 
ton, I went to London by water, visiting friends as I went, and taking 
Hammersmith-meeting in my way. Having recovered some strength 
by being in the country, when I was come to London I went from meet- 
ing to meeting, labouring diligently in the work of the Lord, and opening 
the divine mysteries of the heavenly things, as God in his Spirit opened 
hem tore. But I found my bedy would not long bear the city ; where- 


1689] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 635 


fore, when I had travelled amongst friends there about a month, I went 
to Tottenham-High-Cross, and from thence to Edward Man’s country- 
house near Winchmore-hill, and to Enfield; spending three weeks 
amongst friends thereabouts, and had meetings at all those places. Then, 
being a little refreshed in the country, I returned to London; where I 
tarried, labouring in the work of the ministry, till the middle of the ninth 
month; at which time I went with my son Mead to his house in Essex, 
and abode there all the winter. During which time I stirred not much 
abroad, unless sometimes to the meeting to which that family belonged, 
which was about half a mile from thence; but I had meetings often in 
the house with the family and those friends that came thither. Many 
things also I wrote while I was there, some of which follow. One was 
an epistle to the quarterly and yearly meetings of friends in Pennsyivania, 
New-England, Virginia, Maryland, the Jerseys, Carolina, and other 
plantations in America. Which was thus: 


‘ My dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ, 


* Wuo, by believing in his light, are become children of his light and 
‘of his day; my desires are, that you may all walk in the light and in 

_ *the day, and keep the feast :f Christ, our passover, who is sacrificed 
/ © for us, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wick- 
) edness; but let all that be purged out, that ye may be a new lump. 
( ‘keeping the feast of Christ, our passover, with the unleavened bread of 
\ sincerity and truth. Let no leavened bread be found in your houses, 
‘nor in your meetings, nor in the camp of God, or household of faith, 
‘which are the household of Christ; but all that sour, old leaven, which 
‘makes people’s hearts sour, and burn one against another, must be 
‘purged out of the camp of God, and kept out. For the feast of Christ, 
‘ our passover, must be kept in the New Covenant with his heavenly un- 
‘leavened bread of life. The Jews’ feast in the Old Testament was kept 
‘with outward unleavened bread; and now in the New Testament, in 
‘the gospel-day, our feast is to be kept with the heavenly unleavened 
‘bread of sincerity and truth. Therefore friends, I desire you seriously 
‘to consider, and to keep this feast which the apostle directed the church 
‘of Christ to keep. Do not you see Christendom, so called, keep their 
‘ feasts with the leavened bread of malice and wickedness? which makes 
‘them so sour, and their hearts so to burn one against another, that they 
‘have destroyed, and do destroy one another about religion. Therefore 
‘all live in the love of God, which keeps above the love of the world; so 
‘that none of your hearts may be choaked or surfeited with these out- 

‘ ward things, or with the cares of the world which will pass away ; but 
‘mind ye the world and the life that is without end, that ye may be heirs 
‘of it. And, friends, you should strive to excel all, both professor and 
‘prophane, in morality, humanity, and Christianity, modesty, sobriety, 
‘and moderation, and in a good, godly, righteous life and conversation ; 
‘ shewing forth the fruits of the Spirit of God, and that you are the chil- 
‘dren of the living God, children of light and of day, and not oi the 
‘night. And serve God in newness of life; for it is the life, and a living 
‘and walking in the truth, that must answer the witness of God _ in al! 
‘people, “ that they, seeing our good works, may glorify our Father 
‘which is in heaven.” Therefore be valiant for God’s holy pure truth, 
and spread it abroad among both professors and prophane, and the In- 
dians. And you should write over once a year, from all your yearly 


635 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ; [1689 


meetings, to the yearly meeting here, concerning your diligence in the 

truth, and of its spreading, and of people’s receiving it, both professors 
* and prophane, and the lndiaiaxt ; and concerning the peace of the church 
‘of Christ amongst yourselves. For, blessed be the Lord, truth doth get 
‘ground in these parts, many are made very loving to friends, and the 
‘ Lord’s power and seed is over all: in which God Almighty keep all his 
‘ people to his glory, Amen. G. F. 


‘ Gooses, the 28th of the 11th 
‘month, 1689.’ 


While I was in the city I had a concern upon my spirit with respect 
to a twofold danger that attended some who professed truth; one was 
of young people’s running into the fashions of the world, and the other 
was of old people’s going “into the earth. And that concern coming now 
again weightily upon me, I was moved to give forth the following as a 
reproof to such, and an exhortation and warning to all friends to beware 
of and keep out of those snares. 


‘ To all that profess the truth of God. 


‘ My desires are that you walk humbly in it; for when the Lord first 
“called me forth, he let me see that young people & grew up together in 
‘vanity and the fashions of the world, and old people went downwards 
‘into the earth, raking it together; and to » both these I was to be a 
“stranger. And now, friends, “Tdo-see-toomany young people that pro- 
‘fess the truth grow up into the fashions of the world, and too many pa- 
‘rents indulge them; and amongst the elder some are declining down- 
‘wards and raking after the earth. Therefore, take heed that you are 
‘not making your graves while you are alive outwardly, and loading 

‘ yourselves with thick clay, Hab. ii. 6. For if you have not power over 
‘the earthly spirit, and that which leadeth into a vain mind, and the 
‘fashions of the world, and into the earth; though you have often had 
‘the rain fall upon your fields, you will but bring forth thistles, briers, 
‘and thorns, which are for the fire. Such will become brittle, peevish, 
‘fretful spirits, that will not abide the heavenly doctrine, the admoni- 
‘tions, exhortations, and reproofs of the Holy Ghost, or heavenly Spirit 
‘of God; which would bring you to be conformable to the death of 
‘ Christ, and to his i image, that ye might have fellowship with him in his 
‘resurrection. Therefore it is good for all to bow to the name of Jesus, 
‘their Saviour, that all may Goren: him to the glory of God the Father. 

For J have had a concern upon me, in a sense of the danger of young 

people’s going into the fashions of the world, and old people’s going 
into the earth, and many going into a loose and false liberty, till at 
last they go quite out into the spirit of the world as some have done. 
‘’[ne house of such hath been built upon the sand on the sea-shore, not 
‘upon Christ the Rock; that are so soon in the world again, under a 
‘pretence of liberty of conscience. But it is not a pure conscience, nov 
‘in the Spirit of God, nor in Christ Jesus; for in the liberty in the Spirit 
there is the unity, which is the bond of peace; and all are one in Christ 

Jesus, in whom is the true liberty: and this is not of the world, for he 

is not cf the world. Therefore all are to stand fast in him, as they have 
received him; for in him there is peace, who is the Prince of Peace 
but in the world there is trouble. For the spirit of the world is a trou 


1690] ; GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 637 


biesome spirit, but the Spirit of Christ is a perceable Spirit: in which 
‘God Almighty preserve all the faithful, Amen. Cay 
‘ Gooses, the Ist of the 
‘2d month, 1690.’ 


Another I wrote while I was here concerning the Ensign which 
Isaiah prophesied the Lord should set up for the Gentiles, which ] 
shewed was Christ. Of which follows a copy: 


‘Tue Lord saith, “ They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy 
“mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as 
“the waters cover the sea,” Isa. xi. 9.‘ And in that day there shall be 
“a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it 
“ shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious,” ver. 10. And he 
“shall reign over the Gentiles, and in him shall the Gentiles trust,” Rom. 
‘xv. 12. This Ensign is Christ, who was prophesied of by the prophet ; 
‘ which prophecy the apostle, who was a minister to the Gentiles, shew 
‘eth was fulfilled in the New Testament. In this day of Christ, Isaiah 
saith, “ The Lord shall set his: hand again the second time to recover 
“the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria and from 
“ Eoypt. &c. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shal 
“assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of 
«“ Judah from the four corners of the earth,” ver. 11, 12. This is in the 
‘day of Christ, and his gospel of life and salvation, which is preached to 
“every creature under heaven, who “ enlighteneth every man that com- 
“eth into the world,” both Jews and Gentiles, that by his heavenly di- 
‘vine light they may see Christ, their Ensign and Captain of their salva- 
‘tion; so Christ is one Ensign both to the Jews and Gentiles. Isaiah 
“saith, “ The Redeemer shall come to Sion,” &c. Isa. lix. 20. And, 
«This is my covenant with them, saith the Lord, my Spirit that is upon 
“thee (to wit, Christ) and my words, which I have put in thy mouth, 
“shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor 
“out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth 
“and for ever,” ver. 21. “ Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the 
“ glory of the Lord is risen upon thee,” chap. Ixi. 1. “ And the Gentiles 
“ shall come to thy light,” ver. 8. “ And the abundance of the sea shall 
“be converted unto thee,” ver. 5. (the sea is the world). “The Lord 
“shall be thy everlasting light,” ver. 20. And, “Thou shalt call thy 
“walls, salvation, and thy gates, praise,” ver. 18. And the Lord saith, 
“JT will make the place of my feet glorious,” ver. 18. “ Heaven is his 
“throne, and earth is his footstool,” chap. Ixvi. 1. “ And he that puts his 
“trust in me, saith the Lord, shall possess the land, and shall inherit my 
“holy mountain,” chap. lvii. 18. Which mountain is established above 
‘all the mountains and hills, Isa. ii. 2. The Lord saith, speaking of 
‘Christ, “I have put my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment 
“to the Gentiles,” Isa. xlii. 1. “I will give thee for a covenant of the 
“ people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out 
“the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, out of the 
“ prison-house. I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I 
“not give to another, neither my praise to graven images,” ver. 6, 7, 8. 

So Christ the Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen, and the 

Gentiles are come to the light of Christ. This prophecy of Isaiah con- 

cerning Christ, many of the Gentiles witness fulfilled, that “ salvation is 
“ come tc the Gentiles,” Rom. xi. 11. God gave his glory to his Son 


638 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1690 


‘and Christ saith, “ The glory which thou gavest me, I have given them 
(namely his believers and followers) that they may be one, even as we 
“are one,” John xvii. 22. Here you may see the promises and prophe- 
* cies are fulfilled. in Christ Jesus, whom God hath given for an Ensign 
‘both to the Jews and Gentiles, and the Captain of their Salvation; and 
‘he doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world: that with his 
‘ heavenly divine light they might see Christ, the Lord from heaven, their 
‘Captain and Ensign, and trust in him, their Conqueror; who bruises the 
‘ serpent’s head, and destroys the devil and his works: and Christ ana 
‘his followers overcome the dragon, beast, and false prophet. Therefore 
‘all Jews, Gentiles, and Christians, that come to believe in Christ, are tou 
‘stand to their Ensign, Christ, who is also the Captain of their Salvation, 
‘ above all ensigns and captains below, for he is from above; therefore 
‘all are to trust in him, for he is certain and able to save to the utmost. 
‘ He is the same Ensign and Captain to-day as he was yesterday, and so 
‘for ever, the First and Last, the Beginning and Ending, the Lord of 
‘lords, and King of all kings upon the earth; and there is nothing cer- 
‘tain to be trusted in below Christ Jesus who is from above. You see 
‘in the scriptures, there were many ways and religions among the 
‘heathen, as there were many sects among the Jews when Christ came; 
‘and now there are many sects or religions among the Christians, who 
‘believe from the scriptures “ that he is come,” as the Jews believed 
“he was to come.” But they that close their eyes, and stop their ears 
*to the light of Christ, are not like to see Christ who hath enlightened 
‘them, to be their Ensign and the Captain of their Salvation, that see not 
‘with the heavenly eye, nor hear with the heavenly ear, to see and hear 
‘their heavenly Ensign and Captain of their Salvation, to convert and 
‘heal them; that they might follow him, and be of his holy camp, his 
‘heavenly soldiers, to whom he gives spiritual arms and armour, the 
‘helmet of salvation, the breast-plate of righteousness, the armour of 
‘light, and the shield of faith, which will quench all the fiery darts of 
‘Satan and give victory, and the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, 
‘which shall cut, hammer down, and burn up all the strong holds of 
‘Satan. Also he clotheth his soldiers with fine linen, white and clean, his 
‘righteousness, and shoeth them with the everlasting gospel of peace, the 
‘power of God; which clothes and shoes will never wax old. And all 
‘that are-shod with the everlasting gospel, the power of God, will never 
‘wax old; but will stand all storms and tempests in the world. They 
‘that are shod with the gospel, the power of God, can in it tread upon 
‘serpents, vipers, and scorpions, and all the venomous beasts upon the 
‘earth, and all the thorns, briers, brambles, thistles, sharp rocks, and 
‘ mountains, and never be hurt, nor never wear out their shoes; for their 
‘feet were always beautiful upon the mountains. Moses, a captain, the 
‘servant of the Lord, said unto the people of Israel, “I have led you 
“forty years in the wilderness; your clothes are not waxen old upon 
* you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot,” Deut. xxix. 5. Here 

ye may see, the Jews in the Old Testament, their clothes and their shoes 

did not wax old: but they, who are Christ’s followers, whom he shoeth 
‘with his everlasting gospel of peace, and clotheth with his fine linen, his 
‘ righteousness, and arms with his armour, are clothed, shod, and armed, 
‘with that which will never decay, wax old, canker, rust, corrupt, nor 
‘ grow blunt. Now all, whether Christians, or Jews, or Gentiles, that 
‘hate the light of Christ, close their eyes, and stop their ears to ‘t, are 


690] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 639 


not like to see Christ their ensign and captain of their sa.vation, but are 
blind. As no outward captain would list a company of blind and deaf 
-*men, and clothe and arm them with outward armour, so such as are 
blind and deaf, whose eyes are closed, and ears stopped to the heavenly 
- light of Christ, he is not like to clothe with his fine linen, and arm with 
his heavenly and spiritual armour; nor are they like to be spiritually 
*and heavenly disciplined, and to see and know his holy, spiritual, living 
“camp, nor to follow him, while they are deaf and blind, and hate his 
‘light, which is the life in Christ. For it is the light, that shines in the 
‘heart, which gives the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of 
‘Christ Jesus; who is the ensign and captain of men’s salvations, and 
‘who hath brought, and doth bring many sons unto glory: praises, 
‘honour, and glory be unto the Lord over all, who liveth for ever, Amen. 
‘G. FY 
‘ Gooses, the 14th of the 
- $2d month, 1690.’ 


A week after this I returned to London; and after a little stay there, 
went to visit friends at Kingston, where I staid not long; but came back 
to London, and remained in the Lord’s work, till after the yearly meet- 
ing, which was in the fourth month this year; in which the wonted good- 
ness of the Lord was witnessed, his blessed presence enjoyed, and his 
heavenly power livingly felt, opening the hearts of his people unto him. 
and his divine treasures of life and wisdom in and unto them; whereby 
many useful and necessary things, relating to the safety of friends, and 
to the honour and prosperity of truth, were weightily treated of, anc 
unanimously concluded. 

After the meeting, I wrote the following paper to friends, to be added 
to the epistle, which from the yearly meeting was sent into the severa’ 
counties. 


‘ Aut friends every-where, that are alive to God thro’ Jesus Christ 
‘and are living members of Christ the holy head; be still, and stand stil. 
‘in the Lord’s camp of holiness and righteousness, and therein see the 
‘ salvation of God, and your eternal life, rest, and peace. In it you may 
‘feel and see the Lord’s power is over all; and how the Lord is at work 
‘in his power, ruling the nations with his rod of iron, and breaking (in 
‘the nations) the old leaky vessels and cisterns to pieces, like the potter’s 
‘ vessels, that will not hold his living water of life, who are erred from 
‘the Spirit. But blessed be the Lord God of heaven and earth, who by 

his eternal arm and power hath settled all his people upon the living, 

holy rock and foundation, that stands sure; whom he hath drawn by 

his Spirit to his Son, and gathered into the name of Jesus Christ, his 
‘only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth; who hath all power in 
‘heaven and earth given to him. Whose name is above every name 
‘under the whole heaven, and all his living members know, there is nc 
‘salvation given by any other name under the whole heaven, but by the 
‘name of Jesus; and he, their salvation, and their living head, is felt in 
‘the midst of them in his light, life, spirit, grace, and truth, and his wore 
‘of patience, wisdom, and power: who is his people’s prophet, that Goc 
‘hath raised up, in his New Testament and covenant, to open to them 
‘and their living shepherd, that hath purchased, redeemed, and bought 
‘them with his precious blood. Christ, the living One. feeds his ‘living 
‘ sheep in his living pastures of life, and his living sheep know their living 


640 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [le9c 


‘ shepherd’s voice, with his living bread and water, and follow him; and 
‘ will not follow any of the world’s hirelings, nor thieves, nor robbers, 
‘nor climbers, that are without Christ, the door. Likewise Christ’s liv- 
‘iug children know Christ, the bishop of their souls, to oversee them with 
his heavenly and spiritual eye, that they may be preserved in his fold 
‘ of life, and go no more forth. Also they know Christ, their holy priest 
‘that by the grace of God tasted death for them, and for every man, ana 
‘jis a propitiation for their sins; and not for theirs only, but for the sins 
‘of the whole world: and by the one offering up of himself he hath per- 
‘fected for ever them that are sanctified. Such an high-priest becomes 
‘Christ’s sheep in his new covenant and testament, wh is holy, harm- 
‘less, and separate from sinners, and is made higher than the heavens 
‘who is not made a priest after the order of Aaron with his tythes, offer- 
‘ings, &c. but he makes an end of all those things, having abolished 
‘them, and is made an high-priest after the power of an endless life, who 
‘ever liveth to make intercession for his people; and is able to save to 
‘the uttermost, all that come to God through him, He is the one holy 
‘mediator betwixt God and man, who sanctifies his people, his church, 
‘that he is head of, and presents them to God without spot, or wrinkle, 
‘or blemish, or any such thing; and makes them an holy, royal priest- 
‘hood, to offer up spiritual, holy sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus 
‘Christ, who is King of all kings, and Lord of all lords in the earth. 
‘So an holy, heavenly King, who hath all power in heaven and earth 
‘given to him; and rules in all the hearts of his sheep and lambs by his 
‘ holy, divine, precious faith, that is held in all the pure consciences of 
‘his people: which holy faith, Christ, the holy one, is the author and 
‘finisher of. By this holy faith all the just live, in which holy, divine, 
‘ precious faith all the just and holy ones have unity; and by it quench 
‘all the fiery darts of Satan; and have access to the pure God, in which 
‘they please him. Christ, who is set on the right hand of the throne of 
‘the Majesty in the heavens, in his New Testament and new covenant, 
‘is the minister of the sanctuary and true tabernacle, which the Lord 
‘hath pitched, and not man. ‘Therefore all the lambs and sheep of Christ 
‘ must feel this holy minister m their temple and sanctuary, who ministers 
‘ spirituat, holy, and heavenly things to them in their sanctuary and taber- 
‘nacle. For all the tabernacles and sanctuaries, that are built or piteh’d 
‘by man, men make ministers for them; and such ministers are of men 
‘and by men, with their worldly sanctuaries and tabernacles of men’s 
‘ pitching, by men’s hands. 

‘ And now, dear friends and brethren every-where, that are of the flock 
‘of Christ: Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us 
‘all keep this heavenly feast of our passover in his new testarnent and 
‘covenant, not with old leaven, neither of malice nor wickedness: but 

‘let all that be purged out, with the sour old leavened bread, that all 
‘may become a new lump: and so keep this heavenly feast of Christ, 
‘our heavenly Passover, with the unleavened bread of sincerity and 

truth, Amen. . FY 

I staid in town between three weeks and a month, after the yearly 
meeting, and then went to Tottenham-High-Cross, where was a meeting 
on first-day, which I was at; and then went to Edward Man’s at Ford- 
Green near Winchmore-Hill: and the first-day following to the meeting 
at Enfield; where the Lord gave me many precious openings to declare 


690; GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. 641 


to the people. Afterwards, moving to and fro amongst friends there- 
abouts, I visited the meetings at Chesshunt, Waltham-Abbey, Enfield, 
Tottenham, and Winchmore-Hill frequently ; the Lord being with me, 
and opening many deep and weighty truths, divine and heavenly myste- 
ries to his people through me, to their great refreshment, and my joy 
After some time I went to Hertford, to visit friends there; and was at 
their meeting on a first-day. And having something more particular 
upon me to the ancient friends of that place, I had a meeting with some 
of them the next day, and imparted to them what the Lord had given 
me for them. Then passing to Ware, I made a little stay amongst friends 
there, and was at their meeting. After which, returning, amongst friends 
about Edmonton side and Tottenham, and taking meetings as J went, I 
came back to London in the end of the seventh month. 

I remained at London till the beginning of the ninth month, being con- 
‘tinually exercised in the work of the Lord, either in publick meetings, 
/ opening the way of truth to people, and building up and establishing 

friends therein, or in other services relating to the church of God. For 

the parliament now sitting, and having a bill before them concerning 

oaths, and another concerning clandestine marriages, several friends did 

attend the house, to get those bills so worded, that they might not be 

hurtful to friends. In this service ] also assisted. attending on the parlia- 
ment, and discoursing the matter with several of the members. = 

Having staid more than a month in London, and much spent myself 
in these services, I went to Tottenham, and some time after to Ford- 
Green. At which places I continued several weeks, visiting frends’ 
meetings round about at Tottenham, Entield, and Winchmore-Hill. In 
this time several things came upon me to write: whereof one was an 
epistle “to friends in the ministry ;” as followeth: 


| A 


‘ Att friends in the, ministry every-where, to whom God hath given a 
‘ gift of the ministry, and who use to travel up and down in the gift of 
‘the ministry, do not “ hide your talent, nor put your light under a bushel, 
“nor cumber yourselves, nor entangle yourselves with the affairs of this 
“world.” For the natural soldiers are not to cumber themselves with 
‘the world; much less the soldiers of Christ, who are not of this world; 
‘but are to mind the riches and glory of the world that is everlasting. 
‘ Therefore stir up the gift of God in you, improve it, and do not sit down, 
‘ Demas-like, and embrace this present world, that will have an end; lest 
_ ‘ye become idolaters. Be valiant for God’s truth upon the earth, and 
‘spread it abroad in the day-light of Christ, you who have sought the 
‘ kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and have received it 
_ ‘and preached it: which “stands in righteousness and peace, and joy in 
“the Holy Ghost :” As able ministers of the Spirit sow to the Spirit, that 
‘ of the Spirit ye may reap life everlasting. Go on in the Spirit, plowing 
‘ with it in the purifying hope; and threshing, with the power and Spirit 
‘of God, the wheat out of the chaff of corruption, in the same hope. 
For he that looks back from the spiritual plow into the world, is not fit 
‘for the spiritual and everlasting kingdom of God; and is not like to 
“press into it, as the faithful do. Therefore you that are awakened to 
‘ rizhteousness, and to the knowledge of the truth, keep yourselves awaken- 
‘ed in it: then the enemy cannot sow his tares in your field; for truth 
‘and righteousness is over him, and before he was. My desires are, that 
all may fulfil their ministry, that the Lord Jesus Christ hath committed 
4F 


se ee ee 


~ 


642 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1690 


to them, and then by the blood (or life) and testimony of Jesus you 
* will overcome the enemy that opposes it, within and without. All you 
‘that preach the truth, do it as it is in Jesus, in love; and all that are 
believers in Jesus, and receivers of him, he gives them power to become 
the Sons of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; whom he calleth brethren ;. 
‘and he gives them the water of life, which shall be a well in them, 
‘ springing up to eternal life; that they may water the spiritual plants of 
‘the living God. So that all may be spiritual planters, and spiritual 
‘ waterers; aud may see with the spiritual eye the everlasting, eternal 
‘God over all to give the increase, who is the infinite fountain. My de- 
‘sires are, that you may be kept out of all the beggarly elements of the 
‘ world, which is below the spiritual region, to Christ the head; and may 
‘hold him, who bruiseth the head of enmity, and was before it was; that 
‘ye may all be united together in love, in your head, Christ, and be or- 
‘dered by his heavenly, gentle, peaceable wisdom to the glory of God. 
‘For all that be in Christ, are in love, peace, and unity. In him they 
‘are strong, and in a full persuasion; and in him, who is the first and 
‘last, they are in a heavenly resolution and confidence for God’s ever- 
‘Jasting honour and glory, Amen. 
* From him, who is translated into the kingdom of his dear Son, with 
7 ‘all his saints, a heavenly salutation. And salute one another with 
‘a holy kiss of charity, that never faileth. G. FY 
* Ford-Green, the 25th of the 
‘9th month, 1690.’ 


Another epistle I wrote soon after, more particularly to the friends in 
the ministry, that were gone into America: after this manner: 


‘Dear friends and brethren, ministers, exhorters, and admonishers, 
‘that are gone into America and the islands thereaway. Stir up the gift 
‘of God in you, and the pure mind, and improve your talents; that ye 
‘may be the light of the world, a city set upon an hill, that cannot be 
‘hid. Let your light shine among the Indians, the Blacks and the 
‘Whites; that ye may answer the truth in them, and bring them to the 
‘standard and ensign, that God hath set up, Christ Jesus. For from the 
‘rising of the sun to the going down of the same, God’s name shall be 
‘great among the Gentiles; and in every temple, or sanctified heart, 
“incense shall be offered up to God’s name.” And have salt in your- 

selves, that ye may be the salt of the earth, that ye may salt it; that it 
‘ may be preserved from corruption and putrefaction: so that all sacri- 
‘ fices offered up to the Lord may be seasoned, and be a good savour to 
‘God. All grow in the faith and grace of Christ, that ye may not be 
like dwarfs ; for a dwarf shall not come near to offer upon God’s altar; 
‘though he may eat of God's bread, that he may grow by it.¢ And 
‘ friends, be not negligent, but keep up your Negroes’ meetings\and your 
‘family-meetings; and have meetings with the Indian kings;and their 
councils and subjects every-where, and with others. Bring them all to 
‘the baptizing and circumcising Spirit, by which they may know God, 
aud serve and worship him. And all take heed of sitting down in the 
‘earth, and having your minds in the earthly things, coveting and striving 
for the earth: for to be carnally minded brings death, and covetousness 
is idolatry. There is too much strife and contention about that idol, 
which makes too many go out of the sense and fear of God; so tha‘ 
some have lost morality, humanity, and true Christian charity. O these- 


a 


1690] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 643 


fore, be awakened to righteousness, and keep awakened ; for the enemy 
‘ soweth his tares, while men and women sleep in carelessness and security 
Therefore so many slothful ones go in their filthy rags, and have not 
‘the fine linen, the righteousness of Christ; but are straggling, and plow- 

mg with their ox and their ass, in their woollen and linen garments, 
«mixt stuff, feeding upon torn food, and that dieth of itself, and drinking 
‘of the dregs of their old bottle, and eating the sour, leavened bread, 
‘which makes their hearts burn one against another. But all are to keep 
‘the feast of Christ, our passover, with the unleavened bread of sin- 
‘cerity and truth. ‘This unleavened bread of Life from heaven makes 

all hearts and souls glad and joyful, lightsome and cheerful, to serve 
‘and love God, and to love and serve one another in the peaceable truth, 
‘and to keep in the unity of God’s Spirit, which is the bond of (the Lord 
‘of lords’ and the King of kings’) peace. In this love and peace God 
‘ Almighty keep and preserve all his people, and make them valiant for 
‘his truth upon the earth, to spread it abroad in doctrine, good life, and 
‘conversation. Amen. 

‘ All the members of Christ have need one of another. For the foot 
‘hath need of the hand, and the hand hath need of the foot: the ear hath 
“need of the eye, and the eye of the ear. So that all the members are 
“serviceable in the body which Christ is the head of; and the head sees 
‘their service. Therefore let none despise the least member. 

‘Have a care to keep down that greedy earthly mind, that raveneth 
‘and coveteth after the riches and things of this world; lest ye fall into 

/ «the low region, like the gentiles or heathen, and so lose the kingdom of 
/ *God that is everlasting: but seek that first, and God knows what ye 
\‘ have need of; who takes care for all both in heaven and in the earth: 
'‘thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gifts, both temporal and spir- 
‘itual! G. FY’ 
‘ Tottenham, the 11th of the 
‘10th month, 1690.’ 


Not long after I returned to London, and was almost daily with friends 
at meetings. When I had been near two weeks in town, the sense of 
the great hardships and sore sufferings that friends had been and were 
under in Ireland coming with great weight upon me, I was moved to 
write the following epistle, as a word of consolation unto them: 


‘Dzar friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Lord. 
‘by his eternal arm and power hath upheld through your great suffer 
‘ ings, exercises, trials, and hardships, more, I believe, than can be ut 
‘tered, up and down that nation, which I am very sensible of; and the 

rest of faithful friends that have been partakers with you in your suffer- 
‘ings: who cannot but suffer with the Lord’s people that suffer. My 
confidence hath been in the Lord, that he would and will support you 
in all your sufferings; and that he would preserve all the faithful in his 
wisdom that they might give no just occasion to one nor other to make 
them suffer; and if you did suffer wrongfully or unjustly, that the right- 
eos God would assist and uphold you; and reward them according to 
thei1 works, that oppressed or wronged you. And now my desire is 
unto the Lov~d, that in the same huly and heavenly wisdom of God ye 
may all be preserved to the end of your days, to the glory of God, 
minding his supporting hand and power; who is God All-sufficient, to 
streng‘hen, help, and refresh in time of need. Let none forget the Lord’s 


GEORGE FOX’S JO RNAL. [169C 


‘mercies and kindnesses, which endure for ever: but always live in the 
sense of them. And truly, friends, when I consider the thing, it is the 
great mercy of the Lord that ye have not been all swallowed up, seeing 

‘with what spirits ye have been compassed abouf. But the Lord car- 

‘rieth his lambs in his arms, and they are as tender to him as the apple 

‘of his eye; and his power is his hedge about his vineyard of heavenly 

‘plants. ‘Therefore it is good for all his children to be given up to the 

‘ Lord with their minds and souls, hearts and spirits, who is a faithful 
keeper, that never slumbers nor sleeps; but is able to preserve and keep 
you, and to save to the utmost, and none can hurt so much as an hair 

‘of your heads, except he suffer it, to try you; for he upholds all things 

‘in heaven and earth, by the Word of his power: al] things were made 

‘by Christ: and by him all things consist (mark, consist) whether they 

_ ‘be visibles or invisibles, &c. So he hath power over all; for all power 

‘in heaven and earth is given to him: and to you, that have received 

‘him, he hath given power to become the sons and daughters of God; 

‘so living members of Christ, the living head, grafted into him in whom 

‘ye have eternal life. Christ the Seed reigns, and his power is over ail ; 

‘who bruises the serpent’s head, and destroys the devil and his works, 

‘and was before he was. So all of you live and walk in Christ Jesus; 

‘that nothing may be between you and God, but Christ, in whom ye 

‘have salvation, life, rest, and peace with God. 

‘ As for the affairs of truth in this land and abroad, I hear, that in Hol- 
‘land and Germany, and thereaway, friends are in love, unity, and 
* peace: and in Jamaica, Barbadoes, Nevis, Antigua, Maryland, and New- 
‘ England, I hear nothing, but friends are in unity and peace. The Lord 
‘preserve them all out of the world (in which there is trouble) in Christ 
‘Jesus, in whom there is peace, life, love, and unity, Amen. My love in 
‘the Lord Jesus Christ to all friends every-where in your land, as though 
‘T named them. G. F’ 

‘London, the 10th of the 

ah ‘11th month, 1690.’ 


DEATH AND BURIAL. 


Tuus, reader, thou hast had some account of the life and travels, la- 
bours, sufferings, and manifold trials and exercises of this holy man of 
God, from his youth to almost the time of his death: Of which himself 
kept a journal; whence the foregoing sheets were transcribed. It re- 
mains, that an account be added of the time, place, and manner of his 
death and burial; which was thus: 


The next day, after he had written the foregoing epistle to friends in 
Ireland, he went to the meeting at Gracechurch-street, which was large 
(it being on the first-day of the week:) and the Lord enabled him to 
preach the truth fully and effectually, opening many deep and weighty 
things with great power and clearness. After which having prayed, 
and the. meeting being ended, he went to Henry Gouldney’s (a friend’s 
house in White-hart Court, near the meeting-house:) and some friends 
going with him, he told them, ‘ He thought he felt the cold strike to his 

heart, as he came out of the meeting; yet added, ‘I am glad I was 


1690] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 645 


‘here; now | am <jear, I am fully clear.’ As soon as those friends were 
withdrawn, he laid down upon a bed, as he sometimes used to do, 
through weariness after a meeting, but soon rose again; and in a little 
time laid down again, complaining still of cold. And his strength sensi- 
bly decaying, he was fain soon after to go into the bed; where he lay in 
much contentment and peace, and very sensible to the last. And as, in 
the whole course of his life, his spirit, in the universal love of God, was 
set and bent for the exalting of truth and righteousness, and the making 
known the way thereof to the nations and people afar off; so now, in 
the time of his outward weakness, his mind was intent upon, and wholly 
taken up with that: and he sent for some particular friends, to whom he 


'. expressed his mind, and desire for the spreading friends’ books, and 


truth thereby in the world. Divers friends came to visit him in his ill- 
ness, unto some of whom he said, ‘ All is well: the Seed of God reigns 
‘over all, and over death itself. And though,’ said he, ‘] am weak in 
‘body; yet the power of God is over all, and the Seed reigns over all 
‘ disorderly spirits.’ Thus lying in an heavenly frame of mind, his spirit 
wholly exercised towards the Lord, he grew weaker and weaker in his 
natural strength; and on the third day of that week, between the hours 
of nine and ten in the evening, he quietly departed this life in peace, and 
sweetly fell asleep in the Lord, whose blessed truth he had livingly and 
powerfully preached in the meeting but two days before. Thus ended he 
his day in his faithful testimony, in perfect love and unity with his breth- 
ren, and in peace and good-will to all men, on the 13th of the 11th month 
1690, being then in the 67th year of his age. 

Upon the 16th of the same month (being the sixth of the week, and 
the day appointed for his funeral) a very great concourse of friends, and 
other people of divers sorts, assembled together at the meeting-house in 
White-hart Court near Gracechurch-street, about the middle time of the 
day, in order to attend his body to the grave. The meeting was held 
about two hours with great and heavenly solemnity, manifestly attended 
with the Lord’s blessed presence and glorious power; in which divers 
living testimonies were delivered, from a lively remembrance and sense 
of the blessed ministry of this dear and ancient servant of the Lord, his 
early entering into the Lord’s work at the breaking forth of this gospel 
day, his innocent life, long and great travels, and unwearied labours of 
love in the everlasting gospel, for the turning and gathering many thou- 
sands from darkness to the light of Christ Jesus, the foundation of true 
faith; the manifold sufferings, afflictions, and oppositions, which he 
met withal for his faithful testimony, both from his open adversaries 
and from false brethren; and his preservations, deliverances, and do- 
minion in, out of, and over them all, by the power of God: to whom the 
glory and honour always was by him, and is and always ought to be by 
all ascribed. 

After the meeting was ended, his body was borne by friends, and ac- 
companied by very great numbers, to friends’ burying-ground near Bun- 
hill fields: where, after a solemn waiting upon the Lord, and several 
living testimonies borne, recommending the company to the guidance 
and protection of that divine Spirit and power, by which this hoiy man 
of God had been raised up, furnished, supported and preserved to the end 
of his day. his body was decently committed to the earth; but his memo 
rial sha. 1emain, and be everlastingly blessed among the righteous 


° §46 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. £390 


An epistle of dear Grorcr Fox’s, writ with his own hand, and left séaled 
up with this superscription, viz. ‘ Not to be opened before the time ;’ 
which after his decease being opened, was thought meet to be print- 
ed, viz. 


‘For the yearly and Second-day’s meeting in London, and to all the 
‘children of God in all places in the world. By and from G, F. 


‘ This for all the children of God every-where, who are led by his 
‘ Spirit, and walk in his light, in which they have life, unity, and 
‘fellowship with the Father and the Son, and one with another. 


* Keep all your meetings in the name of the Lord Jesus, that be gath- 
‘ered in his name by his light, grace, truth, power, and Spirit; by which 

* you will feel his blessed and refreshing presence among you and in 
‘ you, to your comfort and God’s glory. 

‘ And now friends, all your meetings, both. men’s and women’s, month- 
‘ly, quarterly, and yearly, &c. were set up by the power, Spirit, and 
‘wisdom of God; and in them you know that you have felt his power, 
‘and Spirit, and wisdom, and blessed refreshing presence among you, 
‘and in you, to his praise and glory, and your comfort: so that you 
‘have been a “city set on a hill, that cannot be hid.” 

‘ And although many loose and unruly spirits have risen betimes to 
‘oppose you and them, in print and other ways, you have seen how they 
‘lave come to nought. The Lord hath blasted them, brought their deeds 

_*to light, and made them manifest to be trees without fruit, wells with- 
\fout water, wandering stars from the firmament of God’s power, and 
‘raging waves of the sea, casting up their mire and dirt; and many of 
‘them are like the dog turned to his. old vomit, and the sow that was 
* washed, turned again to the mire. This hath been the condition of 
' many, God knoweth, and his people! 

‘ Therefore all stand steadfast in Christ Jesus your head, in whom you 
‘*are all one, male and female, and know his government, of the increase 
‘of whose government and peace there shall be no end; but there will 

‘be an end of the devil’s, and of all that are out of Christ, who oppose it 
‘and him, whose judgment doth not linger, and their damnation doth not 
‘slumber. Therefore in God and Christ's light, life, Spirit, and power 
live and walk, that is over all (and the Seed of it) in love, in innocency, 
‘and simplicity. In righteousness and holiness dwell, and in his power 
‘and Holy Ghost, in which God’s kingdom doth stand. All children of 
‘new and heavenly Jerusalem, that is from above, and is free, with all 
‘her holy spiritual children, to her keep your eyes. 
‘ As for this spirit of rebellion and opposition that hata risen formerly 
‘and lately, it is out of the kingdom of God and heavenly Jerusalem; — 
‘and is for judgment and condemnation. with all its books, words, and — 
‘works. Therefore friends are to live and walk in the power and Spirit 
of God that is over it, and in the Seed that will bruise and break it to — 

‘pieces. In which Seed you have joy and peace with God, and power 
and authority to judge it; and your unity is in the power and Spirit of 
God, that doth judge it: all God’s witnesses in his tabernacle go out 
against it, and always have and will. 

‘ Let no man live to self, but to the Lord, as they will die in him; ana 

seek the peace of the church of Christ, and the peace of all men in him ~ 


ta ek a 


1676) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 647 


‘for “blessed are the peace-makers.” Dweli in the pure, peaceable, 
‘heavenly wisdom of God, that is gentle and easy to be intreated, that 
‘is full of mercy; all striving to be of one mind, heart, soul, and judg- 
‘ment in Christ, having his mind and Spirit dwelling in you, building up 
‘ one another in the love of God, which doth edify the body of Christ, his 
‘church, who is the holy head thereof. Glory to God through Christ, in 
‘this age and all other ages, who is the Rock and Foundation, the Em- 
‘manuel, God with us, Amen, over all, the beginning and the ending. In 
‘him live and walk, in whom you have life eternal, in him you. will 
feel ine, and I you. 
‘ All children of New Jerusalem, that descends from above, the hoiy 
sity, which the Lord and the Lamb is the light of, and is the temple; 
‘in it they are born again of the Spirit: so Jerusalem that is above, is 
‘the mother of them that are born of the Spirit. These that come and 
are come to heavenly Jerusalem, receive Christ; and he giveth them 
power to become the sons of God, and they are born again of the Spirit: 
so Jerusalem that is above, is their mother. Such come to heavenly 
Mount Sion, and the innumerable company of angels, to the Spirits of 
Just men made perfect; and to the church of the Living God written 
in heaven, and have the name of God written upon them. So here is 
a new mother, that bringeth forth a heavenly and spiritual generation. 
‘ There is no schism, no division, no contention, nor strife in heavenly 
Jerusalem, nor in the body of Christ, which is made up of living stones, 
‘a spiritual house. Christ is not divided, for in him there is peace. Christ 
* saith, “In me you have peace.” And he is from above, and not of this 
‘ world; but in the world below, in the spirit of it there is trouble; there- 
‘fore keep in Christ, and walk in him, Amen. G. FY 
‘ Jerusalem was the mother of all true Christians before the apos- 
‘tacy; and since the outward christians are broken into many 
“sects, they have got many mothers; but all those that are come 
‘out of the apostacy by the power and Spirit of Christ, Jerusa- 
‘Jem that is above is their mother (and none below her;) who 
‘doth nourish all her spiritual children. G. FY’ 
Read at the yearly meeting 
in London, 1691. 


Reader, Please to note, That these following papers and epistles (some 
of which being mentioned in the Journal, p. 517, &c. and there 
omitted) are found meet to be here inserted ; and are as followeth: 


A narrative of the spreading of truth, and of the opposition from the 
powers which then were, written by George Fox, in the year 1676. 


‘Tue truth sprang up first to us, so as to be a people to the Lord, in 
“Leicestershire in 1644, in Warwickshire in 1645, in Nottinghamshire 
in 1646, in Derbyshire in 1647, and in the adjacent counties in 1648, 

1649, and 1650; in Yorkshire in 1651, in Lancashire and Westmore- 
‘Jand in 1652, in Cumberland. Durham, and Northumberland in 1653, in 
London and most of the other parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 
*in 1654, 
‘In 1655 many went beyond sea, where truth also sprang up, and in 
1656 it broke forth in America and many other places. 


s 


648 GEORGE FOX'S JOURNAL. [1676 


‘in the authority of this divine truth friends stood all the ecruelties ana 
‘ sufferings that were inflicted upon them by the long parliament; to the 
‘ spoiling of goods, imprisonment, and death, and over all reproaches, 
‘lies, and slanders; as well as those in Oliver Cromwell’s time, and all 
‘the acts made by him and his parliament; his son Richard after him, 
‘and the committee of safety; and after withstood and outlasted all the 
‘acts and proclamations since 1660, that the king came in. 

‘ Friends never feared their acts, prisons, gaols, houses of correction, 
‘banishment, nor spoiling of goods, nay, nor the loss of life itself; nor 
‘ was there ever any persecution that came, but we saw in the event it 
‘ would be productive of good; nor were there ever any prisons that [ 
‘ was in, or sufferings, but it was for the bringing multitudes out of prison; 
‘though they who imprisoned the truth, and quenched the Spirit in them- 
‘selves, would imprison and quench it without them; so that there was 
‘a time when so many were in prison, that it became as a bye-word, 
“truth is scarce any-where to be found but in gaols.” 

‘ And after the king came in, divers friends suffered tnuch, hecause 
‘they would not drink his health, and say, “God bless the king ;” so that 
‘many friends were in danger of their lives from rude persons, who 
‘ were ready to run them through with their swords for refusing it, until 
‘the king gave forth a proclamation against drinking healths; for we 
‘ were and are against drinking any healths, and all excess, both before 
‘his coming in and after; and we desire the king’s good, and that the 
‘blessing of God might come upon him and all his subjects, and all peo- 
‘ple upon the face of the earth; but we did desire people not to drink 
‘the king’s health, but let him have his health, and all people else; and 
‘to drink for their own health and necessity only ; for that way of drink- 
‘ing healths, and to excess, was not for the king’s health, nor their own, 
‘uor any others; which excess often brought forth quarrelling and de- 
‘ stroying one another: for they destroyed the creation and one another ; 
‘and this was not for the king’s wealth, nor health, nor honour, but might 
‘ grieve him to have the creatures and his subjects destroyed; and so 
‘the Lord’s power gave us dominion over that also, and all our other 
‘sufferings. But, 

‘Oh! the number of sufferers in the commonwealth’s and Oliver 
‘Cromwell's days, and since; especially those who were haled before 
‘the courts for not paying tythes, refusing to swear on their juries, not 
‘ putting off their hats, and for going to meetings on the first-days; un- 
‘der pretence of breaking the sabbath; and to meetings on other days 
‘of the week; who were abused both in meetings and on the highways. 

‘Oh! how great were the sufferings we then sustained upon these ac- 
‘counts! for sometimes they would drive friends by droves into the 
‘prison-houses like penfolds, confine them on the first-days, and take 
‘their horses from them, and keep them for pretended breach of their 

sabbath, though they would ride in their coaches and upon their fat 
horses to the steeple-houses themselves, and yet punish others. And 
‘many friends were turned out of their copy-holds and customary tene- 
‘ments, because in obedience to the command of Christ and his apostle, 
they could not swear; and as they went to meetings, they have been 
stoned through the streets, and otherwise cruelly abused. Many were 
fined with great fines, and lay long in prison for not putting off their 
hats, which fines friends could never pay, though they kept them in 


Se 


16761 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 649 
+ prison till they had satisfied their own wills, and at last turned them 


‘out, after keeping them a year or more in prison. 


* Many books I gave forth against tythes, shewing how the priesthood 
was changed that took them; and that Christ sent forth his twelve, and 
afterwards seventy disciples, saying unto them, “Freely ye have re- 

“ ceived, freely give.” So all who do not obey the doctrine and com 
‘mand of Christ therein, we cannot receive them. 

‘I was also moved to give forth several books against swearing, and 
‘that our Yea and Nay might be taken instead of an oath, which if we 
‘ broke, let us suffer the same punishment as they who broke their oaths. 


.* And in Jamaica the governor and the assembly granted the thing; it is 


\‘also granted in some other places; and several] of the parliament-men 


‘trates, after some time, when they saw our faithfulness in Yea and 
‘ Nay, they who were moderate, both before and since the king came in, 
‘ would put friends into offices without an oath; but the cruel and envi- 
‘ous would fine friends to get money of them, though they could not pay 
‘them any. 

‘ Thus the Lord’s power hath carried us through all, and over all, to 
‘his everlasting glory and praise; for God's power hath been our hedge, 
‘our wall and our keeper (the preserver of his plants and vineyard) who 
‘have not had the magistrates’ sword and staff to help us, nor ever 
‘ trusted in the arm of flesh. but have gone without these, or Judas’s bag, 
‘to preach the word of life, which was in the beginning before they 
‘were; which word reconciles to God. And thousands have received 
‘this word of reconciliation, and are born again of the immortal Seed, 
‘by the Word of God; and are feeding upon the milk of the word, which 
‘lives and abides for ever. 

‘ Many have suffered death for their testimony, in England and beyond 
‘the seas, both before and since the king came in; which may be seen 
‘in an account given to the king and both houses of parliament; being 
‘a brief, plain, and true relation of the late and sad sufferings of the 
‘people of God in scorn called Quakers, for worshipping and exercising 
‘a.good conscience towards God and man. 

* By reason whereof eighty-nine have suffered till death, thirty-two of 
‘which died before the king came into England, and fifty-seven since. 
‘by hard imprisonment and cruel usage. Forty-three have died in the 
‘city of London and Southwark since the Act made against meetings, 
‘ &c. about 1661, of which a more particular account was given, with 
‘the names of the sufferers, to the king and parliament, about 1663. 

‘ And though divers laws were designed against us, yet never could 
‘any of them justly touch us, being wrested and misapplied in their exe- 

cution by our adversaries, which some have been made to confess. Al! 
‘those laws that were made, and the oath which they imprisoned us for, 
‘ because, in obedience to the command of Christ Jesus, we could not 
‘ swear at all, were not originally intended against us; and yet we suf 
‘fered by the several powers, and their laws, both spoiling of goods and 
* imprisonment, even to death. And the governor of Dover castle, when 
- the king asked him if he had dispersed all the sectaries’ meetings! said, 
‘thai he had; but the Qakers, the devil himself could not; for if he did 
‘imprison them, and break up their meetings, they would meet again; 
and if he should beat them or knock them down, or kill some of them. 
all was one, they would meet, and not resist again. Thus the Lord's 
4G 


[ in England have acknowledged the reasonableness thereof. ‘The magis- 


50 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. [1677 


‘power did support and keep them over their persecutors, and made. 
‘them to justify our patience and lamb-like natue. This was about 
S675 

‘ Since the king came in, three acts have been made against us, be- 
‘sides the proclamations, by which many have suffered imprisonment 
‘and banishment, and many to death. And yet for all these acts and 
‘ proclamations, persecutions, sufferings, banishments, faithful friends a12 
‘as fresh as ever in the Lord’s power, and valiant for his name an] 

truth. 

‘Some weak ones there were, when the king came in, who did take 
‘the oath; but after they had so done, they were sore troubled for diso- 
‘ beying the command of Christ and the apostle, and went to the magis- 
3 trates, ; condemned themselves, and offered to go to prison. 

‘ Thus the Lord, in his everlasting power, hath been the support and 
‘stay of his people; and still his Seed reigns, his truth is over all, and 
‘exceedingly spreads unto this year 1676. 


‘ A warning to the magistrates and people of the city of Oldenburg: 


‘ Friends, 

‘Have you seen and felt the judgments of God upon your city, the 
‘Lord sending lightning from heaven, that destroyed and burnt it? As I 
‘ passed through your city on a first-day of the week, which you call 
‘ your sabba th, I saw some drinking, soldiers playing at shuffle-board, and 
‘others with their shops open, and trading, when they should have been 
‘waiting upon God, and worshipping him; and your people were light 
‘and vain, without any sense of God’s judgments, or repentance. "0 
‘therefore repent, lest the all-seeing God, who sees all your actions, and 
‘is over all, bring swift judgment upon you in his wrath, fury, and indig- 
‘nation. Repent, and lay aside all manner of evil, wickedness, ungodli- 
‘ness, and unrighteousness: for the day of the Lord will come upon all 
‘that do evil, all the workers of iniquity. This mighty day of the Lord 
‘ will find them all out, and will burn as an oven; burn up all the proud 
‘and wicked, and neither leave them root nor branch. Therefore all ye 


_ ‘magistrates, priests, and people, search in yourselves to find out the 
‘cause, and what evil you have committed, that has brought the wrath, 


‘ vengeance, and judgments of God upon you and your city, in burning 


‘of it. All return, and come to the light of Christ in your hearts, to 


‘ God’s Spirit, to the grace and truth in your hearts, that comes by Jesus 
‘Christ; that with it ye may search your hearts. Do not grieve, nor 
‘ vex, nor quench God’s good Spirit in your hearts; walk not despitefully 
‘against the Spirit of grace, nor turn from it into wantonness; and yet 
‘make a profession of God and Christ in words, when your hearts are 
‘ afar off, living in pleasures, and wantonly upon the earth, sporting your 
selves, killing the just, crucifying to yourselves Christ afresh, and put- 
‘ting him to open shame ; so dishonouring God, Christ, and christianity, 
yet making a profession and a trade of the scriptures; keeping people 
always learning, that they may be always paying. 

‘Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, and look unto the 
Lord, all ye ends of the earth, and be saved; for the Lord God of 
heaven and earth is come to teach his people himself by his light, Spirit, 
grace, and truth, and to bring them off all the world’s teachers. God 
hath raised up Christ Jesus his prophet, whom people shoula hear; and 
saith, “« This is my Leloved Son, hear ye him :” and Christ saith, ‘ Learn 


1677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 651 


“of me, I <m the way, the truth, and the life; and no man comes to the 
“ Father, but by me.” ‘There is no salvation by any other name under 
‘the whole heaven, but by the name of Jesus, who saith, “I am the good 
« Shepherd, and have laid down my life for my sheep, and my sheep 
“hear my voice and follow me, and will not follow the hireling:” for 
Christ feeds them in the pastures of life, that will never wither. God 
hath anointed Christ Jesus to preach, if you will hear him; and God 
‘hath given Christ for a counsellor and a leader, if you will be led and 
counselled by him; and God hath given Christ for a bishop to oversee 
“you, and a king to rule you, if you will be overseen and ruled by him. 
‘ You that will not have Christ to rule over you, who never sinned, nor 
‘was guile found in his mouth, you may read his sentence in the New 
‘Testament upon such. Is not Christ a sufficient teacher, whose blood 
was shed for you, and tasted death for every man? Doth not Christ say 
‘to his ministers, “ Freely ye have received, freely give!” And the apos- 
‘tle saith, “ We covet no man’s gold, silver, or apparel.” They labour- 
‘ed with their hands, and kept the gospel without charge. Have they 
‘that are called ministers amongst you done the same, and kept this 
‘eommand of Christ Jesus? Let them be examined, and examine them- 
selves. Have you not trimmed your outsides? but look within with the 
‘light and Spirit of Christ Jesus, and see if your insides be not black and 
foul. For Christ Jesus, who doth enlighten every man that cometh into 
the world with the life in himself, saith, “ Believe in the light, that ye 
‘may become children of the light.” With the light ye may: see all the 
evil and ungodly deeds that ye have committed, all your ungodly words 
you have spoken, and all your ungodly thoughts ye think; that ye may 
turn from them to Christ, from whence the light comes: who is your 
Saviour and Redeemer, who hath given you a light to see your sin, and 
that you are dead in Adam; that with the same light you may see 
Christ, the quickening Spirit, who makes you alive to God, and saves 
you from your sin. But if you hate the light, which is the life in Christ, 
the Prince of life; and love the darkness and the prince of darkness 
more than the light or the life in Christ, because it will reprove you; 
Christ tells you, “This light will be your condemnation,” John iu. 
Therefore be warned now in your day. While you have time, turn to 
the Lord. Do not quench the Spirit of the Father, by which he draws 
to his Son; nor hate the light of Christ; for if you do, you hate the 
life in Christ, and so remain under condemnation from God and Christ 
with the light, who now speaks to his people by his Son, as he did in 
the apostles’ days; the same God, that was the speaker by the prophets 
to the fathers, and speaker to Adam and Eve in paradise: and happy 
had Adam and Eve, and the Jews, and all Christians been, if they had 
kept to this speaker, and not have followed the serpent, that false speak- 
er, and his instruments. And now God is the true speaker by his Son, 
who bruises the head of the serpent, the false teacher, the head of all 
false ways, false prophets, false churches, and false religions and wor- 
ships. So God in Christ is bringing people to the pure undefiled reli- 
gion, that will keep them from the spots of the world, into the new and 
living way Christ Jesus; and to the Church in God, which Christ is the 
head of, as he was in the apostles’ days; and to worship God in the 
Spirit and truth, which worship Christ set up above sixteen hundred 
years since. Therefore must all people come to the grace and: Spirit 
‘of truth in their own hearts, to know the God of truth, who is a Spirit 


652 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 11677 


‘and in the Spirit and truth to worship, serve, honour, and glorify the 
‘living God, who is over all, and worthy of all, blessed for nanan 
«Amen! 
‘Ye magistrates and officers, read this in all your aceanalilieeh and 
‘cause all your priests to read it in their churches; that they and you, 
‘and all people may hear and fear the God of heaven, as you will answer 
it at the great and terrible day of judgment, and vengeance of the Lord 
‘God Almighty. This is in love to your souls, and fer your temporal 
‘and eternal good. G. FY 
‘ Amsterdam, the 19th of the 
‘7th month, 1677.’ 


‘ An epistle concerning true fasting, true prayer, true honour, and against 
‘ persecution, and for the true liberty in Christ Jesus; that all may have 
‘a care that the apostle hath not bestowed his labour in vain upon 

‘you in your observing of days, months, times, feasts, and years, and 
‘of coming under the beggarly elements, and the yoke of bondage 
‘ again, and of bringing and forcing people into them. 


‘Wauere did ever Christ or his apostles command any believers or 
‘Christians to observe holy-days or feast-days? Let us see where it is 
‘written in the New Testament, in the four evangelists, the epistles, or 


‘the Revelation, that ever Christ or his apostles commanded Christians 


‘to observe the time called Christmas, or a day for Christ’s birth? or to 


)* observe the time called Easter, or Whitsuntide, or Peter’s, Paul’s, Mark's, 


‘or Luke’s, or any other saint’s day? 

‘ You, that profess yourselves to be reformed churches from the Pa- 
‘ pists, Jews, and Heathens, and the scriptures to be your rule, and are 
‘ professors of the new covenant, where do you prove out of the New 
‘ Testament, that the apostles and the primitive church practised or forc- 
‘ed any such thing, or that Christ and his apostles gave any such com- 
‘mand to the churches, that they should practise and observe any such 
‘days? Let us see where this command is written. Did not the apostle 
‘say to the Galatians in the fourth chapter, “ But now, after that ye have 


, “known God, or rather ye are known of God, how turn ye again to the 


“ weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bond- 
“age! Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years; I am afraid 
“of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” And in the 
‘third of Galatians it is said, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched 
“ vou, that you should not obey the truth,” &c. And in Galatians the 
‘fifth, the apostle exhorts them to “stand fast in the liberty wherewith 
“ Christ hath made them free:” and moreover said, “ Be not entangled 
“ again with the yoke of bondage.” 

‘ Doth not this manifest there were some teachers that were drawing 
‘the church of the Galatians into these beggarly elements, and bringing 
‘ them again into bondage, in observing of days, months, times, and years 
“Tt was the apostle’s work to bring them out of those bondages and beg- 
‘ garly elements; therefore when they were going back again into observ- 
‘ing days, months, times, and years, he was afraid that he had “ bestow- 
“ ed his labour upon them in vain:” and he exhorts them to “stand fast 
“ in the liberty wherewith Christ Jesus hath made them free, and not te 
“be entangled again with the yoke of bondage:” and again signifies, 
“ iaat they had been once entangled with that yoke of bondage and beg 


677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 653 


“ garly ele:nents.” But O! how are people, called Christians, since the 
‘apostles’ days, gone again under this yoke of bondage, and these beg- 


*garly elements, in observing days, months, times, and years, let their 


‘practice declare. Nay, do not both Papists and Protestants force peo- 


* ple to observe days, months, and times? And therefore is not the apos- 
‘tle’s labour and travail bestowed upon Christendom in vain, which was 
‘to bring people from under such beggarly elements and that yoke of 
* bondage (which the law did require) to “ stand fast in the liberty where- 


- with Christ hath made them free, and not to be entangled again with 


“the yoke of bondage?” It was and is Christ that hath made and doth 
-make his people free from these beggarly elements; therefore the re- 
*deemed are to “stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made 
‘them free.” This liberty all true Christians are to stand fast in; they 
‘are made free by Christ, and not by man; for man, without the Spirit 
‘and mind of Christ, seeks to force and compel Christ’s followers, such 
“as he hath made free from the yoke of bondage, to outward things that 
‘the law commanded, to the observing of days, months, times, feasts, and 
‘years. From such weak, beggarly elements, those that know God, or 
‘are known of God and Christ, are to stand fast in their liberty, and not 
“come under nor be entangled with the yoke of bondage again, seeing 
‘he hath made them free. For they that are in such, things, and would 
‘force others to them, are gone from that which gives the knowledge 
©of God, and have not stood fast in the liberty wherewith Christ makes 
‘ free. 

‘Concerning prayer, we do not read that ever Christ or his apostles 
‘ did seek by force to compel any to fast or pray with them. But Christ 


_ ‘taught them how they should pray, and be distinct from the hypocrites. 


‘ His words are as followeth: “ When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as 
“the hypocrites are; for they love to stand praying in the synagogues, 
* and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men, &c. 
« But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut 
“thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father, that 
* seeth in secret, will reward thee openly. But when you pray, use not 
“vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be 
“heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like them; for 
* your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him,” 
‘&c. As the apostles and saints did, so do we; we pray in secret, and 
‘ we pray in publick, as the spirit gives us utterance, which helps our in- 
‘ firmities, as it did the apostles and true Christians: after this manner 
‘we pray for ourselves, and for all men both high and low. 

‘ Concerning fasting, Christ saith, “ Moreover when ye fast, be not as 
“the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces, 
“that they may appear unto men to fast. But when thou fastest, anoint 
“thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, 
“but unto thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth 
“in secret, shall reward thee openly.” 

* You may see in Isainh Iviii. what the true fast the Lord requires is, 
‘ where it is said to the prophet, “ Cry aloud, and spare not, lift up thy 
“ voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the 


_ “house of Jacob their sins; yet they seek me daily, and delight to know 


“my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordi 
“nance of their God; they ask of me the ordinances of justice, they take 
* delight in approaching to God Wherefore have we fasted, say they 


654 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. (1677 


“ani thou seest not? W aerefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou 
“takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, 
“and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and 
‘to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye shall not fast as ye do this day, 
‘to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have 
‘chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his 
‘head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt 
“thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this 
the fast that I have chosen, saith the Lord; to loose the bands of wick- 
“ edness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, 
“and that ye break every yoke!” So this fast that the Lord requires, 
‘is not to lay yokes, to oppress, and lay heavy burdens, and to make fast 
‘the bands of wickedness; but to loose and break such things. 

‘Further, Concerning the true fast the Lord requires, “ Is it not to 
“deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor, that are 
“cast out, to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover 
“him, and that thou hide not thyself from thy own flesh! Do you keep 
“this true fast? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and 
“ thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go 
“ before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt 
* thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt ery, and he shall say, 
“Here lam: If thou take away from the midst of thee the yokes, the 
“ putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out 
“thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy 
“ light arise out of obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon-day. And 
“the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, 
“and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and 
“like a spring of water, whose waters fail not,” &c. 

‘ Here is the practice of the true fast the Lord requires of his people; 
‘and to them that observe this fast, the Lord saith, “ When they call, he 
* will answer.” You may see what glorious and happy comforts they 
‘receive from the Lord, that keep this true fast; but such as fast for 
‘strife and debate, and to smite with the fists of wickedness, to make 
“their voices to be heard on high, to afflict their souls for a day, to bow 
- down their head as a bulrush, and loose not the bands of wickedness, 
“nor undo every heavy burden, break off every yoke, and let the op- 
* pressed go free, that does not deal his bread to the hungry, clothe the 
“naked, and bring the poor to his house, but hides himself from his own 
‘‘ tlesh ;” such fasts and fasters the Lord doth not accept, neither hath he 
‘chosen them. These appear to men with their disfigured faces, hang- 
‘ing down their heads as a bulrush for a day, like the hypocrites, to 
* fast, as Christ speaks in Matth. vi. 

‘Is it not the command of Christ, that in their fast they should not ap- 
* pear unto men to fast? And now you, that would force us to shut up 


‘our shops on fasting-days, or for a day, does not this fast appear to - 


‘men? and is not this the fast, that the Lord saith in Isaiah, “ he doth 
“ not accept !” for he saith, “Is this the fast that I have chosen, a day for 
-“ a man to afflict his soul, and bow down his head as a bulrush,” &c. Wilt 
'*thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?” Isa. lviii. 
\ ‘ Therefore all God’s people are to keep the true fast of the Lord from 
* debate and strife, and the fists of wickedness; that “ fast that breaks the 
“ bands of wickedness, undoes every heavy burden, breaks every yoke, 
“ lets the oppiessed go free, deals bread to the hungry, clothes the naked 


FS 


1677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 655 


* and brings the poor that are cast out to his own house.” Every one 
‘that keeps this true fast, their health shall grow, and when they call, 
‘the Lord will hear them; “ he will be their guide continually, satisty 
“their souls in drought, make their bones fat, and they shall be like a 
“watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” 
‘Now you, that keep not this true fast, when you call upon the Lord on 
*‘ your own fasting-days, does the Lord answer you, and say, “ Here |] 
“am?” Doth the Lord guide you continually! Are your bones made fat 
‘by him, and your souls satisfied indrought! Are you like a watered gar- 
«den, and like a spring whose waters fail not? You that keep not this true 
‘fast, do you not want these waters which fail not? so your souls are not 
‘ satisfied in drought, but your bones are lean, and you hear not the voice 
‘of the Lord, who saith, “ Here I am” so you lose the heritage of Jacob, 
‘and ride not upon the high places there; but come under. Therefore 
‘every man and woman, shut your hearts against all manner of evil 
‘ whatsoever, and trade not with Babylon’s merchants of confusion; but 
‘keep the supernatural day of Christ, that is sprung from on high, that 
‘is kept by believing and walking in the light of Christ, and being grafted 
‘into him. This will bring you to the true fast, from feeding upon any 
‘evil, and to the true praying in the Spirit, as Christ and the apostles 
‘have taught. The fruit of the Spirit is love, &c. The birth of the 
‘Spirit is not a persecuting birth: but he that is born of the flesh will 
* persecute him that is born of the Spirit, because he will not follow the 
‘ birth of the flesh, with its weak, beggarly elements, that entangles with 
‘its yoke of bondage, and its observing of days, months, times, fasts, 
‘feasts, and years: which the birth of the Spirit is to stand fast against 
‘in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made it free. 
_ ‘Do you not know that the Turks keep their sabbath on the sixth-day, 
‘ the Jews upon the seventh-day, and the Christians meet together on the 
* first-day of the week? And that day, which the Turks keep, the Jews’ 
‘ and Christians’ shops are open; and that day the Jews keep, Christians’ 
“and Turks’ shops are open; and the first-days, that the Christians keep, 
“both Jews’ and Turks’ shops are open? The Turk does nct force the 
‘Jews nor the Christians to shut up their snops on their meeting-cays, 
|‘ but lets them have their liberty in Turkey. And where do you read 
E that ever the Turks forced any Christians to observe any ot their holy 
\s days, fasts, or feasts? If not, should not Christians be beyond tne Turks 
‘in giving liberty to all tender consciences to serve Ged, seeing Christ 
‘and the apostles command not nor force people to observe holy days, 
‘ or times, or months, or years, Lut should pray always in the Spiri', ard 
‘fast always from strife and debate, from all manner of sin and evil; 
‘and that will keep down the fist of wickedness, and the bond of iu- 
‘quity? Why should not people of a tender conscience have theiy lio- 
\ ‘erty to exercise their consciences towards God, that they mzy have a 
~.“ good conscience always, towards God and man,” to perform tat 
* which God requires, and “ to do unto all men as they would pave them 
“to do unto them, and to love their neighbours as themselves ;” szemg 
“so many debauched, evil and seared consciences, as with an hot iron, 
‘have liberty in their loose lives and conversations, and in their loose 
‘ words, whose tongues are at liberty to swear and curse, and their spir- 
‘its at liberty in drunkenness and uncleanness? Let the magistrates look 
‘and see how this evil seared conscience hath its liberty to be exercised 
in all manner of evil things all Christendom over; which is a great 


656 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 67 


shame and dishonour to God, Christ, and Christianity, yea, and human- 
‘ity. Therefore why should not God’s people have liberty to exercise 
‘their good and tender consciences towards God and man! The mys- 
‘tery of faith, which Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of, is held in 
‘a pure conscience; and should not the work of the true Christian magis- 
‘trate be to encourage the exercise of this pure conscience towards God 
‘and man, and to discourage the exercise of this evil seared conscience 
‘that dishonours both God and Christ, and true Christianity? If not, 
‘how are they a praise to them that do well, and a terror to evil doers! 
‘Concerning the not putting off our hats to men. Many under the 
‘name of Christians, have taken offence at us because we could not put 
‘ off our hats, and bow down to them; which we find no command from 
* Christ or his apostles for, but rather to the contrary. For Christ saith, 
“T receive not honour of men” (mark, he did not receive honour of men) : 
‘and further, “ How can ye believe, which receive honour one of 
“another, and seek not the honour that comes from God only?” Now 


\* Christ declares it to be a mark of unbelievers, that seek “honour one 


‘of another,” and seek not that “honour that comes from God only ;” 
‘and is not the putting off the hat, and bowing with it, an honour to men, 
* which they seek one of another, and are offended if they have it not? 
* Do not the very Turks mock at the Christians n their proverb, saying, 
“ The Christians spend much of their time in putting off their hats, and 
“ shewing their bare head to one another?” Should not those be beyond 
‘Turks, that bear the noble name of Christian, above seeking honour one 
‘of another, and persecuting them that will not give it, when all true Le- 
‘lieving Christians should seek the honour that comes from God only? 
‘which is the duty of all true believers in Christ Jesus, for he would not 
‘receive honour of men. And “he that believeth on the Son of God, 
“hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see 
“life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him,” John iii. 36. Is nut the 
> Turks’ preverb a reproach to the Christians, who say, “ That the Chris- 
“tians spend much of their time in putting off their hats, and shewing 
“their bare head one to another?” Have you not fined and imprisoned 
many, because they would not put off their hats to you, and shew you 
‘their bare heads? In many of your courts they shall not have right 
‘and justice, ner liberty and freedom in citics or states, though they 
‘have truly served their time, and are honest and civil men, unless they 
‘will put off their hats, and shew you their bare head? Have you not 
‘made a law against such, that they must forfeit two guilders if they do 
‘it nct? Do not you seek to compel and force them to do it, and fine 
such as do not, as at Lansmeer in Waterland? Is not this the honour 
‘that you seek one of another? Did not the Pharisees and Jews do the 
“same? 
. ‘As for your saying, “ The apostle commands to honour all men; and 
‘ich as rule well are worthy of double honour :” if this “ honouring ali 
“yrsen” were to put off their hats to all men, and shew all men their bare 
‘heads, then this command you break yourselves, for you do not this to 
all men generally; and if they that rule well, must have double hat- 
honour, then they must put off their hats twice, and shew them their 
bare heads. If this hat-honour, and shewing the bare head, be an in- 
‘vention of men, and not from God, and ye cannot prove it by serip- 
‘ture, yet say, “It is your rule ;” then you act beside the rule, and com 
pel people to act contrary to your rule. For where did ever the proph 


1677} : GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 657 


ets, Christ, or the apostles command any such thing? Let us see a 

command, a practice, and an example for it. Nebuchadnezzar, who 

was a persecutor, and cast the three children of Israel into the fire with 

their hose, cloaks, and hats, we do not read that he was offended at 
‘them because they did not put off their hats, and shew him their bare 
‘heads; but because they would not bow to his image. And is it not 
‘said in the margin of the bible, where it is said, “ Honour all men,” 
“ Have all men in esteem?” Then they that rule well, are worthy of 
‘double esteem; and this esteem must be truly in the heart, without any 
‘envy, malice, or hatred. As all men are the workmanship of God, they 
‘are to be esteemed in the heart with the Spirit of God; and they that 
‘rule well, are worthy of double esteem; here is true honour from the 
‘heart, both to God and man, his workmanship. For people may put 
‘off their hats and shew their bare heads one to another once, or twice 
‘to the officers and magistrates, and yet be full of envy, malice, hatred, 
‘and murder in their hearts one against another; and give them that 
‘honour, as you call it, and yet speak or wish evil towards them, when 
‘they have turned their backs off them. The true honour or esteem in 
‘the heart to all men, as they are God’s creation, is without any evil 
‘ wish or thought in the heart. to any, and they that rule well have the 
‘double esteem, whom God hath placed over people. There is no evil 
‘in the heart that gives this respect, esteem, or honour, and brings them 
‘to love their neighbours as themselves, and to “ do unto all men as they 
“would have them do unto them,” in that they esteem all men, and have 
‘a double esteem for them that rule well. This is beyond all the honour 
‘ of putting off the hats once to all men, and twice to them that are wor- 
‘thy of the double-honour, as you may call it. But we would ask Chris- 
‘tians, that practise this hat-honour, and shewing one another their bare 
‘heads, Who invented this honour, seeing they cannot prove that ever 
‘Christ or the apostles did command or practise any such thing, or 
‘ Moses in the time of the law? Do not say or think that we had this 
‘practice of not putting off our hats from the Turk; for we were moved 
‘by the Spirit of the Lord, before ever we heard of the Turks’ proverb 
‘and practice, to leave the honour that is below, and seek the honour 
‘that comes from above, when we came to be true believers in Christ 
‘ Jesus. 

‘Concerning persecuting, imprisoning, and banishing God’s people, in 
‘whom Christ is manifest, and dwells in their hearts, doth not Christ tell 
‘you, that in so doing you imprison him? Then do you not banish him, 
‘and persecute him out of your cities and corporations? And how cat. 
‘ you enter into and have a share in his kingdom, though you may pro- 
‘fess him in words? Are not such to go into everlasting punishment 
‘that do not visit Christ in prison? Then what will become of you that 
‘banish and imprison him, where he is manifest in his members, nor suf- 
‘fer them to meet together to enjoy him amongst them, according to his 
‘promise? Therefore you, that will not let Christ reign in his people, 
‘and have his liberty in them in your cities and countries, to exercise 
* his offices, you will not have your liberty in heaven. You that will not 
‘Jet Christ reign in your hearts, nor suffer him to reign in his people here 
‘ upon the earth, in this world, in your kingdoms, you will not reign with 
‘Christ in heaven, in his kingdom, nor in the world without end. 

‘ You, that banish the truth out of your cities or countries, or his peo 

ple for its sake, you banish the porta Christ out of your hearts from 
+ 


658 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. ; “(1677 : 


‘ruling there; so you yourselves are not the temples of God. When 
‘you have banished Christ and his truth out of your own hearts, you 
‘banish such, in whom he rules, out of your estates and country; then 
‘see what judgments the Lord doth bring upon you, when you are left 
‘to yourselves; yea, fears and troubles, one judgment after another, 
‘comes upon you, till you are even filled with them. But the banished, 
‘the sufferers for truth and Christ’s sake, have a peaceable habitation in 

the truth, which the devil is out of, and cannot get into; which habita- 
‘tion will. outlast all the habitations of the wicked and persecutors, 
‘though they be never so full of words without life and truth. The life 
‘and the truth will outlast all airy notions; and Christ the Lamb and his 
‘patient Seed, will overcome the devourer with his impatient seed: and 
‘they that have the garment, the righteousness of Christ, which is the 
‘fine linen, will find it to outlast all the rags and inventions of men. 
‘Christ saith to his learners, “ Be of good cheer, I have overcome the 
“ world, the persecuting world.” He also said to his disciples, “ Marvel 
“not if that the world hate you, for it hated me before you.” Therefore 
‘let all that profess themselves Christians, lay aside persecution about 
‘religion, churches or worship, fasting or praying days; for you have 
‘no command from Christ and his apostles to persecute any. Christ, 
‘who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, when they called him a 
‘deceiver, blasphemed him, and said, “ He had a devil,” did not perse- 
‘cute any of them for it, nor force or compel any to hear and believe 
‘him, nor the apostles after him; but he bad them, that would have been 
‘ plucking up the tares, “ let the tares and the wheat grow together until 
“the harvest.” So you have no command from Christ or his apostles 
‘to persecute, imprison, banish, or spoil the goods of any for matter of 
‘ pure conscience and religion, worship, faith, and church in the gospel- 
‘ times. G. F’ 

‘ Harlingen in Friesland, the 11th 
‘of the 6th month, 1677.’ 


‘A warning to the magistrates, priests, and people of the city of Ham- 
‘burgh, to humble themselves before the Lord, and not to be high- 
* minded. 


‘ Friends, 

‘ You have painted and garnished the inside of your outward houses 
‘and high places; but look within your hearts with the light of Christ, 
‘which he hath enlightened you and every man that cometh into the 
‘world withal, and with it you may see how foul your hearts and in- 
‘sides are with sin and evil, which Christ tells you ye should make 
‘clean; who told the Pharisees how they “ painted the sepulchres of the 
“‘ righteous,” and they themselves were full of rottenness and corruption. 
‘ Therefore look into yourselves and your own hearts, what you are ful! 
‘of. ‘To paint the sepulchres of the righteous apostles, and make a trade 

and a profession of their words, without the same Holy Ghost, power, 

light, and truth which they were in, will not stand the day of God’s 
‘vengeance. Therefore repent while you have time, turn to the Lord 
‘with your whole hearts, and do not think yourselves secure without a 
‘sense of his immediate almighty protection. For it is not all your 
‘ works, nor all your own strength, power, and defence that can protect 
‘you. It is not for you to look at them, and think yourselves secure 
‘and to sit down in your security, and let your hearts be merry, and at 


. 


1677] GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL 659 


‘rest and ease. When the Lord brings a scourge upon you, that you 

are filled with terrors and fears, remember you were warned, that you 
_ “were set down. but not in the true rest. Then all your own strength 
‘and force will stand you in no stead; you will acknowledge that it 
‘must be God that must protect you. Therefore take warning; for 
‘your priests and people are too high, are swallowed up too much in 
‘this world. The vanities of it carry your minds away from God; your 
‘care is more for the world than for God, and more after the riches of 
‘this world than after the riches of the world that has no end. Know 
‘ you not that all your heaps of outward treasure must have an end, and 
‘that you must leave them all behind you! Therefore I am to warn and 
‘ advise you, both high and low, priests and people, to come to the grace, 
‘light, and truth that comes by Jesus Christ; to the manifestation of the 
‘ good Spirit of God, which is given you to profit withal; that with this 
‘grace, truth, light, and Spirit of Christ, you may turn to him from 
‘whence it comes, who saith, “ Learn of me;” and God saith. “ This is 
“my beloved Son, hear ye him.” So all the children of the new cove- 
‘nant, that walk in the new and living way, do hear Christ their proph- 
‘et, that God has raised up, and anointed to be their teacher and priest. 
‘So now, God doth speak to his people by his Son, as he did in the apos- 
‘tles’ days. The Lord is come to teach his people himself by his grace, 
‘light, truth, and Spirit, and to bring them off from all the world’s teach- 
‘ers, made by men since the apostles’ days; who have kept people al- 
‘ ways learning, that they may always be paying of them. And he is 
‘come to bring them off all the world’s religions, to the religion that he 
‘set up in the apostles’ days in the new covenant, which is pure and un- 
‘defiled before God in his sight, and keeps from the spots of the world, 
‘&c. And the Lord is come to bring them off all the world’s churches, 
‘to the church in God, which Christ the heavenly man is head of; and to 
‘ bring them off all the world’s worships, to worship God in Spirit and in 
‘truth, which Christ set up above sixteen hundred years since. So all 
‘men and women must come to the Spirit and truth in their hearts, by 

which they must know the God of truth, who is a Spirit: and then in 
‘the Spirit and truth they will worship him, and know what and who 
‘they worship. Also the Lord is come to bring his people off all the 

world’s temples, that with the Spirit they may know their bodies to be 
‘the temples of the Holy Ghost. And the Lord is come to bring his peo- 
«ple off all the world’s crosses, pictures, images, and likenesses; to know 
‘that the power of God is the cross of Christ, which crucifies them to 
‘ the world, and brings them up into the likeness and image of God man 
‘and woman were in before they fell; and so to Christ that never fell. 
‘This work must all know in their hearts by the light of Christ Jesus, 

who “is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the 

world.” It is called the light in man and woman, and the life in Christ 
‘the Word; who saith, “ Believe in the light, that ye may become chil- 
“ dren of the light.” And the light lets you see all your evil actions that 
* you have committed, your ungodly ways you have walked in, and your 
‘ungodly words and thoughts. If you hate this light, and love the dark- 
‘ness, and the prince of it, more than this light, which is the life in 
‘Christ, the Prince of life, and will not come to it, because your deeds 
‘be evil. and it will reprove you, Christ tells you, “This light is your 
“ condemnation.” Then what is all your profession good for, when you 
‘remain under the condemnation of the true light, in which you should 


660 GEORGE FOX’S . JURNAL. 167% 


‘believe, and so become children of light, and out of condemnation ? 
‘ Therefore every one must believe in the light, if they receive Christ 
‘Jesus; and to as many as receive him, he gives “ power to besome the 
“sons of God.” He that hath the Son of God, kath life; they that have 
‘not the Son of God, have not life; and if you have not life, what good 
‘doth all your profession of the scriptures from Genesis to Revelations 
‘do you, any more than the Jews, Scribes, and Pharisees, that would 
‘not receive Christ the life, upon whom God brought his overflowing 

scourge. Therefore do you take heed, for your strength wiil be no bet- 

ter than theirs, if you have not God and Christ’s supporting power, 
‘when God’s scourge comes upon you, and you are filled with horrors 
‘and fears. My desires are, that you may all repent, from the highest 
‘to the lowest, and not grieve, nor quench, nor vex, nor rebel against 
‘God’s good Spirit in you, nor “ walk despitefully against the Spirit of 
“ grace,” nor turn from it unto wantonness, which would teach you, and 
‘bring your salvation. If you do, how can you escape the overflowing 
‘scourge of the Almighty, and the wrath of the Lamb? My desires are, 
‘that you may all obey God’s good Spirit of truth, which will lead you 
‘out of all evil into all truth, and reprove you for your own righteous- 
“ness, and for your own judgment and sin, and bring you to cleave to 
‘that which is good, to forsake that which is evil, and to turn to the 
‘ Lord, who will receive you in his mercy and kindness; by which means 
‘you may escape the overflowing scourge in the day of vengeance, 
‘which dreadful day is coming upon all evil-doers. This is a warning 
‘to you, both for your temporal and eternal good; for you to read in 
‘your assemblies, and your priests im their churches; so that all people 
‘may hear and fear, as you will answer it at the terrible and dreadful 
‘day of judgment. G. F? 

‘ Amsterdam, the 19th of the 
‘7th month, 1677.’ 


‘For the ambassadors that are met to treat for peace at the city of 
‘ Nimeguen in the States’ dominions. 


‘Curist Jesus saith, “ Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be 
“called the children of God,’ Matth. v. 9. so all Christian men are to 
‘forsake evil and do good, to seek peace and follow it, if they will “ love 
“life, and see good days,” 1 Pet. i. 11. God hath called all true Chris- 
‘tians unto peace, 1 Cor. vil. therefore all Christians ought to follow this 
‘peace, which God calls them to. They should let the peace of God 
‘rule in all their hearts; which is above the peace of this world that is so 
‘soon broken. For the apostle commands the Christians to let the peace 

of God rule in their hearts; to which all Christians should be subject. 
The practice of this should be among all that profess Christianity; and 
‘this peace is above that which Christ takes from the earth, Rev. vi. 
which is the peace of the wicked. The apostle saith to Christians, “ Be 
‘at peace among yourselves,” 1 Thess. v. All Christians should obey 
‘this command, and be at peace among themselves; not in wars and 
strife. Further, the apostle exhorts Christians to “keep the unity of 
‘the Spirit in the bond of peace.” So this unity, this bond of peace 
should be kept (and not broken) by all that bear that noble name, Chris- 
tian. They should keep the unity of the Spirit of Christ in the bond of 
the Prince of princes, King of kings, and Lord of lords’ peace, which is 
‘the duty of all true Christians. Herein they may honour Christ, in 


: 
| 


677) GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 661 


* bringing torth the fruits of peace, which are love and charity. For the 
‘apostle tells you, “ The fruits of the good Spirit are love, joy, and 
“ peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,” &c. Gal. v. 

‘ The apostle exhorts Christians, ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in 
“ you, live peaceably with all men.” This should be the endeavour of 
‘all Christians. For it is no honour to Christ, that Christians should war 
‘and destroy one another, that profess the name of Christ, who saith, 
“ He came to save men’s lives, not to destroy them.” Christians have 
‘enemies enough abroad without them, and therefore they should love 
‘one another, as Christ commands, who saith, “ By this ye shall be 
«known to be my disciples, if ye love one another.” Christians are com- 
‘ manded to love enemies, much more one another. And Christ saith, 
“ As the Father hath loved me, so I have loved you: continue ye in my 
“love,” John xv. 8. “ By this shall all men know that ye are my disci- 
“ ples, if ye love one another,” John xiii. 35. But if Christians war and 
‘destroy one another, this will make Jews, Turks, Tartars, and Hea- 
‘thens say, you are not disciples of Christ. Therefore, as you love God, 
‘and Christ, and Christianity, and its peace, all make peace, as far as 
“you have power, among Christians, that you may have the blessing. 
‘ You read, Christians were called the household of faith, the household 
* of God, a holy nation, a peculiar people: and they are commanded to 

be “ zealous for good works,” not for bad. Christians are also com- 
‘manded not to bite and devour one another, lest they be consumed one 
‘ of another. 

‘Is it not a sad thing for Christians to be biting and consuming one 
‘another in the sight of the Turks, Tartars, Jews, and heathens, when 
‘they should “Jove one another, and do unto all men as they would 
«have men do unto them?” Such devouring work as this will open the 
‘ mouths of Jews, Turks, Tartars, and heathens to blaspheme the name 
‘ of Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and cause them to speak 
‘ evil of Christianity, for thera to see how the unity of the Spirit is broken 
‘among such as profess Christ and Christ’s peace. All Christians are to 
‘ mind God and Christ’s teaching, who teach Christians to love one another, 
‘yea, enemies; and persuade kings and princes to give liberty to all 
‘tender consciences in matters of religion and worship, they living peace- 
‘ably under every government: so that for the time to come there may 
‘be no more imprisonment and persecution among Christians for tender 
‘consciences about matters of faith, worship, and religion, that the Jews, 
‘ Turks, Tartars, and heathens may not see how Christians are persecut- 
“ing one another for religion. Seeing from Christ and the apostles Chris 
 tians have no such command, but, on the contrary, to love one another ; 
en knowing that Christ said to such as would have been plucking up 

tares, “ Let the tares and the wheat grow together till the harvest 
“(which is the end of the world) lest they plucked up the wheat;” and 
‘at the end of the world Christ would send forth his angels, and they 
“should sever the wheat from the tares. So Christ tells you, it is the 
angels’ work at the end of the world, and not men’s work before the 
harvest at the end of the world. Hath not all this persecution, banish- 
ing, imprisoning, and putting to death, concerning religion, been the 
pretence of plucking up tares? and hath not all this been before the 
‘ harvest, before the end of the world? Have not all these been actors 
‘ against the express command of Christ, the king of heaven! All kings 
and rulers, especially those that call themselves Christians, should obey 


062 GEORGE FOX’S JOURNAL. 1677 


‘their Lord and Saviour’s command; “Let the tares and the wheat 
‘ grow together till the harvest ;” and the harvest is the end of the world. 
‘ Also Christ told some of his disciples, that would have had “ fire to 
““come down from heaven, to destroy such as would not receive him 
“(in their zeal) That they did not know what Spirit they were of” and 
‘rebuked them, saying, “ He came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save 
“them.” Have all such as have destroyed men’s lives concerning re- 
ligion, and the worship of God, known what spirit they have been of ? 
‘ Have they not done that they should not do? That which Christ for- 
‘bad, who saith, “ Lest ye should pluck up the wheat with the tares,” 
‘and saith, “ It is the angels’ work at the end of the world?” Hath not 
‘God shewed unto man what is good, and his duty, to “love mercy, to 
“ do justly, and to walk humbly with his God?” which man is to mind. 
‘And the apostle exhorts Christians to “follow peace with all men, 
* and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,” Heb. xii. 14. 
‘ Why should Christians war and strive one with another, seeing they all 
‘own in words one King, and Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus, whose 
‘command is, that they should “love one another ;” which is a mark that 
«they shall be known by, to be Christ’s disciples, as I said before. And 
Christ, who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, saith, “ As I have 
* loved you, so love one another,” John xv. 12. and John xiii. And the 
‘apostle saith, “ Christians ought to be patient towards all men,” 1 
‘ Thess. v. 14. 
‘From him who is a lover of truth, righteousness, and peace, and de- 
sires your temporal and eternal good; and that in the wisdom of God, 
‘that is pure, gentle, and peaceable from above, you may be ordered, and 
order all things God hath committed to you to his glory, and stop those 
things among Christians, so far as you have power, which dishonow 
God, Christ, and Christianity ! aun 
« 


‘ Amsterdam, the 21st of the 
‘7th month, 1677.’ 


INDEX. 


Asuses done to George Fox, 112, 125, 127. ay professors, &c. 139, 152, 164, 196, 259. 
Friends abused, 152, 309, 325, 359, 406. 

Acton in the fields, near London, where friends had been much abused, G. F. had a 
meeting, 309. 

Adam the first and second compared, 603. 

Affections, lusts and desires mortified, 274. 

Aged friend of 100 years old, 102; one aged 122, 369. 

Allegiance to the king, 375, 377, and supremacy, 478. 

America, G. Fox’s travels there, ‘from Maryland to New-England, &c. through the woods 
and wildernesses, over bogs and great rivers (not without imminent danger 
of some of their lives) and lying at night in the woods, by a fire in a very 
cold season, the wolves howling about them, 447 to 464. Truth’s prosperity 
there, 522. G. F's epistle to those places, 635. 

Anointing within teacheth the believers, 58, 505. 


— Antichrists. See false prophets. 


Apostacy entered since the days of the apostles, 245. 


1—Apostates, backsliders, and false brethren, are got into the temple of God, 582, 599, 631 
632. 


Apostles were tradesmen, 627. 
Apparel for pride judged, 580. 


Apparition, foreshowing the death of O. C. seen by G. F. 308. 


Appeals of London friends tried, 592. 

Apprentices put forth by monthly meetings, 424. 

Arminians, strangers to the spirit of the apostles, 351. 

Assizes, G. F's trials at Carlisle, 145; Lancaster, 127, 372, 385, 390; Lanceston, 203 
Nottingham, 353; Worcester, 475. See eee 

Astrologers. See star-gazers. 

B 

Backsliders warned, 583. See apostates. 

Banishment of G. F. in Scotland, 285. Banishment and imprisoning for religion is ne 
part of Christ’s doctrine, 523. Friends banished in England, 399 ; at Dant- 


zick, 629. 
Baptism, 197, 246, 253. 
Baptist meetings, 65, 145,170. Baptists discoursed by G. F. 78, 144,178. A teacher 
convinced, 152, 179, 193. Baptists in Warwick, 195. In Nottinghamshire, 
68. Baptists and Fifth-monarchy-men, prophesied of Christ to come that 
year to reign, 231. A Baptist woman restored, 196. Baptists .deny G. F. 
their meeting-house, 197. Particular Baptists, 198. 


~ Battledore, the author’s account thereof, 349, 370. 


Believers are born of God, 58. 

Bible given to G. F. to swear upon, which forbids swearing, 388, and teaches the plain 
language, 396. 

‘Bonds fer appearance refused, 362. Bonds for ane behaviour, 475. 

Book, see Bible. Books writ and answered by G. F. 391, 402, 484, 485. 

Bowling and foolish exercises denied, 237. 

Bread and wine. See Papists. 

Brown’s prophecy of G. F. 65. 

Brownists, 351, 504. 

Butchers and rude people bind themselves with an oath to kil] G. F. 161. 


Cc 
Calvinists, 351. 
Cambridge, scholars’ rudeness, 183. 
Captam much given to laughter convinced, 198. In Scotland his impious saying 323. 
Carlisle m an uproar, 145. G. F. in Carlisle prison, 147, 151. 


664 UNDEX 


C©artmeil Wapentake Court, 544. 

vertificates to be brought by friends proceeding to marriage, 409. 

Cheat discovered by G. F. 410. 

Christ, the teacher of his people, 143. The Rest, 577. Sun of righ.eousness, 597. A 
quickening Spirit, 600. Who can speak to men’s conditions, 60, 62, 65 
and is known by revelation, 61, &c. 

Church, the true and the false, 294. The church of Christ clothed with the sun, 597; 

of Rome degenerated, 300, 350; persecuting, 302. 
of England’s faith, 308. 
Ulimate’s sudden change and variety in America, 460. 
Y Cloisters, monasteries, &c. there is no scripture for them, 300. 

Colbeck steeple-house ; Robert Widders going thither, &c. way almost killed by the 
people, 152. 

Colleges cannot make ministers of Christ, 291. 

Collegians, 504, 507. 

Committee of safety, &c. their proclaiming fasts is like Jezebel’s, 306. 

Conjuror (so reputed) reproved by G. F. in gaol, 94. 

Conscience, a witness to truth, 304 to 306; is not to be forced, 587, mus ne ioid of 
offence, 593. * 

Contentions not to be in meetings, 531. 

Conventicle act is, not to do as they would be done by, 426, 428. 

Convincements in the nation in the beginning, 64, 67, 68, é:c. 152, 154, 156, 157, 161; 
London, 171. 
In Oliver Cromwel’s house and family, 171. 

Cromwel, Oliver, his discourse with G. F. 168, 240. A friend offers himself to O. C. te 
he in prison for G. F. 234. 

Cross, the power of God, 62, 64, 298. 

Coyetousness of wrecks, &c. reproved, 317, 642. 

Cutpurse at sessions searching friends’ pockets is set at libeity, 360. 


D 


vanyers and perus ot G. F. 75, 80, 110, 121, 125, 126, 131, 188, 141, 145, 147, 161, 201. 
204, 211, 242, 261, 269, 279, 299, 320, 322, 361, 367, 402, 406, 419; at sea, 
436; by knives, rapiers, rude multitudes, beatings, bruisings, and binding 
themselves with an oath to kill him. 
Day of judgment coming upon persecutors, 484. The day of the Lord’s wrath is kindled 
upon them, 175. 
Deceivers beyond the priests that stand in deceit described, 70. 
Declaration of G. F’s offered by him to the court instead of the oath, 478. 
Devil, he was not made of God, 180, 364. 
Differences about outward things to be shunned, 633. 
Disputes at Leicester, 67. 
with the priest of Grayrigg, &c. 188, 139. 
at Drayton, 163. 
G. F. with priest Wilkinson, 154. 
‘Dispute of James Nayler with eight priests, 193. 
A vain disputer answered, 373. Vain janglings to be shunned, 490. 
Dogs did not move their tongues against them, 459. 
Do unto others as you would have others, &c. 75, 318, 587, 630, 634. 
Dreams relied on by a people, 59. 
Drought was great in England, 262. 
Drunkenness testified against by G. F. at inns in his travels, 199, 242, 318. 
Great drunkenness at the choosing of parliament-men, 322. 
Dwarfs not to come nigh the altar of God, 619, 622. 
Out of Christ all mankind are imperfect and deformed, 605. 


E 
Egyptians afflict Israel till the Lord overthrows them, 227 
Election and reprobation, 105, 144, 198, 267, 280, 421. 
Embassador with Irishmen come to disturb the meeting, 345. 
Embassadors at Nimeguen: G. F’s epistle to them, 660 to 662. 


x Enemies, who are the worst to truth, 494: ; 
Episcopal men cannot affirm they have the same spirit as the apostles had, 353 


INDEX. 666 


Errors pleaded in Margaret Fell’s indictment, 386. 
in G. F’s indictment pleaded by himself, 386, 387, and the second indictment 
quashed by errors, 390. 

Examples. See judgments. 

Excise-men warned, 80. 

Exzommunicated friends in Scotland, none was to buy or sei. with them, 286; in Eng- 


land, 397. 
Experiences formerly had, or other men’s spoken and preached from, 122, 488, 494. 
F 
Faith gives victory over sin, 282. Christ is the author of, 308. Stands in the power of 
God, 487, 492. 


Fanatics, who and what they are, 316, 328. 

Fashions, and vanities of the world testified against, 75, 636. See Apparel. 

Fast of G. F’s, 130, 140. Of a woman in Lancashire, 64. Proclaimed by O. C. for rain, 
262. A day of humiliation, 304. The true and false, 262 to 265. And holy 
days so called, 468. 

Fasting and prayer, 653, 654. : 

Feasting and sporting, whilst others were, G. F. visited the poor, relieving them, 58. 

Fees, “Seager 337, 398. G. F. could not pay, being innocent, and the gaoler’s, 236, 
360. 

Fell, Judge, sends a warrant against the abusers of G. F. 127, and grants a supersedeas 
of a warrant against him, 128. 

Fell, Margaret, shews to the king friends’ sufferings and innocency, 338. 

Fellowships in outward things will corrupt and wither, 384. 

Fifth-monarchy-men’s uproar, 336. They cleared friends openly at their execution, 343. 
They look for Christ’s personal coming, 351. Are fighters, mid. 


Fighters are not of Christ’s kingdom, 312. Sion needs no such, ibid, and 350. See wars. 


Fox, George, his place of birth, parents and relations, 55, 56, 88, 166, 322, 404, 470; his 
clothes and wear, 108, 199; his marriage, 424; a great weight fell upon 
his spirit, 430; his travels and sufferings at Reading, 310, 311, 322, 336; 
offers his hair and cheek to the threatener, 345; and labours diligently in the 
work of the Lord, 634; his persecutors would have hanged him, 145; his 
care for truth and triends, 645; he prays to the Lord, 66, 435; and for the 
afflicted, 80, 559, &c. see miracles; his weakness of body, 629, 645; death 
and burial, 644, 645; whose name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, 
which was before the foundation of the world, 73; his epistle left sealed up, 646. 

Fox, Mary, mother of G. F. died, 475. 

Frederickstadt, friends’ cause pleaded by G. F. 574 to 577. 

Friends much abused by priest and people, 110, 125. Their charity to the poor, 324. 


G 


/Gaoler of Derby watches G. F. for evil, being in a rage against him, 81, his vision con- 


cerning G. F. 85; was convinced of truth; G. F. finding him among friends, 
322; and afterwards he wrote a sensible letter to G. F. 355. 

Gaolers of Carlisle, their cruelty against G. I". 145, 147; so that the under-gaoler was 
put into the dungeon to G. F. for using him so badly, 152. 

Gaoler at Lanceston, 203, his wickedness and rage against G. F. &c. 209, had been a 
thief and burnt in the hand, 210, and afterwards was put into Doomsdale 
himself, and died in prison, 233. 

Under-Gaoler at Lancaster, a very wicked man, 327; and the upper-gaoler, Hunter, was 
cut off in young days for his wickedness to G. F. 393, 401. 

Gaoler at Leicester was very cruel to friends in prison before G. F. came there, 359. 

Gaoler at Durham, incensing the governor and soldiers of Scarborough sastle against 
G. F. was cut off in his wickedness, 401. 

God’s people to be like unto him, 610; the power of God thundered amongst tne magis 
trates of Derby, &c. 81. 

Good behaviour, G. F. could not consent to be bound to, who had committed no ill behe 
viour, 88. See Bond. 

cood morrow, good evening, &c. vain customs and traditions, forbidden, 74. 

Goods ill-gotten are a curse to men, 318. 

Gospel is not the four evangelists, 365. 

Governments, change of, God has a mighty hand therein, 332, 

Governor of Dover convinced, 180. i 

4 


fo 666 INDEX. 


Governor of Tinmouth Castle, with others, visits G. F'. i prison, 395. 

v Grace ot God teaches those that turn to it, 78,256; which hath appeared to all men, 396 
Grammar and accidence distinguish the singular from the plural, 396. 
Groans which broke forth through G. F. did reavh to people and strike them, 101. 


Bh H 


Habeas Corpus, &c. for G. F’s removal, 330, 473, 478, 483. 

Hacker, Col. his son Needham’s wicked saying of G. F. 167. 

Hacker, Col. cut off, being hanged at Tyburn, 168; his wife and marshal convinced of 
the truth, 193. 

Hageet, judge, his wife visits G. F. in Lanceston gaol, and was convinced, 222. 

Hair worn long of G. F. 201, 239, 272. 

Hale, judge, his answer to G. F’s adversaries in court, 484. 

Hands not to be laid on any suddenly, 295. 

Honour hat, proud flesh looks for, 74, 75, 154, 203, 206, 208, 284, 289; a professor’s proof 
for it from scripture (pretendedly) 211; professors offended at it, 259, 310; 
friends fined for it, 230; and imprisoned, &c. 267, 809, 428, 474. 
The hat kept on in prayer by J. Perrot and his party, 404. 

Hebrew, Greek, and Latin make no ministers of Christ, 291. 

Hirelings and diviners for money get vast sums of it by selling the scriptures, 76, 165. 

Honour, the true from the false distinguished, 75, 223, 297, 372, 402. 

Hornby castle robbed of the wainscot, and buck’s horns in major Porter’s house, $30. 

House-creepers leading silly women captive, &c. are such as having crept into temples, 
with tythes and offerings, keep people always learning under them, &c. 308. 

House of Israel, the house of God, 625, 626. 

Humility goes before honour, 223, 492, 537. 


I&J 


Jeroboam’s calves’ houses likened to the houses called churches, set up in the darkness 
of popery, 124. 

Jerusalem en comes down from heaven, its state described, 488, the children thereof, 

i. PY, 

Jesuits, two of them (fawning upon friends) discoursed by G. F. concerning the degene- 
racy of the church of Rome, 299, 301, 350; who are filthy dreamers, dream- 
ing they are the apostles’ successors, 351; and are in a rage against the work 
of the Lord, 421; and persecute to death for religion, 301. 

Jew discoursed by G. F. concerning the coming of the Messiah, 509: others would not 
discourse, 518. 

Imprisonments for not swearing, 191; for tythes, and going to steeple-houses, 248, 267, 
275, 648; G. F. imprisoned in a filthy prison at Nottingham, 76; in Derby 
prison, 81, 96; in Lanceston prison, 203, 208; Doomsdale, 209; Lanceston 
gaol, 211; at Leicester, 358 to 360; in Lancaster prison, 378 to 392; in 
Scarborough castle, 393 to 400; taken in London meetings and had before 
magistrates, 427; in Worcester gaol, 468, 469; being premunired, 483; 
and the errors of the indictment pleaded at the king’s bench bar, and was 
set at liberty, 484; friends imprisoned to death, 355, 399, 649. 

Independents, 182, 351. 

Indian king, discoursed by G. F. and several Indians at the king’s cabin, 461; their 
gravity and attention, 463. 

Indictments, errors, pleaded by G. F. 386 to 391, 398, 479; calls it a bundle of lies, 477 
is quashed, 479. 

Iaformers Fired in Cumberland, 369; set at work by priests, a papist informer against 
G. F. 427. they make spoil, 548; Hilton, 550; Shad, 566. 

nn-keepers in Wales, their treachery to G. F’s horse, 269; another of Topsham, burns 
G. F's leathern girdle, 199. 

Inquisition, friends travelling in the service of the Lord were many times in danger 
thereof, but preserved, 157; and at Dunkirk, 180; two women friends were 
in that at Malta, 355. 

Ireland, friends’ charity for the relief of friends sufferers in England, 585. 

Judges and juries’ wrong proceedings in G. F’s case, 476; a judge’s base expression, 
475; of Holland discoursed by G. F. 518. 

Judging, the church of Christ hath power and ability to judge, 528, 529, 587, 591, 682. 

Judgments of Gad, on Derby, 97, upon a false accuser of G. F. 109, 110; on a perse- 
cutor, 133; upon Adam Sands, 137: on two persecuting justices of Carlisle, 


INDEX. 667 


156, on conspirators against G. F. 161; on captain Drury, 169 ; on a mock 
er of friends’ meetings, 317; on Preston’s wife, 327; upon New-England 
348 ; an independent Scottish pastor, 282, 283; a soldier speaking evil of 
the light, 288; upon persecuting, envious officers, 363; upon a persecutor in 
Cornwall, 365, 366 ; in Lancashire, 375; on justice Fleming, 379; on 
Wiggan, 379; on persecutors and bad men, 399; on justices, G. F’s 
cutors, 401 ; upon a common swearer in Barbadoes, 439 ; on justice Simpson, 
480 ; and on justice Street, ibid. ; on persecuting powers, 315; day of judg- 
ment. See day. 
ustices’ fair promises at Worcester assize broken, 471 to 473, ensnaring questions, 198. 

Justizes sitting about hiring servants were admonished and exhorted by G. F. to justice, 
and the servants to do their duty, 68; courts of justice warned by G. F. to 
do justly, 75. 

K 


Keat, captain, his base carriage to G. F. 202. 

King Charlies Il. his coming in, 310, 322, 330; old king’s judges executed, 343 ; to the 
king and council, a declaration, 338. 

Kings of France and Spain, and the Pope, to prove all things, &c. in an epistle of G. F’s 
to the pope and all kings and rulers in Europe, 176. 

King’s bench bar, G. F. being removed by Habeas Corpus, had his trial there, 334, 335, 


474, 479, 488. 
evil, a friend’s daughter being healed of, 485. 
Kingdom of Christ has been set up above 1600 years ago, 351. 
is In peace and righteousness, 339, 340. : 
its heirs are such as are regenerated and born again, 612 to 615. 


L 


Landmark, those that removed it, to cause the blind to wander, were cursed, 627. 
Languages. See Tongues. 
Law of God is perfect, 63 ; is written in the heart, 339. 
Lawyers must be reformed and brought into the law of God, 70. 
Liberty and freedom man is brought into by the ministry of Christ and his teaching, 64; 
an intention was in the government of gaining friends liberty, 335. 
true liberty is that which puts down sin and iniquity, 534, 535. 
the false liberty is from the way of truth, 582. 
Life eternal is in Christ, not in the scriptures, 617, 618. 
Light is not natural, 72, 167, 200, 204, 241, 253, 266, 267, 274. 
and grace, 281. 
cursed by the Scotch priests, 282. 
all are enlightened, 379. : 
denied by Dr. Witty, 396. 
also by a Dr. in Carolina, 458. 
which gives the light of the knowledge, 504, 615, 639. 
Little Ease, a prison whereinto Richard Sale was squeezed, that not long after he died 
344 


Love of God, its infiniteness, 62, 65. 
and charity’s effects, 594, 633. 
and unity is from the Spirit of God, 633. 


M 


Magistrates must yield to truth, 148 to 150. 
are to do justice, 319. : 
and stop profaneness, 332. 
their sword against evil doers, 371. 
of Dantzick, their work of persecution, 522, 585, 629. 

Marriages, 58, stated, 397,401; the proceedings thereof settled, 408, 440, 497; to be laa 
before the monthly and quarterly meetings, 408, and to have certificates, 
409; a case of marriage tried at Nottingham assizes, 353; marriage in 
Rhode-Island, 451 ; friends’ care therein, 571. 

Major-general of Northamptonshire, an old persecutor, sharply reproved by G. F. 242. 

Meetings with friendly people in Derbyshire, 59; at Broughton, 65; of friends set up, 
124; at T. Leper’s, 131; Arnside, 140; great at London, 170; near Acton 
i. the fields, 171; one near London, where friends were much abused, 309 


668 INDEX. 


monthly and quarterly, men’s and women’s set up m London, and in the 
nation, 404, 406, 409, 417; in the power of God, which is the anchority 
thereof, 490, 493 ; and are of God’s ordering, 596; being set up in his wis 
dom, 646; of women set up, and the service thereof, 467; yearly in Bedford- 
shire, 293; at Balby, (Boultbie, Yorkshire) 323; York, 632; and at London, 
436; for sufferings at Skipton set up, 824; powerful in Ireland, 418. 
nisters went forth, 140; from the north country over England, 157; into Scotland 
171; and beyond the seas, 179, 
truth spreading in England, 222. 
True Minister’s trial, 177; exercising their gift, 295; and 

sounding abroad their trumpets, 420. 

of Christ, 58, 60, 64, 396, 459. 

take no hire, 452. 

Miracles wrought by the power of God, 193; she that was ready to die raised up again, 
196; the lame made whole, 140; the diseased restored, 485; a distracted 
woman healed, 77. See trouble of mind; a great man given over by physi- 
cians restored, 80; G. F. prays for a distracted woman at Chichester, 197; 
restores J. Jay’s neck, (broke as the people said) by a fall from a horse in 
East-Jersey, 454; speaks to a sick man in Maryland, who was raised up by 
the Lord’s power, 455, and prays the Lord to rebuke J. C’s infirmity, and the 
Lord by his power soon gave him ease, &c. 558. 

Monk, general, his order requiring all officers and soldiers to forbear disturbing Quakers’ 
meetings, 322 ; which are not seditious, 342. 

Mountebanks’ vanity, 75; their ignorance, 260. 

Montague, Judge, G. F. discoursing him at his chamber in London about tythes, 545. 

Muggletonians, 351. 

Musquetoes in America, little flies or gnats, 452. 

Musick and singing, 75. 


N 


Names are given to things according to their nature, 69. 

Natures of creatures outward to be read within man, 65, 71, 122. 
That all things come by nature, refuted, 68. 

Nayler, James, running into imaginations, is warned by G. F. 238. His recovery, 239. 
His followers, 260. ; ‘ 

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of Christ’s kingdom, which is not of this world, 351. 

Negroes and family meetings recommended, 642. 

New-England professors proclaimed a fast, 307. Soon after put four friends to death, 
and became bloody persecutors, 346. G. F. charged their magistrates with 
murdering them, according to their own confession, 348, who felt God’s judg- 
ments for their wickedness, 519. 

News hearing and telling, 107, 629. 

Nicknames. See Sirrah. 


O 


Oath or engagement to O. Cromwel, 156. Swear not at all, 162, 204, 205. Oath of 
abjuration, 190, tendered to G. F. 201. His paper against swearing read in 
court, 205. Oaths and swearing, 375, 376, 634; refused by G. F. 372, 396 
to 398, &c. being unlawful, 396. 

Oaths of allegiance and supremacy, 354, 358, 360, 372, 484. Oath taken falsely against 
friends, 363. Oath tendered to G. F. 385, 388, 472. Allegiance, wherein 
it consists, 395; what G. F. could say instead of it, 472; and of supremacy, 
472, 474, 478. 

Offering, the true and the false, 606 to 608, 616, 619, 640. 

Old cause, the setting up thereof was for themselves, 316. 

, Oldenburg, magistrates and people, a warning to them, 650 to 652. 

Openings of G. F’s, 59, 60, 66, 72; of the things of the creation, 69; of physick, dt 
vinity, and Jaw, &c. 70. 

Opposers of the faithful come to nought, 646. 

Order of Rodmin sessions for the prisoners’ ease, 210. 

Order and discipline in the church of Christ maintained, 582, 583; is of the Spirit, 599 

Oxford and Cambridge teachers cannot make ministers of Christ, 58, 60. 

Oxford scholars’ rudeness, 243. 


INDEX. 669 


P 
Papists, their superstition of consecrated bread and wine, 300, 301; images, crosses, and 
relicks, 300, 355; pray by beads, 351, 605; and sprinkle children, 414; their 
purgatory, ib.; and mother church pretended, 415; a warning to them, 179, 
176 ; and their murdering false doctrine confuted, 395. 
Pardon being offered by the king to G. F. he could not take it, 482; and was fairly*freed 
without it, 483. ' 
-Parliament-men discoursing G. F. in prison, 396. 
Parnel, James, convinced, (1653) 147; was at a dispute of G. Fox’s against eight priests, 
&c. at Drayton, on an hill, (1654) 164; imprisoned in Colchester castle 
q _ (4655) 147; is visited by G. F. in prison, 181; the gaoler’s wife threatened 
2 to have his blood, ib. who died by a fall from a ladder going up to his prison, 


s 147; of whom professors (to cover their cruelty) said he fasted himself to 
x death, ib. 
ij Patience and faith’s exercise, 277. 


People flew like chaff before the dreadful power of God, 81, 121; people trembled and 
shook in Carlisle steeple-house, 145.- See Shaking. 

Perfection, a priest discourses G. F. about it, 476. 

Perfection in Christ is above Adam’s, 441; Amperfection pleaded for by professors, 84, 
152 


Persecution judged, 132 to 134; testified against, and persecutors warned, 212 to 222; 
they being blinded, 228, 275 to 277, 332, and not knowing what spirit they 
are of, 331; persecutors to blood, 411; persecutors restrained, 402, 403, 406, 
407, 419 ; persecution violent at London meeting, 431; testimonies against 
it, 523, 525, 541, 543, 551, 552, 648, 649; in its event productive of good, 
650. Four friends in New-England hanged, 346, 348. 
_ Physick and letting blood, a priest’s remedy against a troubled mind, 58. 
Physicians must be in the wisdom of God, 70. 
_ Pleasures and vain delights denied, 236, 237. 
_ Plots and fightings, friends’ declaration against, 339 to 342; and denied, 370, 372, 394. 
J Poland’s exiled Protestants, 303, 304; king of Poland, two letters to him from G. F. 
: 522, and 585. 
; Powers of the earth, 299. 
Prayers in sighs and groans, 278 ; how to pray, 605, 606. 
Preachers (congregational) at a meeting with G. F. 266. 
Premunire of G. F. 391; of two friends in Devonshire, 411; Counsellor Corbet’s plea 
for G. F. in court, 483. 
f Presbyterian meeting stufied with bread and cheese, &c. 407. 
; Press-masters on board of G. F’s vessel, 436, 464. 
4 Pride in apparel, 174, 175. 
Priests sell the scriptures, 76; pray by form, 166; their spirit, 76; they are hirelings, 
138, 164, &c. tythe-takers, 245; robbers of the people, and not ministers of 
3 the gospel, 391; plead for sin and imperfection, 81, 85, 97; are confounded, 
103 ; dreaded the man in leathern breeches, 103; a priest trembles, 111; 
hides himself from G. F. 119; are miserable comforters, 57; reproved by 
judge Fell, &c. at sessions, for their gross assertions, 128; reproved in the 
streets, 129. Eight priests dispute against G. F. 164; are false prophets andQ&* 
antichrists, 141; One pleads for adultery, 473; one beats friends, 417; is 
choaked by a parsonage, 80; and love a fat benefice, 193, 396; so mucha 
year, 321; the devil’s lawyers and counsellors, 277 ; oppressors, 96; perse- 
cutors, 226, 403, 431. 
Prophecy of R. Jones vain, 160; of Brown’s, see Brown; a woman’s prophecy of the 
king's coming in, 310; prophecy of priests and professors against the Quakers 
i ' vain, 154; false prophecies and false prophets, 160. 
_ * Prison of G. F's, its badness, 386, 389; and that of Scarborough castle, 393. 
Prison-keeper struck with terror, 85; prisoners many, 307 ; friends offer their bodies one 
for another, ib. ; died prisoners, 309, 354, 374, 376, 378, 399, 411. 
Prisoners set at liberty by the king, 335, 593. 
Tirates, 437, 448. 


Q y 

Quakers first so called, 85. 7é 
love to all men, 402. ~- Say 

A Quaker’s upright verdict, being upon a jury, commended by the judge in court, 162 

Quakers’ principle stated to the king by G. F. 481, 482. 


670 INDEX 


R 


Rain fell after a meeting in Cheshire, in a great drought, 262. 
Ranters confounded, 79, 101, 102, 162, 163, 170, 180, 243, 351; a ranting woman at Loa 
364; their wickedness, and the judgment fallen on them, 412,—G. F. had a 
meeting with ranters in Rhode-Island, 451, 452. 
Rebéllion and plots denied, 581. 
Regeneration must be known to enter into the kingdom of God, 612 to 615. 
Religion, the reformed by tradition, 304; the true one is the life and power of God, 331, 
; the pope’s, 300. See ’Papist. 
Repentance of some that had run out, 354. 
goes before the gospel, 610, 611. 
Reports ser of G. F. falsely, 259, at Nailsworth, 422; of G. F. and friends at Barba- 
oes, 443. 
Restitution made of wrong done, 77. 
Restoration out of the fall into the state that never fell, 434. 
Revelation of John is a sealed up book, said the priests to G. F. 59; by revelation God is 
known, 61. 
/ Righteous men are preserved from destruction, 601, 603. 
Rude people at meetings and inns, 259. 
in Wales, 268, 269. 
at Manchester, 273. 
in Scotland, 283. © 
fellows by the way-side, 287. 
serving-men abusive to friends in and out of meetings, 132; and to women 
going home, 324; fellows encompassing G. F. by the way, 242; rude 
priests, 327 ; rude people, 345, 368, 410. 
Rule of life, 476. 3 


» 
Sacrament of bread and wine, the denial of it objected and answered, 247, 248. 
Sallee man of war that gave chase to the vessel G. F. went in to America, his report 
thereof, 436. 
Salutation of G. F. to the council of Edinburgh, being had before them, 284. 
Schools set up for friends’ children, one at Waltham Abbey for boys, 409; and at Shack- 
elwell, another for girls, ibid. 
\Beots, challenging a dispute with friends, were overthrown, 282; a Scotch officer’s im- 
perious sayings, 283; Scotch priests’ principles, 282; curses, ib.; blindness, 
283. 


Scriptures are the words, not the word of God, 138, 281; and understood by the Spirit, 
72, 563; being given forth by it, 505. 

Scripture-knowledge without the life, vain, 61, 505. g 

Seekers, 351, 504. 

Separation and its spirit, a warning against it, 495 to 497; pleads a liberty, 503; has the 
name of truth, but not the nature, 503, 512, B14, 527, 580, 568, 505 ; unruly 
spirits at Reading, 520; in America G. F. had a meeting with them, 450. 

Serpent, speaking in people, 65. 

Serving-men. See Rude. 

Sessions at Lancaster, 127, 181, 372; Leicester, 359; Worcester, 471, 477; Bodmin, 210. 

Shaking of the house, G. F. praying, 66; a meeting of friends was ‘greatly shaken, 68; 
people shook, 145. See Steeple-house. 

Sheriff of Lincoln convinced, 161. 

Sheriffs to be chosen by friends, such as they can give their voices for, 549. 

Shipwrecks called God’s grace, 317. 

Sick and afflicted restored. See Troubled in mind, and Miracles. 

Sign, Thomas Aldam a sign to O. Cromwel, 311; Robert Huntingdon, 344; some in 
sackcloth and ashes, 392, 400; another before the fire of London, ib: another 
going naked, ib.; a woman going before the parliament, &c. 311. See Pro- 

phecy. Richard Sale carrying a lanthorn and candle, 344. 

Silent meeting, 106. 

Singing in the Spirit with a melodious sound, 287. 

Sin, priests preach up for term of life, 81. 

Sins entail and original cut off, 277; professors distinguish the guilt and the power oi 
it, 281 ; ‘and plead for sin, 476 : ; sin’s deceitfulness to be watched against, 560. 

Sirrah, and other reproachful nick-names given by magistrates to prisoners reproved, 379, 

Slander raised by a priest on a meeting he was at, 188. 


~ 


INDEX. 671 


Socinians, 351. 

oldiers, one proffered G. F’. to assist him, 125; others were convinced, and their wives, 
at meetings, 141, 142, 143, and at Cranbiook, 179; another draws his = 
at a friend, 211; some could not take the oath to 0. C. 156; others 
and fell into danger, 157; a soldier’s wicked saying of Christ, 233; seve 
officers convinced in Scotland, 290; some soldiers striking friends at me 
ing, 320; troopers came to see G. F. when prisoner, 393 ; soldiers’ testi 
of him, 400; lewd soldiers in Germany, 510; blind men are nct listed for 
soldiers (neither outward nor inward) 639. : gi 

omerset-house, 310. : . 

Soul, a people holding that women have no souls, 59. 

Spirit of discerning in G. F. 66, 143; the Spirit tries doctrines, 76; and leads intoall 

truth, 254; a measure of it is given to every one, 379; its fruits, if o-_ 

q 481; a spirit in the ship and in the steeple-house, 99, 437. 

Sports and feastings, 58. 

Steeple-houses and markets, truth preached in them, 275; the sound of its bell seemed 

like a market bell, 76, 80; G. F. in the steeple-house at Beverly and Crant- 

sick, 98,99; Mansfield Woodhouse, the people fall upon him, 78; steeple- 

house shook, 122, 145; friends declaring truth in steeple-houses, 178, 201, 

210; others admonished the bowlers, 236. 

Streets, truth preached i in them, 261, 268. 

Stone laid in Sion rejected, 534; that became a great mountain, 618. 

Stillness, the mind feels the principle of God in it, 302. 

Students at Aberdeen, some convinced, 485. 

Sufferings of G. F. and friends for being contrary to the world’s ways and eustomss 55° 

G. F. cruelly beaten by a clerk in the steeple-house, 111; by a rude 

tude, 126; banished. See Banishments. Suffered in ead prisons, 386, } 

Sufferings of friends for travelling about their occasions, 222; for going to steeple-houses,, 

en 275; laid before O. C. 308. 

Sufferings of friends at meetings, 309; by imprisonments, ib., 354, 391, 413; and lies 

iy the monarchy-men’s rising, '337; some banished, &e. Dantzick friends? suf- 

oe ferings, 522, 526, 585, 629. 

_ Swear not at all, &c. 388; friends not swearing how discerned from others not swearing, 

416; offices served by friends without swearing, 634; justices and jury for- 

sworn at Lancaster assizes in G. Fox’s case, 385, 388; three officers of the 

» court forsworn in the same case, 390. 

Syllogisms and sophistick arguments overthrown, 284. 

al 

Talents, 256; and the slothful servant, 643. 

Talkers, airy, 61, 209. 

Teacher; God was the first teacher in paradise, 467. 


g * Thieves lying hid a the highs 3 in Scotland, reproved by G. F. 287. % — 


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Thrones on earth contended for, 626. 
_ Trading of friends increased, people seeing their honest dealing, 155. 
Transgression of the life of God, what it leads to, 302, 303. 
Travels of G. F. into 
1657 Wales, 260, 265. 
Scotland, 280. 
1669 Ireland, 418 to 421. 
1671 Barbadoes, 438, 446. 
Jamaica, 447. 
1672 Maryland, 447. be 
East and West Jersey, 449. - 


ied 


4 i 
INDEX. a 
, Long-Island, in New-England, 450. 
a) Rhode-Island, 450. 
ay Jerseys, 454. 


4 Maryland, 456, 457. 
a col Virginia, 457. 
Carolina, 458, 459. 
| Virginia, 459, 460. 
1673 Maryland, 460, 463. 
Returning thence to England, he went over to 
1677 Holland, &c. 502, 518. 
1684 Holland and Friesland, 570, 572. 
Trembling and quaking owned, 184, 187. 
Trials of G. F. &c. See Assize. 
Two Triers sent from Wales, both were convinced, 156. 
a pretended trier of spirits confounded, 178. 
a day of trial is coming upon all, 384, 582, 624. ‘ 
Troubles of a spoken to, 77, 302; of a woman in Maryland, for whom G. F, intrea’ 
ed the Lord, 462; troubles upon a trooper concerning G. F. 91. 
Arath ; is honourable, 297; is peaceable, 544; in unity, 595; the pearl, 609; a narrativ 
\ of the spreading thereof, 647. 
Tumult of the people at Brecknock, 261. 
Turks and Turkish patroons give liberty of religion, 631. 


Vv 


<<  Saeiey is the Lord’s, 348. 
ry and overcoming of temptations known, 61. 

‘Vision of G. F. of a bear, &c. 111; of a desperate creature, 279; of New-Engl: 
sufferings to death, 346; concerning the Turk, 391; of himself to be tak 
prisoner, 468; a vision in Ireiand, 419; and in his voyage for America, 
: the Christians at Jerusalem had a vision before its destruction, 601. 
‘Voice coming to G. F. 60. See openings; the voice of the Lord toa propel 91. 
b of G. F. to Ireland, 418; for England, 422; to Barbadoes, 436 ; 


WwW 


' 


Waiting upon God, 314. 
Wales; the governor of Tenby must yield to truth, 267; and magistrates in other plac 
269; the moderation of a town in Wales, 270; a lady and her preacher se. 
for G. F. 272. 
Warrants against G. F. 152, 202, 279, 288, 314, 322, 325, 403, 417, 430; for tythes, 54 
warrants against all Quakers, 224. ; 
Wars and fightings denied by G. F. 57, 92, 94; they arise from the lusts in the fall, 31 
a 3 none to go down to Egypt for help, 313; it is not our principle, 339, but 
testify seine it, 882; and is not becoming Christianity, 660; being’ a Wo! 


" of darkness, 1 
Watches set up in the streets and highways in Cornwall, &c. to stop friends from trav 
ling, 222, 223, 224, 228. 
Weakness of G. F's body, 404; by long and close imprisonment, 391, 485, 606; by” co 
‘ tinual travail, 500; and spent at meetings, &c. 609; his health being mu 
impaired, 623; a creat exercise came upon him, 624. 
V Wicked man plagued, 398, 399. 
Worship, the world’s, 74. 
Will-worship, 232; The dragon’s and the beast’s, 244; the worship in the Spirit, 349, 
Wrong. See Restitution. 


¥ 
Yea and Nay, 55, 154; is more binding than an oath to many, 388, 482. 


Z 
Zeal against unrighteousness, many will God provoke unto, 332 


THE END. 


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